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CNN (2/18/19)
Ken Ballen’s latest comentary on CNN, co-authored with Lee Hamilton, is featured in a lead on its website. For the commentary, click here.
CNN (10/08/14)
TFT President Ken Ballen’s latest commentary on CNN is featured on its website. Recounting his personal history with a member of the Islamic State terrorist group, Ballen exposes the limits of the new American military campaign, and offers what a more successful American policy against extremism could be. For the commentary, click here.
CNN (1/21/14)
TFT President Ken Ballen’s latest co-authored CNN commentary features breaking news. Yet another in Ballen’s CNN series featured on the crisis in Syria. For the commentary, click here.
CNN (11/21/13)
In his latest featured commentary on CNN, TFT President Ken Ballen provides exclusive firsthand evidence on the Taliban and the myopia of American policy. For the commentary, click here.
CNN (4/24/13)
In another featured commentary on CNN, TFT President Ken Ballen exposes the appeal of Islamic radicalism and discusses why the Boston Marathon bombers may have been attracted to the cause. For the commentary, click here.
Christian Science Monitor (12/10/12)
TFT President Ken Ballen’s latest co-authored op-ed is the top commentary on the Monitor’s website. The article is based on a new study jointly conducted by TFT and the Brookings Institution. For the full commentary, click here. For the full study, the first to assess in a comprehensive manner the additional benefits to both donors and recipients alike of humanitarian assistance, click here.
CNN (2/16/12)
TFT President Ken Ballen assisted in bringing a voice of the Syrian resistance to the world, in Ballen’s ongoing series of CNN commentaries. For the commentary, click here.
CNN (2/1/12)
TFT President Ken Ballen’s latest co-authored CNN commentary is on the CNN website. Yet another in Ballen’s CNN series featured on the crisis in Syria. For the commentary, click here.
CNN (1/18/12)
In another featured commentary on CNN, TFT President Ken Ballen and his co-author examine the increasing bloodshed and repression in Syria, and how the United States can respond most effectively. For the commentary, click here.
CNN (4/15/11)
TFT President Ken Ballen’s latest co-authored CNN commentary is featured on the CNN website. Based in part on TFT’s on the ground contacts from Syria, the piece helps expose the true nature of the recent protests and the American response. For the commentary, click here.
CNN (9/30-10/5/10); Foreign Policy (10/10)
TFT President Ken Ballen’s co-authored commentary on CNN is the most commented upon opinion article on the CNN website. Based on TFT’s unprecedented joint survey of Pakistan’s remote tribal areas, the new research helps explain the success of the Taliban and Al Qaeda’s sanctuary there—a safe haven that has had devastating consequences for American soldiers in Afghanistan. For the full piece, click here. Mr. Ballen also provided commentary across Pakistani TV.
CNN; Christian Science Monitor (8/18-20/10)
TFT President Ken Ballen’s commentary on CNN is second most popular opinion piece on the CNN website. Based on TFT’s work, Ballen argues that the United States must respond more forcefully to the current crisis in Pakistan. For the full piece and a related story in the Monitor, click here.
CNN (2/24/10); Financial Times (11/20-25/09); CNN (12/31/09-1/11/10)
TFT President Ken Ballen’s commentary on CNN is one of the top four stories. For the full piece, click here. Ballen also authored the leading commentary for almost one week on the prestigious Financial Times website and newspaper. For the complete FT commentary, click here. For more related commentary on CNN, click here.
CNN, BBC, Washington Post (6/15-16/09)
In featured commentary, TFT President Ken Ballen, with Patrick Doherty of the New America Foundation, analyze our preelection nationwide polling of Iran. For the full commentary, click here.
CNN (6/8/09)
An analysis of the policy significance of Terror Free Tomorrow’s new survey is featured by CNN. For the full commentary and a related CNN News report, click here.
CNN; Foreign Policy; Los Angeles Times; CBS News; The Washington Monthly (June 2008-Jan 2009)
An analysis of the policy significance of Terror Free Tomorrow’s work is featured by CNN, Foreign Policy, the Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and a cover story by The Washington Monthly. To read the articles by TFT President Ken Ballen and Peter Bergen in full, and other coverage, click here.
