Ideas
What Could US Boots on the Ground Do in Iraq and Syria?
Boots on the ground in Iraq or Syria should be seen as a capability, not a strategy. By Brian Michael Jenkins
Ideas
Is ISIS Using Chemical Weapons?
If reports that the Islamic State has used chemical weapons in Syria are true, where did they get them? By Joseph Cirincione and Paul Walker
Ideas
Obama Is Working With the Wrong Partners in Iraq
The U.S. is behaving like junior partners to Iran and propping up Shiites in Baghdad, instead of Sunnis on the front line. By Bing West
Science & Tech
ISIS Is Better Than Al-Qaeda At Using the Internet
Both terrorist groups have embraced digital communications to spread their message. However, its the newer organization that has made a much bigger impact. By Laura Ryan.
Threats
Promises of Syrian Rebel Train-and-Equip Program Meet the Battlefield’s Realities
It will take months, if not years, to train and equip Syrian rebels. But on the battlefield, the clock is ticking. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Threats
Air Strikes Haven't Stopped ISIS From Moving On a Key Syrian City
The efficacy of the US-led airstrikes is under scrutiny as Islamic State fighters raise their flag over parts of the northern Syrian town of Kobani. By Adam Chandler
Threats
Report: Mortars Land in Baghdad’s Green Zone
Islamic State fighters are closing in on the Iraqi capital. By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
These Are All the Countries That Now Recognize Palestinian Statehood
The list of more than 130 nations recognizing the state of Palestine just added Sweden, the first EU nation. Here's the full tally ahead of the UK's vote next week. By Kabir Chibber
Threats
How Iran Scammed America Out of a Nuclear Deal
A year ago, Iran was in crisis. Now it’s on the verge of a diplomatic triumph. By David Frum
Threats
Why ISIL Hasn't Derailed America's Pivot to the Pacific
Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work sees no risk with the Asia-Pacific rebalance while staying active in Europe and the Middle East. The real risks are with Congress. By Janine Davidson
Ideas
Is the Islamic State a Terrorist Group or an Insurgency?
What’s happening in Iraq and Syria calls for a full-blown counterinsurgency – if the American people can stomach it. By Jerry Meyerle
Business
How To Determine the Success of Air Strikes in Syria
Targeting these 5 categories of an enemy's system can determine the success or failure of an air strike campaign like the US-led one in Syria today. By Col. Clint Hinote
Ideas
In War and Tragedy, How the US Media Prioritizes Death
Gruesome beheadings by the Islamic State dominated the headlines, but it's worth understanding what gets lost and why oftentimes sympathy diminishes as death tolls rise. By Jacoba Urist
Policy
Meet the Muslim Leader Helping Obama Fight ISIL
Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah is part of a broader White House push to understand religion's potential to curb violent extremism. By Kaveh Waddell
Science & Tech
Arab Twitter Users Like Iran Even Less Than the US
Arab reaction to major events on Twitter from 2012 to 2013 points to broad animosity toward any non-Arab military interventionist power in the region. By Daniel A. Medina
Ideas
Q&A: Ryan Crocker on Iraq's Role in the Long War Against ISIL
The former ambassador says the Iraqi army is far from finished, but they'll need U.S. special forces with them to help take back provincial capitals like Ramadi. By Bernard Gwertzman
Science & Tech
This Site Tracks the Guns Going Into Syria
The movement of weapons into Syria and Iraq just became much more visible to the entire world. By Patrick Tucker
Ideas
Our Best Bet Against ISIL: Kurdish Crude
Make no mistake, the legal battles over Kurdish oil and the military battles over Iraqi territory are part of the same war. By M. Ron Wahid
Threats
Why Is the US Yielding to Iran Now?
The Obama administration does not need to make nuclear concessions to Tehran to gain its support against ISIL. By David Frum
Business