Ideas
Obama’s 5 Rules for the Middle East
It may not be a strategy but at the United Nations on Tuesday, President Obama outlined his five 'core interests' for the United States in the Middle East and North Africa. By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
Why the United Nations Is Suddenly Relevant
President Obama is discovering that the U.N. Security Council remains the main repository for international legitimacy. By Michael Hirsh
Business
Pentagon Prepares for Government Shutdown
Officials at the Pentagon are warning employees to prepare for a government shutdown on Sept. 30. By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
Will Obama and Rouhani Meet Face-to-Face at the United Nations?
This week’s United Nations meeting could open the door to an historic meeting between President Obama and the new Iranian leader. By Stephanie Gaskell
Threats
Here's the Main Reason Iran's President Is Warming Up to the West
Rouhani faces a plunging economy because of western sanctions that have cut into oil exports and other industries. Talks with the West is the only way to make it stop. By Tim Fernholz
Policy
Senators Vow To Crack Down on Security Clearances
Capitol Hill wants the system that grants contractors elite access to be much more accountable. By Matt Berman
Threats
Obama's Final Pivot Away From the Middle East
The administration's reluctance to intervene in Syria may be the beginning of a permanent shift away from the region. By David Rohde
Policy
A September to Surrender: Syria and Summers Spell Second-Term Slump
Is Obama's power eroding quicker than before, or is this just typical of this stage in the presidency? By Major Garrett
Business
Inside Obama’s Syria Deliberations: ‘The Promise of More Discussion’
Insiders detail a reluctance to engage in military action, and a disconnect between the president and the national security options prepared for his review. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Policy
The Other Half of ‘This Town’
The Navy Yard massacre reveals another side of ‘This Town’. The real side. The side we know well. By Kevin Baron
Business
OMB Puts Agencies on Standby for Possible Shutdown
As the fiscal year comes to an end, Pentagon officials were put on alert to prepare for a government shutdown. By Charles Clark
Policy
Conspiracy Theorists Already Suspect Navy Yard Shooting Is a 'False Flag'
Controversial host Alex Jones believes that the attack is a way to distract the American public from the issue of Benghazi. By Alex Seitz-Wald
Policy
It's Time to Revamp the U.N.
A sclerotic Security Council, and an inability to get major initiatives passed. Maybe it's time that the multilateral body is revamped for the 21st century. By Jim Arkedis
Policy
Republicans to Link Benghazi to Broader Foreign Policy Failures
GOP strategists want to make the case that the attack was indicative of an administration that has lost control. It'll be also used against Hillary Clinton if she runs in 2016. By Stacy Kaper
Business
Exclusive Interview: Pentagon Comptroller Bob Hale Braces for Sequestration, Round 2
Pentagon Comptroller Bob Hale on budget cuts driving strategy, lessons learned and how he's preparing for another round of budget battles in Congress. By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
Putin's Authoritarian Incentives in Syria
The Russian leader isn't just saving Assad's power. He's trying to preserve his own authority. By David Rohde
Policy
Navy Yard Shooting Talk Turns to Guns, Politics Before It’s Even Over
Political commentators from the left and right argue on Twitter on the causes of the latest tragedy in Washington. By Matt Vasilogambros, Patrick Reis and Lucia Graves
Policy
U.N. Releases Report on Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack, But Doesn't Assign Blame
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon calls the attack a "war crime" but doesn't name the perpetrators. By Philip Bump
Policy
The Winner of the U.S.-Russia Deal? Bashar Al-Assad
Syria's strongman was effectively strengthened by a deal that lets him stay in power without the possible threat of U.S. military involvement. By Shadi Hamid
Business