You Can’t Put Syria's Pieces Back Together Again
Fighting in Aleppo has intensified with a Russian-backed government offensive to capture the rebel-held sector of Syria’s largest city. The United States and its allies […] More
Middle East
Saudi Foreign Policy vs. Economic Priorities
How steady are the hands on the steering wheel of Saudi Arabia? That question prompts an immediate follow-on: Whose hands are we talking about? There […] More
The White Helmets: Unsung Heroes in Syria
They’re the unsung heroes in Syria who until this summer were relatively unknown to those outside the country’s brutal war. Known as the White Helmets […] More
The World is Watching: The American Election and Iran
For the Islamic Republic of Iran, the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. With a […] More
U.S. Braces for Saudi Reaction to Congress Vote
President Barack Obama maintains Congress made a “mistake” on Wednesday when it voted to override his veto of a bill allowing U.S. families of 9/11 […] More
Alliances Solidify as Islamic State Falters Ahead of Mosul Offensive
Forces on all sides of the sectarian divide are aligning against the Islamic State in Iraq ahead of the much anticipated and well-telegraphed effort to […] More
Al Shabaab: A Persistent Threat
With al Shabaab orchestrating deadly attacks on a near-weekly basis, the terrorist group continues to pose a significant threat to regional stability in the Horn […] More
Don’t Rely on Iran’s Good Intentions
There is a small window of time for the United States and its allies to determine what kind of nuclear technologies are delivered to Tehran, […] More
Syrian Refugees: Ankara’s Trump Card Against Europe
In March of this year, Turkey came to an agreement with the European Union (EU) on Syrian migration. In return for $6 billion in aid […] More
Turkey's Room to Maneuver Against the United States
Tensions between the U.S. and Turkey have been on the rise, beginning with different priorities over Syria and ISIS, and then ham-handed American reactions to, […] More
The World is Watching: The American Election and Saudi Arabia
As we draw closer to November 8 and the U.S. presidential race heats up, countries around the world have focused on how the potential election […] More
Riyadh Endures Extremist Rhetoric and Bids for Time
If Donald Trump, the Republican Party nominee for the presidency of the United States, found it convenient to propose a ban of all Muslims from […] More
If Saudi Arabia Could Vote
Throughout American electoral history, Saudi Arabia’s ruling Al Saud family, particularly the kings, has refrained from commenting on U.S. presidential candidates. But if they could […] More
State of Taliban in Afghanistan Today
Taliban fighters are pushing towards Tirin Kot, the capital of Afghanistan’s southern Uruzgan province, while two other cities – Kunduz in the north and Lashkar […] More
Turkey Faces a Muddled and Constantly Changing Situation in Syria
Turkey is claiming its forces, along with Western-backed Syrian rebels, have completely cut off the Islamic State’s access to the 500-mile long Turkish/Syrian border. Though […] More
Behind Benghazi
In 2012, after returning from an overseas tour of duty, I was assigned as the senior National Clandestine Service representative to the Central Intelligence Agency’s […] More
After ISIS: A New ISIS
In August, U.S. President Barack Obama reassured the Pentagon that the Islamic State will “inevitably be defeated.” U.S. government officials, generals, and pundits have been […] More
Syrian Government Again Accused of Using Chlorine on Civilians
The Syrian government is suspected of dropping barrel bombs containing chlorine gas on an opposition-held neighborhood in eastern Aleppo. The Syrian Civil Defence, a rescue […] More