‘Persistent, Expanding and Worrisome’: ISIS Rebounds in Afghanistan
Bottom Line: With the original ISIS core nearly expelled from its so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq, other ISIS branches are growing in influence and […] More
Bennett Seftel
Will Trump’s Tough Talk on Pakistan Yield Results?
Bottom Line: U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off aid to Pakistan to force Islamabad to take a harder line on terrorism. But […] More
Chased by China & Russia, “Doing More of the Same Is Not the Answer” for the U.S. Navy
The United States Navy has achieved unmatched supremacy on the world’s seas, but Russia and China are diligently growing their naval capabilities, trying to close […] More
At Arab Spring Anniversary, Is Tunisia Really a Success Story?
This Sunday marks seven years since a wave of protests erupted across the Middle East and North Africa in what came to be known as […] More
Pakistan’s Military: The Fire Brigade and the Arsonist?
Tensions that mounted during a deadly, Islamist protest in Pakistan last month were resolved not by the country’s civilian government, but by leaders of its […] More
What’s Next for the Palestinians?
President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has left Palestinian leaders questioning the United States’ ability to effectively spearhead any […] More
How Recognizing Jerusalem Could Jettison – or Jumpstart – Peace Talks
The decision by President Donald Trump to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital could give the U.S. added leverage to demand difficult concessions from the […] More
UAE’s Share of the Task Fighting al Qaeda in Yemen
The U.S. and its Gulf allies have clawed back Yemeni territory from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has exploited the Yemeni conflict […] More
Egypt Struggles to Suppress ISIS in the Sinai
Friday’s deadly terrorist attack at the Al-Rawda mosque in the north of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula demonstrates that the so-called Islamic State’s Sinai affiliate remains a […] More
Devastating Sinai Attack Points to ISIS
On Friday, militants carried out a devastating attack at a mosque in the city of Bir al-Abed located in Egypt’s northern Sinai province, leaving at […] More
Best Of: The Devil’s Puzzle: Defining International and Domestic Terrorism
The car ramming attack that occurred in New York City on Oct. 31 killed eight people and reignited debate over what constitutes domestic and international […] More
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Game of Thrones’ In Lebanon
The sudden resignation of Saad Hariri as Lebanon’s prime minister during his trip to Riyadh earlier this month raised suspicions about whether Saudi Arabia facilitated […] More
AMISOM: A Decade into the Fight Against Al Shabaab
The multinational peacekeeping force known as AMISOM has been losing the momentum in its battle against al Shabaab in Somalia, as evidenced by the massive […] More
How to Weigh the Worth of the Iran Nuclear Deal
The mid-December deadline for Congress to determine whether to re-impose nuclear-related sanctions on Iran is rapidly approaching – with uncertain progress. Enacting these additional sanctions […] More
U.S.-Philippine Relations Rebound Under Trump
In the Philippines Monday, President Donald Trump will try to maintain momentum as the U.S. rebuilds its relationship with Manila amidst rising Chinese influence. Ties between the two nations […] More
Royal Reshuffle and Yemen Missile Strike Threaten Saudi Stability
Another shakeup atop the Saudi royal family, coupled with an escalation in the war in Yemen, has paved the way for the Saudi heir to […] More
Will Southeast Asia Go the Way of Populist Philippines?
President Donald Trump leaves Friday for a nine-day trip to Asia, a continent that has stayed relatively free of the populism that has washed over […] More
With Coffers Draining, ISIS May Seek Donations & Step Up Crime
Once billed the richest terrorist group in history, ISIS’ revenue streams are drying up, which may force it to rely more heavily on criminal enterprises […] More