Threats
A Guide to ISIS, the Group That's Tearing Up Iraq
ISIS began its life as Al Qaeda in Iraq after the U.S. invasion, but have morphed into an extremely dangerous force. By Zachary Laub and Jonathan Masters
Threats
The Unraveling of Iraq
As militants vow to seize Baghdad, the country is facing a crisis that has been building for years. By Nicholas Slayton
Ideas
Don’t Be Sucked Into War With Iraq, Again
We should not be bullied back to Baghdad by politics, ideology or short-term thinking that this wrong war never should have ended. By Joe Cirincione
Threats
Pentagon Officials Cautious on Iraq, Point to Maliki
At the Pentagon where so many spent years fighting in Iraq, the sense is that this is Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki’s mess to clean up. By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
McCain Calls for Obama’s National Security Team to Resign Over Iraq
Fuming Republican senators blast the administration for abandoning Iraq as Sen. John McCain says Obama’s national security team should resign. By Kevin Baron
Threats
Where Will CENTCOM’s Post-War Funding Come From?
U.S. Central Command won’t be able to rely on the Pentagon’s war budget anymore to pay for counterterrorism operations around the world, a new report warns. By Stephanie Gaskell
Threats
Hagel Wants Gulf States to Combine Missile Defense Systems
It’s a tall order, but uniting air and missile defense from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could deter an attack from Iran. By Rachel Oswald
Threats
Iran and Saudi Arabia Edge Closer to Talks
After growing distrust and almost a year of silence, the Saudi foreign minister kickstarts discussions with Iran's top diplomat. By Global Security Newswire
Threats
U.S. ‘Not on a Path‘ To Help Syrian Rebels Win, Says Dempsey
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey outlines three things the rebels need to defeat Assad and secure Syria – none of which the U.S. is providing. By Kevin Baron
Ideas
Democracy's Future in the Middle East
Across the region, power struggles mask a more fundamental divide over the meaning of the modern nation-state. By Shadi Hamid
Ideas
What To Do About Syria
Several leading experts gathered at the Council on Foreign Relations to discuss what options the United States has to help end the civil war in Syria.
Threats
Saudi Arabia Unveils Ballistic Missiles in Military Parade, But Why Now?
For the first time ever, Saudi Arabia showed off ballistic missiles it's had since the 1980s. To find out why, analysts point 1,200 miles northeast of Riyadh. By Rachel Oswald
Threats
Why Assad’s Re-Election Campaign Matters
The Syrian president wants to impose a solution to the country's crisis—on his terms. By Andrew Tabler
Threats
Number of Foreign Fighters in Syria Jumped from 800 to 8,000 in the Past Year
Once a two-sided war, CENTCOM’s Gen. Austin calls today’s Syria ‘the most complex problem I’ve seen.’ By Kevin Baron
Policy
Why Saudi Arabia's (Still) Upset with Obama over Iran, Syria and Egypt
Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia 'didn't solve' serious differences. By Bernard Gwertzman
Ideas
Iraq’s Do-Nothing Legacy
The 11th anniversary of the Iraq invasion finds U.S. leaders paralyzed and gun-shy to intervene anywhere in the Mideast. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Threats
Q&A with Dennis Ross: How Ukraine Affects the Middle East
Veteran diplomat Dennis Ross says the U.S. response to Ukraine will have strong reverberations across the Middle East. By Bernard Gwertzman
Science & Tech
Syrian Electronic Army Threatens to Hack CENTCOM
A group of anonymous hackers backing the Syrian government is threatening to take down U.S. Central Command. By Patrick Tucker
Policy
Obama Says the 'Window Is Closing' for a Mideast Peace Deal
In an interview with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, President Obama discusses Iran, Syria and urgency of a Mideast peace deal. By Matt Ford
Threats