Ideas
Is Obama’s ‘Iraq First’ Strategy Working Against ISIS?
The Obama administration believes it can tackle problems in Iraq first, then Syria, but will that make things better or worse down the road? By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon and Stephanie Gaskell
Threats
Crocker: Training Rebels in Syria Is Moving Too Slow 'To Make a Difference'
The key lesson from the current turmoil in the region, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, the former ambassador said, 'is to engage.' By Charles S. Clark
Threats
The Syrian Civil War, From Space
Three years of conflict have literally plunged the country into darkness. By Uri Friedman
Threats
The Search for the Plan To Destroy ISIS
In Syria, ISIS is offering a better deal than the U.S. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
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
Ideas
Stop Fearing Iran and Back the Free Syrian Army
The Free Syrian Army has done everything the U.S. has asked of them. It’s time to help them before it’s too late. By Oubai Shahbandar and Michael Pregent
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
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
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
Threats
US, Allies Face Tragic Setbacks in Iraq and Syria
The losses underscore the fact that American support does not automatically lead to victory over ISIS. By Polly Mosendz
Threats
ISIS Shifts Its Propaganda Tactics
The group's newest propaganda videos seem intended to directly counter Western media reports and spin them in a different light. By Polly Mosendz
Science & Tech
Will This Video Game Raise Awareness About the Syrian Civil War?
The video game "1000 Days of Syria" lets its players navigate the first two years of the Syrian uprising as a Syrian mother, a rebel fighter or an American journalist. By Zach Goldhammer
Threats
How 500,000 Iraqi Refugees Are Surviving Under the Shadow of ISIS
How northern Iraqi Kurdistan's displaced people are coping with war and want. By Alice Su
Threats
America's Awkward Alliance With Turkey Just Got More Awkward
The State Department said Thursday that it held talks about ISIS with a Syrian Kurdish party with links to a group on the U.S. terror list. By Adam Chandler
Threats
Where ISIS Is Taking a Big Hit
Coalition airstrikes aren't stopping ISIS from taking territory in Iraq and Syria, but they have cut affected the amount of black market oil money the group is pulling in. By Steve LeVine
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
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
Ideas