Gina Ligon
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Articles by Gina Ligon
Counterterrorism center director: Nebraska has had unique role countering terrorism since 9/11
© iStockbaramee2554 Positioned in the middle of the United States, Nebraska has played an outsized role in disrupting terrorism across the country over the past 25 years, since the most significant terrorist attack in our nation’s history on September 11, 2001. At 3:07 p.m., just hours after the twin towers and the Pentagon were struck by airplanes full of innocent passengers, then-President George W. Bush landed at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Neb.
Counterterrorism center director: Nebraska has had unique role countering terrorism since 9/11 Original
Positioned in the middle of the United States, Nebraska has played an outsized role in disrupting terrorism across the country over the past 25 years, since the most significant terrorist attack in our nation’s history on Sept. 11, 2001. At 3:07 p.m., just hours after the twin towers and the Pentagon were struck by airplanes full of innocent passengers, then-President George W. Bush landed at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Neb.
The U.S. Built a Counter-Cartel Playbook During the War on Terror
Jake Braun most recently served in the White House as acting Principal Deputy National Cyber Director. Prior to that role, Mr. Braun was appointed by the President as Senior Counselor to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Braun is the author of Fentanyl: Fighting the Mass Poisoning of America and the Cartel Behind It (Bloomsbury, 2025), and Democracy in Danger: How Hackers and Activists Exposed Fatal Flaws in the Election System (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).
OPINION: The UFC Freedom 250 plot highlights emerging trends in the threat landscape Original
“..to set this off we need an event or events that cause people to realize the revolution has officially begun.” So said an Ohio man arrested last week with several other co-conspirators. The envisioned “revolution” was not a peaceful protest in the streets but instead a plot to murder more than 40 prominent Americans, including the president and business leaders, in attendance of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event hosted on the White House grounds earlier this month.
The Billion-Dollar Innovation Threat
The Billion-Dollar Innovation Threat Cartel Resources, Terror Tactics, and American Security Strategy Read Full Article »
The Billion-Dollar Innovation Threat
Cartels are among the most deeply violent organizations in the world. In early 2025, the U.S. designated eight cartels as foreign terrorist organizations or FTOs. The designation appears driven by an intent to build greater investigatory and prosecutorial tools around mitigation of violent cartel activity in the U.S. While some continue to debate the implications of the designation, the new classification merits further study.
Omahans are in a unique position to counter election threats Original
A nail-biter of a congressional race. Dueling abortion ballot measures. A presidential election so close it has spurred talk that Nebraska’s unique electoral vote split could meaningfully tip the scales. These issues, local to both the blue dot of Omaha and red state of Nebraska, mirror the national picture in attention, vitriol and, safe to say, general anxiety about how and whether political talk turns into violent action.
The Death of an Islamic State Global Leader in Africa? – Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract: Following a U.S. airstrike in Somalia in late May, there were news reports that the Islamic State had appointed Abdulqadir Mumin, the emir of the group’s affiliate in Somalia, as its worldwide leader. The outcome of the airstrike is still unclear. While debates around the accuracy of the reports on Mumin’s promotion continue, the revelation ushers in a unique set of consequential questions regarding the Islamic State’s strategic position and operational priorities.
Domestic terrorism, law enforcement, countering violent extremism
VIOLENT EXTREMISMRising Threats to Public Officials: A Review of 10 Years of Federal Data Published 6 June 2024 A review of federal charges for the past decade highlights that the number of threats to public officials is growing. While 2013-2016 had an average of 38 federal charges per year, that number sharply increased to an average of 62 charges per year between 2017-2022.
Midlands Voices: Personal threats against officials have no place in our democracy
What we’re going to do, Angie, is we’re going to (expletive deleted) come follow you all over the place... We’re going to follow your (expletive deleted), every appointment you have, everything you (expletive deleted) do … you’re going to keep getting calls and emails, I’m putting all your information over the internet now. You will not be left alone …you’re going to be (expletive deleted) molested like you can't ever imagine.” – Excerpts from a voicemail, shared with NCITE by U.S. Rep.
What Keeps the Homeland Security Enterprise Up at Night?
Over the past 22 years, everyday Americans have been able to sleep because those who work to prevent terrorism do not. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, caused a seismic shift in government resources and academic attention, resulting in a new homeland security enterprise such as the newly created federal Department of Homeland Security, National Counterterrorism Center, and academic research centers committed to preventing the next ideological attack on Americans at home.
Midlands Voices: Violent extremists find vulnerable, high-impact targets in the U.S. power grid
Dec 29, 2022 10:37 pm GMT 9 views By: Austin Doctor and Gina Ligon, Ph.D.s Source: As extreme wind chills descend on Nebraska and much of the country, reliable access to power is a must. We take for granted that we can turn up the thermostat. But recent events underscore an enduring reality: our heat and the power grid aren't just at the mercy of winter's worst. They're vulnerable to physical attack. The past few months have proved hard on the U.S. power grid and the communities it serves.
Violent extremists find vulnerable, high-impact targets in the U.S. power grid
As extreme wind chills descend on Nebraska and much of the country, reliable access to power is a must. We take for granted that we can turn up the thermostat. But recent events underscore an enduring reality: our heat and the power grid aren't just at the mercy of winter's worst. They're vulnerable to physical attack. The past few months have proved hard on the U.S. power grid and the communities it serves.
Malevolent creativity: How human nature blinds us from novel threats
There’s a military aphorism that generals are always fighting the last war. It’s a natural human tendency to focus on the kinds of threats you’re used to while playing down the likelihood or importance of some new sort of attack. Of course novel threats can crop up anytime and anywhere. An assassin killed former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with an improvised firearm in a country largely unfamiliar with gun violence.
