White House Seeks Leverage in Decertification of Iran Deal
President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated decertification of the Iran nuclear deal would hand the problem off to Congress, setting off a 60-day countdown for lawmakers to […] More
Middle East
Al Qaeda, ISIS are ‘Biggest Winners’ in Saudi Campaign
As war in Yemen drags on, the people of Yemen are facing severe humanitarian circumstances, with many starving, succumbing to disease, or unable to receive […] More
War, Plague and Famine Ride Over Yemen
Billed the “forgotten child” of the Middle East, Yemen is ensnared in a three-year old civil war with no end in sight. Despite haphazard international […] More
Peace Remains Distant Prospect as Civilians Suffer
Civil war in Yemen has dragged on for approximately three years with no end in sight. Forces loyal to Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and […] More
Political Cultures Endure After States Fall
The United States has long sought to export its system of liberal democracy abroad. In places where military juntas and dictators have risen – and […] More
What to Know the ‘Day After’ Overthrowing a Government
The concept of regime change – toppling a hostile or distasteful foreign government and replacing it with a friendly one – has long tantalized U.S. […] More
How to Get Regime Change Right
The U.S. has had mixed experiences attempting to establish governance, security, public services, economic activity, and political processes after the violent breakdown of a foreign […] More
Israel, Hezbollah Prefer Status Quo to Risk of War
On August 21, Hussein Jaber Ansari, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, arrived in Beirut for a two-day official visit. A detail […] More
Uncertainties of Vietnam Return in War on Terror
The U.S.-led coalition has achieved significant success this year in the battle against ISIS, first in Mosul and now in Raqqa where nearly 80 percent […] More
Trump Policy Change Increases Efficiency of Fight
The U.S.-led coalition’s battle against ISIS in Iraq and Syria has crossed significant milestones this year, supporting the final liberation of Mosul by Iraqi forces […] More
Rising Toll on Civilians Haunts Victories against ISIS
The fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq is nearing its second major victory this year as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – an allied […] More
Recruits Hear Extremist Messages in ‘Surround Sound’
Terrorist groups such as al Qaeda and ISIS have strategically disseminated propaganda that appeals to a wide variety of individuals. Although al Qaeda was the […] More
ISIS ‘Caliphate’ Fades but Social Media Empire Remains
Since the U.S. declared its War on Terror 16 years ago, it has achieved a number of battlefield successes against its main terrorist adversaries, al […] More
The ‘Absolute Dependence’ of Jihadist Groups on Web
Over the past two decades, jihadi groups, including al Qaeda and ISIS, have fully grasped the opportunities provided by the internet. They have developed their […] More
Decapitation Is Not an Effective Counterterrorism Policy
Is targeting the leadership of terrorist organizations an effective counterterrorism strategy? States can employ a number of different tactics in order to weaken and defeat […] More
What’s Next for Afghanistan and Iran? Water Wars
Multiple challenges face Iran-Afghanistan relations, chief among them are security and resource issues. Tehran seeks a stable government in Kabul, but one that does not […] More
Afghan Opium Trade Sticks a Thorn in Iran’s Side
As Afghanistan’s neighbor to the west, Iran has significant security and economic interests vis-à-vis Afghanistan. Relations between the two countries have been complicated for centuries, […] More
How the U.S. and Iran Play the Afghan ‘Great Game’
As Afghanistan’s western neighbor, Iran maintains a vested interest in prodding war-torn Afghanistan towards achieving political and economic stability. Burdened by Afghan refugees and a […] More