Ideas

How Obama Can Help Iraq

The Iraq war President Obama never wanted is back. Here’s what he can do to help stop Iraq’s spiral into chaos. By Stephanie Gaskell

Ideas

Crocker: Send More U.S. Counterterrorism Troops to Iraq

Ryan Crocker, the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, knows what it takes to save Iraq: political will and military muscle that President Obama has been unwilling to use. By James Kitfield

Threats

What Happened to Iraq?

Terrorist that the U.S. subdued, but never defeated, have reemerged and now threaten to restart Iraq's sectarian civil war. By Norman Ricklefs

Threats

New Study Says Iraq War Led to Half a Million Iraqi Deaths

For every three people killed by violence in Iraq, two died as a result of conflict-crippled health care, water and transportation systems, a new study finds. By Marina Koren

Threats

How Will Obama Keep Syria from Turning into Another Iraq?

White House promises of limited American action in Syria have so far failed to ease public concern. By David Rohde

Ideas

Once an Iraqi Interpreter, Now an American Soldier

The American dream -- and the fear of post-war Baghdad -- has led tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees to the U.S. For one former interpreter to the U.S. military, the only way to stay was to join up.

Business

Time to Treat the VA's Problems as DOD's Problems

The VA's letdowns are now the Defense Department's problem, too. It’s time VA readiness were on par with DOD readiness. By Alexander Nicholson

Ideas

Wanted: A Post-War Watchdog for Nation-Building

The U.S. may be ending big wars, but military 'stability operations' and expensive nation-building projects will continue. The U.S. inspector general in Iraq argues the Pentagon needs someone to oversee contingency spending. By Stuart Bowen

Threats

Iraq’s Descent Into Madness, With No Americans in Sight

Prison breaks, car bombs and cozying up to Iran? This is not what was supposed to happen. By Joshua Foust