Washington Post; Wall Street Journal; USA Today; Time; The Guardian; The National; The Nation (Pakistan); Dawn (Pakistan); New York Times; Washington Times; CNN; Council on Foreign Relations (June-Sept 2008)
“US policy needs to be perceived as on the side of ordinary Pakistanis. For only when Pakistanis see al Qaeda as their enemy, too, and the United States as, if not their friend then at least not their enemy, will al Qaeda’s days inside Pakistan finally be numbered.” For the full commentary by Ken Ballen and Peter Bergen in The National (a new prominent international newspaper based in the Middle East) and other commentary on TFT’s latest survey of Pakistan, click here.
Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, Christian Science Monitor; Council on Foreign Relations; CNN; Daily Times (Pakistan); The News (Pakistan); The Post (Pakistan); The Economist; Middle East Times; Roll Call and others(2/12-6/11/08)
Terror Free Tomorrow's pre-election survey has been extensively relied on in commentary in Pakistan and throughout the world. President Musharraf of Pakistan said that the methods of Terror Free Tomorrow (TFT) and other polling organizations "have value in developed countries but not here." Perhaps because, as a leading independent Pakistani newspaper concluded, TFT polling helped make "rigging of the elections somewhat difficult." For commentary in and editorials covering TFT’survey of Pakistan, click here.
Daily Times (Pakistan) (3/17/08)
A feature article from one of Pakistan’s leading newspapers found that the Pakistani government had a plan to rig the Feb.18th vote, but that TFT’s public opinion poll helped to “definitely prevent the government from massive rigging.” According to the article, a senior government official with ties to Pakistani intelligence confirmed that “a plan to rig the elections was in the works,” but that the polling “created an atmosphere where there was no choice but to have free and fair elections.” The article also quotes one of the highest officials in President Musharraf’s own political party, who admitted that the polling “deter[ed] any state-sponsored manipulation.” For the full article, click here.
CNN; Chicago Tribune; The Guardian; Washington Post (3/9-29/08)
For commentary and analysis of TFT’s latest Iran survey, please click here.
International Herald Tribune (1/21/08)
Calling Terror Free Tomorrow’s survey of Iran “an act of bravery by ordinary citizens,” Azadeh Pourzand writes that, “After so many years of isolation, and despite the risk,” the survey at last gives the Iranian people themselves a voice. For the full editorial, click here.
Christian Science Monitor; CNN (1/8/08)
In a lead commentary, TFT President Ken Ballen writes: “To the question many in the West have repeatedly asked – "Where is the voice of the moderate Muslim majority who stand against Al Qaeda, bin Laden, and terrorism?" – the people of Saudi Arabia have delivered a definitive answer. The people of Islam's spiritual home clearly and unequivocally reject Al Qaeda, bin Laden, Iraqi insurgents, and terrorism. They also just as forcefully look forward to the day when the US and Saudi Arabia can have closer and stronger relations.” For the full article and others in CNN, Washington Post, New York Times and important Saudi and Arabic media, click here. For an audio interview of Ken Ballen by the Monitor, click here.
Miami Herald (12/12/07)
Ken Ballen documents that Terror Free Tomorrow findings “show how U.S. policy can make a positive difference” against extremism around the world. For the full op-ed, click here.
The Washington Times (10/31/07)
“Insights into the thinking of Iranians is offered by the organization Terror Free Tomorrow, which for the past several years has been conducting opinion polls in Muslim countries in the interest of giving U.S. policy-makers the most complete and nuanced understanding of one of the most important foreign-policy challenges we face in the 21st century. In fact, not only has Terror Free Tomorrow recently conducted polling in Iran, but in Syria and Pakistan as well, and the way the three stack up against each other is fascinating and thought-provoking.” For the full editorial by Helle Dale, click here.
Atlanta Journal Constitution, Washington Post, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, New York Post, Jerusalem Post, Miami Herald, Sacramento Bee, Baltimore Sun and other Editorials relying on TFT Pakistan Poll (October-November 2007)
“American policy toward Pakistan had been a failure even before this latest setback. Despite plying Musharraf with public attention and billions in military aid, we haven't got much effective help from him in shutting down al-Qaida and Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan's tribal regions. The best explanation for that failure may come from a poll of Pakistanis commissioned by the American nonprofit group Terror Free Tomorrow.” For the Atlanta Journal Constitution editorial quoted and other editorials/stories,click here.
