Policy
What Rand Paul Gets By Declaring War Against ISIS
By declaring war against the Islamic State, he's also picking a legal battle with the White House. By Emma Roller
Threats
What Iran Loses From the Failed Nuclear Talks
Tehran stands to lose billions in oil exports as the days without a deal drag on. By Steve LeVine
Threats
Tunisia May Be Headed for Another Arab Spring
Tunisia just held its second consecutive peaceful election -- but regional instability means it's still too soon to celebrate a stable democratic transition in Tunis. By Sam Kimball and Nicholas Linn
Threats
The Many Iranian Obstacles in the Way of a Strong Nuclear Deal
The military option isn't much of an option. But diplomacy could inadvertently pave the way to a nuclear Iran. By Jeffrey Goldberg
Threats
The US-Turkey Relationship Is Undergoing Death By a Thousand Slights
Here's what makes Ankara the reluctant and very important U.S. ally it is today. By Steven A. Cook
Threats
Vickers: Boots on the Ground Not Necessary for Intel in Iraq
Defense intelligence collection has reached pivotal point, says the Defense Department’s Undersecretary for Intelligence Michael Vickers. By Patrick Tucker
Threats
UN Ambassador Warns Against Intervention Fatigue
As the U.S. fights global threats from Ebola to the Islamic State, U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power warns against intervention fatigue. By Molly O’Toole
Threats
Dempsey: US Strategy in the Middle East Is Sound, But Expect It To Change
Gen. Dempsey spoke on a range of issues, from the strategy in Iraq and Syria to the budget to the military’s relationship to Congress and the American public. By Gordon Lubold
Threats
The Real Reason ISIS Takes Hostages and Beheads Them
From the outside, the group’s actions look insane. But the brutality is meant to provoke a wider war—a war that ISIS is convinced it will win. By Simon Cottee
Threats
What Obama Needs To Do To Beat ISIS
If the president is serious about dealing with the Islamic State, he will need to increase America's commitment in a measured way. By Max Boot
Threats
ISIS Beheads Another American Hostage
A video released Sunday by the terrorist group shows the execution of an American aid worker and former U.S. Army Ranger. By Marina Koren
Policy
Can the US Defeat ISIS Without Removing Assad?
Two months into its campaign against the Islamic State, the White House may be rethinking its strategy. By Adam Chandler
Ideas
Why the US Is Losing Yemen
The challenge of Yemen is far more complicated than finding a favored partner to do Washington’s bidding. By Adam Baron
Threats
Here’s What ISIS Recruits Ask Before Joining Up for Jihad
The website Ask.fm has become a popular forum for Islamic State militants to talk about what life is really like inside the extremist group. By Joanna Paraszczuk
Threats
In the War Against ISIS, Iran Is Not – and Will Not Be – a Friend to the US
In the fight against the Islamic State, your enemy’s enemy is not automatically your friend. By Bobby Ghosh
Threats
Destroying ISIS Goes Beyond Killing Its Leadership
A U.S.-led coalition has reportedly killed a top aide to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. But getting rid of the terror group's leadership isn't going to be enough. By Matt Schiavenza
Threats
Obama Doubles Number of Troops for Iraq Mission to 3,000
The Obama administration is reevaluating the operation against ISIL in Iraq, where months of air strikes there and in neighboring Syria have seen little effect. By Stephanie Gaskell
Ideas
How the US Can Turn the GCC Into a Lasting Military Alliance
The Islamic State has achieved one thing: it got the GCC to agree on something. Now, can the U.S. make it last? By Melissa G. Dalton
Threats
US Targets the Khorasan Group With a New Round of Airstrikes
The Defense Department says the terrorist organization is plotting to attack the United States or Europe. By Jordain Carney
Policy