Ideas
The War on ISIS Held the Middle East Together
With the fall of Raqqa, the sad story will pick up exactly where it left off in 2014.
Threats
‘We're Not Taking Sides,’ Trump Tells Clashing Kurds, Iraqis
The Pentagon watches two American allies turn on each other, as Iraq’s fractious politics are laid bare once again.
Ideas
Closing the Taliban’s Office in Qatar Would Be a Historic Mistake
With no military solution in Afghanistan, the US needs credible interlocutors to end the war — like the ones who secured the Bergdahl deal.
Threats
Turkey Opens Its Largest Overseas Military Base in Somalia
The military base in Somalia is also a reminder that despite Turkey’s growing regional and national problems, Africa remains central to its global expansion strategy.
Threats
Q&A: Deputy Commander of the War on ISIS
Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Robert Sofge is helping to coordinate a two-front ground war in Iraq.
Threats
Dunford: Six Months From Now, ISIS Will Have ‘Less Credibility’
But they — and four other major threats to the U.S. — aren’t going anywhere, the Joint Chiefs chairman says.
Threats
'It’s Never a Good Time for the Iraqi Kurds to Become Independent’
The Turkish government believes that self-determination for the Kurds represents an existential threat to the NATO ally.
Threats
US Military Leaders Worry About Iran’s Media Operations
Forget Russian fake news. Iranian media and messaging are thwarting U.S. efforts across the Middle East.
Ideas
The Only Path to Peace is a Kurdistan Independent of Iraq
A Peshmerga commander says Iraq had its chance and failed to live up to its security promises to the people of Kurdistan.
Threats
‘I Want to Finish This’: US Special Ops Leaders Urge Washington to Stick by the Syrian Kurds
Commanders inside Syria say rebels are doing all they hoped for — and are the best shot to break the region's cycle of terrorism.
Policy
The US Balance-of-Power Strategy in the Gulf is Collapsing. But It Never Had a Chance Anyway
The Qatar dispute deals a death blow to Trump Administration dreams of an Arab NATO arrayed against Iran.
Ideas
It’s Long Past Time to Rethink US Military Posture in the Gulf
The rift between Qatar and other Gulf nations should prompt a long-overdue review of what the Pentagon keeps in the region, and where.
Ideas
Mosul: What the Decade's Largest Battle Says About the Future of War
Here’s how Western-backed Iraqi soldiers helped break the Islamic State’s grip on a city of more than 1 million people — and what we can learn from it.
Threats
‘Whoever Controls Benghazi Controls Libya’
Well into its fourth year, the war in Libya’s second city has buttressed strongman Khalifa Haftar and sent ripples through the region.
Threats
Is ISIS More Violent During Ramadan?
The group has called for increased attacks during the Islamic holy month.
Ideas
Don’t Loosen the Rules on Civilian Casualties During Drone Strikes
The Trump team may eliminate the “near certainty” clause, which would do far more damage to US counterterrorism than retaining it.
Ideas
America’s Best Partner in Middle East HUMINT Needs Help
Jordan’s spies set the standard for the boots-on-the-ground intelligence sharing that is crucial to U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
Ideas