CNN (9/11/07)
“A new nationwide survey of Pakistan by Terror Free Tomorrow may help explain why Osama bin Laden remains at large in Pakistan and why both al Qaeda and the Taliban have regrouped there” Featured on CNN’s Anderson Cooper, as well as news coverage from the New York Times, Washington Post and Financial Times, the survey also made a substantial impact in Pakistan itself. For a video of the CNN story, please click here. For a transcript and related stories, please click here.
The Wall Street Journal (8/4/07)
In a lead commentary, Ken Ballen reports on Terror Free Tomorrow’s unprecedented surveys of Syria and Iran, concluding: “The U.S. should lead a broad-based international coalition, and not give the Iranian and Syrian regimes a free hand in portraying the U.S. as the mortal enemy of their people.…Public opinion in these countries tells us that it is time for the U.S. and the international community to place the ball squarely in the court of the Iranian and Syrian people -- and let their respective governments play defense for a change.” For the full editorial releasing the survey results in the Journal, click here.
The Wall Street Journal (7/11/07)
“Keen observers of Iran have insisted for years that the Iranian people are pro-Western, indeed pro-American, while opposed to the largely unelected clerical regime that rules them. For the first time, Terror Free Tomorrow's unprecedented nationwide poll of Iran offers indisputable empirical proof that these commentators are dead-on in their assessment of the ‘Iranian street.’” For the full editorial by Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen, releasing the survey results in the Journal, click here.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Mullen, Testimony before the House Armed Services Committee (3/1/07)
“Perhaps the most tangible application of Navy’s global reach and persistent presence in building partner capacity was last year’s five month deployment of the hospital ship MERCY in the summer of 2006 to the tsunami-affected areas in South and Southeast Asia. In an August 2006 public opinion survey, conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow, Indonesians and Bangladeshis overwhelmingly indicated their support of this humanitarian mission. In Indonesia, 85% of those aware of MERCY’s visit had a favorable opinion, and in Bangladesh this figure was 95%. Further, 87% of those polled in Bangladesh stated that MERCY’s activities made their overall view of the United States more positive. These polling results provide real indication of the power of partnerships.”
The Baltimore Sun (3/15/07)
“According to a new nationwide public opinion survey of Turkey recently conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow, the nonprofit organization I lead, congressional passage of a resolution on the Armenian Genocide would set back the cause it purports to achieve, namely Turkey's recognition of its past and reconciliation with Armenia today.” For the full op-ed, click here.
The Christian Science Monitor (2/23/07)
In a lead commentary, Ken Ballen reports on Terror Free Tomorrow’s latest findings and their policy implications: “Our surveys show that not only do Muslims reject terrorism as much if not more than Americans, but even those who are sympathetic to radical ideology can be won over by positive American actions that promote goodwill and offer real hope.” For the complete op-ed, please click here.
The Christian Science Monitor (12/20/06)
In another lead commentary, Ken Ballen analyzes how Terror Free Tomorrow’s survey data has led to successful American actions in Muslim countries, including the recent mission of the U.S. Navy ship Mercy: “By demonstrating our common humanity and a benevolent side to American power, these missions have proved to be America's most successful weapon against extremism in the Muslim world.” For the full op-ed, click here.
Philadelphia Inquirer (7/24/06)
In the lead commentary, Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen writes that “the changed circumstances of the latest conflict against terror require, as our military leaders recognize, a different and imaginative use of our military and civilian resources to prevail.” For the full editorial, click here.
The Wall Street Journal (3/16/06)
Citing Terror Free Tomorrow’s new poll of Indonesia, in a lead editorial, the editors write: “America's popularity in Indonesia has risen dramatically in the past year -- Gitmo, Abu Ghraib and Halliburton notwithstanding. That's the conclusion of a remarkable poll conducted last month for the Washington-based NGO, Terror Free Tomorrow. Since 2003, the number of Indonesians with a favorable view of the U.S. has nearly tripled, to 44% from 15%.... The proximate cause for the changed Indonesian outlook has been U.S. relief efforts following the December 2004 tsunami.” For the full editorial, click here.
The Christian Science Monitor (3/2/06)
In the lead commentary, Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen writes that America’s top military leaders, based on Terror Free Tomorrow public opinion surveys over the past year, agree “if American efforts are focused on positive rebuilding and vision for the future, the foot soldiers for bin Laden and radical Islam will desert. Islamist extremism can indeed be effectively defeated in Muslim hearts and minds.” For the full editorial, click here.