Human Nature Can Steer People Away from New Things - and that Can Blind Them to Novel Threats
There’s a military aphorism that generals are always fighting the last war. It’s a natural human tendency to focus on the kinds of threats you’re used to while playing down the likelihood or importance of some new sort of attack. Of course novel threats can crop up anytime and anywhere. An assassin killed former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with an improvised firearm in a country largely unfamiliar with gun violence.
Human nature can steer people away from new things-and that can blind them to novel threats Original
There's a military aphorism that generals are always fighting the last war. It's a natural human tendency to focus on the kinds of threats you're used to while playing down the likelihood or importance of some new sort of attack. Of course novel threats can crop up anytime and anywhere. An assassin killed former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with an improvised firearm in a country largely unfamiliar with gun violence.
Human nature can steer people away from new things - and that can blind them to novel threats
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Sam Hunter, University of Nebraska Omaha and Gina Scott Ligon, University of Nebraska Omaha kAmW%wt r~}'t#$p%x~}X %96C6’D 2 >:=:E2CJ 2A9@C:D> E92E 86?6C2=D 2C6 2=H2JD 7:89E:?8 E96 =2DE H2C] xE’D 2 ?2EFC2= 9F>2? E6?56?4J E@ 7@4FD @? E96 <:?5D @7 E9C62ED J@F’C6 FD65 E@ H9:=6 A=2J:?8 5@H? E96 =:<6=:9@@5 @C :>A@CE2?46 @7 D@>6 ?6H D@CE @7 2EE24<]k^Am kAm~7 4@FCD6 ?@G6= E9C62ED 42?
Human nature can steer people away from new things - and that can blind them to novel threats
There’s a military aphorism that generals are always fighting the last war. It’s a natural human tendency to focus on the kinds of threats you’re used to while playing down the likelihood or importance of some new sort of attack. Of course novel threats can crop up anytime and anywhere. An assassin killed former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with an improvised firearm in a country largely unfamiliar with gun violence.
What does Zawahiri's death mean for Al Qaeda and for U.S. homeland security?
Last week, the White House reported that the U.S. had killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri in a drone strike in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. Zawahiri had been hiding in plain sight, living in a safehouse owned by a top aide to senior Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani. This fatal event concludes a years-long effort, demonstrating the United States' firm resolve to hold accountable those who harm and threaten its citizens. That message is clear.
Melihat perbedaan keunikan gaya kepemimpinan Putin, Zelenskyy dan Biden
Krisis antarnegara, seperti konflik antara Rusia dan Ukraina yang kini tengah berlangsung, memberi kesempatan bagi kita untuk melihat lebih jauh karakter para pemimpin negara yang terlibat, serta perbedaan model kepemimpinan mereka. Berdasarkan penelitian yang kami lakukan selama 20 tahun terakhir, kami mengidentifikasi tiga jenis model kepemimpinan yang muncul dalam berbagai macam krisis dan keadaan.
Putin, Zelenskyy and Biden all have unique leadership styles
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) (THE CONVERSATION) Crises have the capacity to reveal who leaders really are, and how differently they operate. The current conflict in Ukraine has three key leaders, each of whom uses a different approach to the crisis. Zelenskyy, the charismatic hero In Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the world has found its charismatic hero, albeit a reluctant one.
Putin, Zelenskyy and Biden all have unique leadership styles
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) (THE CONVERSATION) Crises have the capacity to reveal who leaders really are, and how differently they operate. The current conflict in Ukraine has three key leaders, each of whom uses a different approach to the crisis. Zelenskyy, the charismatic hero In Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the world has found its charismatic hero, albeit a reluctant one.
Putin, Zelenskyy and Biden all have unique leadership styles
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) (THE CONVERSATION) Crises have the capacity to reveal who leaders really are, and how differently they operate. The current conflict in Ukraine has three key leaders, each of whom uses a different approach to the crisis. Zelenskyy, the charismatic hero In Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the world has found its charismatic hero, albeit a reluctant one.
Putin, Zelenskyy and Biden all have unique leadership styles
Finally, and perhaps most notably, ideological leaders such as Putin are often unwavering and unwilling to compromise. They can encourage their followers to make sacrifices in ways that charismatics and pragmatics cannot - but only if the followers share the same values as the leader and view the leader as representative of those values. Some Russians are already showing signs of rejecting Putin's aggressive vision of a resurgent Soviet Union.
Putin, Zelenskyy and Biden all have unique leadership styles
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) (THE CONVERSATION) Crises have the capacity to reveal who leaders really are, and how differently they operate. The current conflict in Ukraine has three key leaders, each of whom uses a different approach to the crisis. Zelenskyy, the charismatic hero In Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the world has found its charismatic hero, albeit a reluctant one.
Putin, Zelenskyy and Biden all have unique leadership styles
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) (THE CONVERSATION) Crises have the capacity to reveal who leaders really are, and how differently they operate. The current conflict in Ukraine has three key leaders, each of whom uses a different approach to the crisis. Zelenskyy, the charismatic hero In Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the world has found its charismatic hero, albeit a reluctant one.
Putin, Zelenskyy and Biden all have unique leadership styles
Country United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth...
Putin, Zelenskyy and Biden all have unique leadership styles
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Sam Hunter, University of Nebraska Omaha and Gina Scott Ligon, University of Nebraska Omaha kAmW%wt r~}'t#$p%x~}X k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]A2:5]a_a`]```c_eQmrC:D6Dk^2m 92G6 E96 42A24:EJ E@ C6G62= H9@ =6256CD C62==J 2C6[ 2?5 9@H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]=62BF2]a_`g]_g]__`Qm5:776C6?E=J E96J @A6C2E6k^2m]k^Am kAm~FC k2...
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