***RSVP REQUIRED***

In their new book, Counterstrike, Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker of The New York Times tell the story of how a group of analysts within the military, spy agencies, and law enforcement has fashioned an innovative, effective new strategy to fight terrorism, unbeknownst to most Americans and in sharp contrast to the cowboy slogans that have characterized the U.S. government’s public posture. Adapting themes from classic Cold War deterrence theory, these strategists have expanded the field of battle in order to disrupt jihadist networks in ever more creative ways.

Eric Schmitt is one of the most experienced reporters in the country covering the Pentagon, national security issues, and covert operations. No stranger to controversy and reporting on difficult stories, he was sent by The New York Times to evaluate the material offered up by WikiLeaks and negotiate with their leader, Julian Assange.

Schmitt is a terrorism correspondent for The New York Times and has embedded with troops in Iraq, Somalia, and Pakistan. Schmitt has twice been a member of Times reporting teams that were awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

Thom Shanker, a Pentagon correspondent for the Times, routinely spends time embedded with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shanker was formerly a foreign editor and correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, based in Moscow, Berlin, and Sarajevo.

Books will be available for purchase.

RSVP: juliehirano@berkeley.edu