USA Today (3/03/06)
Citing Terror Free Tomorrow’s work as evidence, the Editorial Board of USA Today concludes: “Reaching people on a human level was once a larger part of U.S. policy... By leading with its values and again becoming a beacon of hope in the developing world, the United States could advance both the search for bin Laden and the battle against his hateful ideology.” For the full editorial, click here.
US Senate Passes Resolution Based on Terror Free
Tomorrow’s Findings
Terror Free Tomorrow’s Pakistan poll was cited by the Senate as one of the principal findings in Senate Resolution 356, unanimously passed by the Senate on January 27, 2006. The Senate supported the United States “to take the lead” to encourage and continue relief efforts in response to the earthquake in Pakistan, finding that “the results of a poll by the nonprofit organization Terror Free Tomorrow show that, at the end of November 2005, more than 46 percent of Pakistanis had a favorable view of the United States, double the percentage of Pakistanis that held that view in May 2005.” The resolution was co-sponsored by Senators Lugar and Biden (Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee), and introduced by Senator Mikulski, among others.
Miami Herald (1/24/06)
Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen discusses the implications of Terror Free Tomorrow’s unprecedented polling: “Results from a recent poll of Pakistanis deliver a stunning new message on the United States' course for future success. If American efforts are focused on a positive rebuilding and vision for the future, the foot soldiers for bin Laden and radical Islam will desert. Islamist extremism can indeed be effectively defeated in Muslim hearts and minds.” For the full op-ed, click here.
CNN (12/21/05)
Ken Ballen, Terror Free Tomorrow President, was interviewed on CNN about Terror Free Tomorrow’s work. The interview with anchor Carol Lin focused on the first poll in Pakistan since the earthquake of October 8, 2005, conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow. Mr. Ballen also discussed the poll on the most watched Pakistani news broadcast (GEO TV), as well as numerous radio shows across the United States. For a transcript of the CNN interview, click here.
The Wall Street Journal (12/19/05)
The Wall Street Journal released Terror Free Tomorrow’s poll of Pakistan, the first survey after the October 8th earthquake. Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen and Advisory Board member Husain Haqqani detailed the path breaking poll results in commentary, revealing that Pakistanis now hold a more favorable opinion of the United States than at any time since 9/11, while support for Al Qaeda in its home base has dropped to its lowest level since then. For the full editorial, click here.
Navy’s Top Officer Cites Terror Free Tomorrow
Admiral Michael Mullen, Chief of Operations for the US Navy, wrote that he was “struck by the results” of Terror Free Tomorrow polling, which showed that “as a direct result of American humanitarian assistance,” there was “a stunning turnaround of public opinion” in the Muslim world. Admiral Mullen concluded: “That was, in my view, one of the defining moments of this new century.” "Shame on us," Admiral Mullen wrote, " if, even through benign neglect, we allow those same opinions to turn against our best intentions again.” For Admiral Mullen’s full article, click here.
The Globe and Mail (11/17/05)
In an op-ed in Canada’s leading newspaper, Terror Free Tomorrow President Ken Ballen and Advisory Board member Husain Haqqani reveal new information on the role of Islamist radicals in Pakistani earthquake relief. Citing Terror Free Tomorrow’s work, they argue for a much stronger international response. For the full article, click here.
Roll Call (11/10/05)
“Terror Free Tomorrow found that 71 percent of Americans believe they’ve heard less about the Pakistan quake than about the tsunami. When informed about the disaster, a majority favors more U.S. aid. A widely publicized poll by TFT, whose advisory board includes Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former Reps. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.) and Tom Foley (D-Wash.), found that tsunami relief cut Indonesian popular opposition to the U.S. war on terror… TFT’s executive director, Ken Ballen, a former aide to Hamilton, told me “The United States is indeed helping Pakistan, but much more needs to be done, given the scale of the disaster and the strategic importance of the world’s second-largest and only nuclear-armed Muslim nation…. If we are serious about truly confronting what President Bush rightly called ‘the murderous ideology’ of radical Islamists, then we must also take the concrete steps required to weaken support for the radicals among the people themselves.” For the complete commentary by Mort Kondracke, click here.
The Christian Science Monitor (3/21/05)
Former 9/11 Commission Co Chair Lee Hamilton cited Terror Free Tomorrow's work, writing that: "Its implications are both broad and profound." For his full commentary, click here.
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