Business
400,000 DOD Civilians to Get Shutdown Furloughs
Thousands of workers face mandatory unpaid leave days with the lapse in appropriations. By Kellie Lunney
Policy
Unwinding 34 Years of Sanctions on Iran Won't Be Easy
The current sanctions regime is a labyrinthine mix of laws, executive actions and involves many international actors. Easing them will be an arduous task for Obama. By Kaveh Waddell
Threats
The Six Things That Will Determine Obama's Success With Iran
Obama has made a good start by speaking to Rouhani, but there are plenty of pitfalls on the road to peace. By David Rohde
Threats
Syrian Rebels Are Rejecting U.S. Strategy
The new rebel alliance formed under al-Nusra is a no-confidence vote in U.S. leadership. By James Kitfield
Policy
Bill Clinton: House Republicans 'Don't Want to Negotiate' Over Funding the Government
The former president says that the House Republican position is 'almost spiteful,' and that the shutdown debates of the mid-1990s were 'extremely minor' in comparison. By Dustin Volz
Policy
Government Shutdown Looks Likely As Congress Hits Final Hours
Members of Congress are digging in for an extended budget battle, with no end in sight. By Michael Catalini and Billy House
Business
Pentagon Prepares for More Furloughs as Government Shutdown Looms
Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is warning DoD employees again to get ready for furloughs if the government shuts down on Oct. 1. By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
Afghanistan Wants Post-2014 Troops to Battle the Taliban, not al Qaeda
The Afghan Foreign Minister says the core of al Qaeda has been defeated in Afghanistan, but the country still needs U.S. troops to help battle the Taliban. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
How a 2009 Law Is Protecting Veterans from the Government Shutdown
Veterans advocates fought hard to pass a 2009 law that helps protect their benefits from congressional gridlock. Now it’s paying off. By Tom Tarantino
Business
Mabus: Budget Battle Threatens Navy's Progress
Even in hard economic times, the Navy has managed to grow and stay competitive. Another round of sequestration could undo that. By Charles S. Clark
Threats
Why Did Rouhani Say ‘No’ to Obama?
For decades, Iran has conducted secret negotiations with the United States, only to publically back off before a major diplomatic breakthrough. Rouhani's behavior at the United Nations was more of the same. By Michael Ledeen
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