Threats
Why ISIS Cannot Be Negotiated With
Jonathan Powell argues that talking to terrorists has brought peace in the past. But the Islamic State really is different.
Threats
Terror Arrests Pose New Threat to Syrian Refugee Program
Republicans pounced on the news that two men indicted on terrorism charges had been resettled in the U.S. after fleeing Iraq.
Ideas
There's Far More to the Saudi-Iran Feud Than Sunnis-Vs.-Shia
The ancient religious split can only take us so far in understanding what's going on between Riyadh and Tehran.
Ideas
'Kill-Em-All With Airstrikes' Is Not Working
Here’s a summary of the anti-ISIS bombing campaign: 30,000 fighters - 20,000 killed = 30,000 fighters
Threats
Saudi Arabia-Iran Break Threatens Syrian Peace Process
Mere weeks after the two countries backed a unanimous U.N. Security Council resolution, their sectarian-fueled escalation has likely sunk fragile hopes for Syria.
Policy
Swooning for Saudi Arabia
What the Middle East needs is not intensified conflict, as some 2016 contenders advocate, but a series of political compromises to help end the civil wars traumatizing the region.
Threats
Yemen's War Is Nearly Lost in the Din of Surrounding Conflicts
With another ceasefire ended and nearly 3,000 already dead, Yemenis are stuck in a Saudi-Iranian proxy war that has no end in sight.
Policy
Sudan Cuts Ties with Iran, Widening Middle East's Sunni-Shi'a Divide
The diplomatic fallout from Riyadh's execution of a Shiite cleric is prompting fears of a region-wide sectarian conflict.
Threats
Syrian Refugees in Turkey Are Facing the Same Terror They Once Fled
A journalist's death exemplifies a bitter truth: The easiest and closest refuge is not always the safest.
Threats
‘Call of Jihad’: ISIS Turns to Video Games, Hollywood to Reach Recruits
This video shows how ISIS is increasingly appropriating images of western pop culture, portraying terror as glamorous.
Policy
US Syria Policy Shifts From ‘Assad Must Go’ to ‘Not Right Now’
The UN Security Council backs a blueprint for Syrian peace talks — and papers over powderkeg tensions between the U.S. and Russia.
Policy
Report: Turkey Has Become the EU’s Enforcer in Bid to Slow Refugees
A damning Amnesty report claims Turkey abused refugees and pressured some to return to war zones.
Ideas
The Challenge of Selling ‘Stay the Course’
Obama’s Pentagon photo op was meant to talk tough and say nothing new while convincing the public his plan is working.
Threats
Iraq Does Not Want US, British Ground Troops for ISIS Fight
The U.K. defense secretary says the Iraqi prime minister does not want British or American ground troops and that local forces must overtake Islamic State militants on their own.
Ideas
In Town Where Refugees Depart, Trump's Ideas Feel Even More Ludicrous
As Syrian refugee parents fight for food and their children's survival, the policy conversation happening in America could not feel more remote – or more off-base.
Ideas
Drone Strikes Are Creating Hatred Toward America That Will Last for Generations
'The resentment created by American use of unmanned strikes,' said retired four-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal, 'is much greater than the average American appreciates.'
Threats
Why Do People Join ISIS? Here’s What They Say When You Ask Them
A marketing communications company gets the Pentagon’s attention by identifying nine reasons.
Threats
Russian Strikes Killed Syrian Soldiers, Pentagon Says
Accused of airstrikes on government forces, U.S. officials point the finger at Moscow.
Science & Tech
How a Poorly Rigged Antenna Contributed to Kunduz Hospital Strike
AFSOC commander describes new drones, training, and gear could prevent future deadly mistakes.
Policy