Learn about Al-Qaeda's history and ideology from counterterrorism expert Bill Braniff, the director of external education at West Point's Combating Terrorism Center.  Braniff offered an insightful and engaging  lecture on May 19 as part of the 9/11, Today and Tomorrow speakers series at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site, 20 Vesey St.

Braniff's lecture is now available online through  THIRTEEN Forum.  You can watch his talk and past "9/11, Today and Tomorrow" events here.

Don't miss the upcoming speakers series event , "Escaping the Taliban," on  Wednesday, June 23.  David Rohde, a two-time Pulitzer prize winning reporter for the New York Times, has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries. From November 2008 to June 2009, he was held captive by the Taliban before escaping. He is the co-author of the forthcoming book “A Rope and A Prayer: The Story of A Kidnapping.” A five-part series that Rohde wrote on his captivity and escape for the New York Times was recently awarded the 2009 George Polk Award for foreign reporting. RSVP now to guarentee a seat for this fascinating lecture.