Policy

The P5+1 Aren't All Aligned on Iran's Sanctions Relief

It's not just Iran vs. the West - Russia and China are siding with Tehran on a key issue.

Policy

The Alternative to an Iran Deal Isn't Inevitable War

Pro-deal advocates are resorting to name calling and hyperboles to make their argument.

Policy

White House Reversal Will Send Arms to Egypt

Obama sidelines his insistence on democratic reform, hoping to restart Washington-Cairo dialogue.

Threats

In Syria, Today's 'Lost Generation' Could Be Tomorrow's Militants

Half of the country's children are not in school, sowing instability for another generation.

Threats

Pentagon: Yes, Taking Tikrit Just Got Harder

DoD official concedes that Iran was helping Iraq take back its city.

Threats

The Reckless Man's Case for Bombing Iran

John Bolton's newest proposal for yet another war in the Middle East was assessed as a bad idea by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates three years ago.

Policy

Why Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei Wants a Nuclear Deal

While Ayatollah Khamenei is skeptical of negotiating with the U.S., he knows well the value of a potential agreement with the Washington and the West.

Policy

A Nuclear Deal Won't Help Iran's Reformers

Despite what many liberal Iranians think, it could spur the regime to put hardliners in power instead.

Threats

Tunisia Won't Derail From Democracy

A recent terrorist attack, doesn't signal the country's slide into violence and repression. Still, Washington needs to ensure the country's future.

Science & Tech

The Top Secret Military Mapmakers Spying on ISIS' Oil Smuggling

Analysts at the NGA have taken the tradecraft used to spy on Russia and China and turned it on black market oil transports.

Policy

Why the Gulf States Won’t Save Yemen

The Gulf Cooperation Council's joint military force is not built for war, but to protect authoritarian regimes from unarmed civilian uprisings.

Policy

Your Opinion About the Iran Deal Means Nothing to Obama

The White House doesn't seem to care Americans aren't convinced that Obama's Iran deal will work -- but what about key Democrats?

Policy

The Fine Line Netanyahu Must Walk Into His Fourth Term as Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu earned his fourth term as Israel's prime minister in part by doing whatever it takes to keep his job, including renouncing his own positions.

Threats

The Specter of Chemical Warfare Returns to the Middle East

Assad's army dropped chlorine gas on a northern Syrian town, say activists, while Kurdish forces allege ISIS use of the same weapon against them near Mosul.

Ideas

How America’s Drones Can Defeat ISIS

Critics of airstrikes over Iraq and Syria should give credit where it’s due: US sustained drone strikes are doing the job.

Policy

Undoing Netanyahu's Damage to US-Israel Relations

The former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, argues that it will crucial for Jerusalem's next government to get right with Washington.

Threats

There Is No Global Jihadist ‘Movement’

The world of Islamist fighters is deeply fragmented and constantly shifting.

Policy

The Only Thing the White House and Congress Agree On About the War Against ISIS

Senators and Obama’s top officials agree on one thing on the war against the Islamic State -- Congress is unlikely to authorize it, and it’s unlikely to matter.

Policy

Republicans May Have Undermined Their Own Cause Against Iran

The letter from 47 Republicans to Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei could provide an excuse to blame the U.S. if nuclear negotiations fail.

Policy

Why Obama's ISIS War Powers Request Is Going Nowhere

A month after the White House released a new draft to authorize military force against the Islamic State, the measure hasn't gained support in either chamber or party.