Policy

Is the Special Relationship Between the US and Egypt Over?

Too much mistrust has built up between Washington and Cairo for the partnership to return to business as usual. By Bernard Gwertzman

Policy

Kerry Says the Fight Against the Islamic State Could Expand Beyond Iraq and Syria

Secretary of State John Kerry says Congress shouldn’t limit geography or ground combat in the war against the Islamic State. By Molly O’Toole

Threats

Islamic State Is On the ‘Defensive’ As a Coalition Builds in Iraq

The U.S. war commander in Iraq says ‘you don’t see a lot of movement” by ISIS these days, but you might see more international troops enter the fight soon. By Gordon Lubold

Threats

The Fight Against ISIS Is Creating Three Separate Armies in Iraq

Can Iraq hold itself together while Kurds, Sunnis and Shias fight separately against the Islamic State? By Steven A. Cook

Threats

US Commandos ‘Lost the Element of Surprise’ in Yemen Raid

American journalist Luke Somers is killed in a second attempt to rescue him from al-Qaeda militants in Yemen. By Gordon Lubold

Threats

The Syrian Civil War, From Space

Three years of conflict have literally plunged the country into darkness. By Uri Friedman

Ideas

The US Should Condemn Bahrain, Not Rationalize For Them

As the 10th Manama Dialogue convenes, Bahrain’s monarchy is a human rights nightmare and source of insecurity the United States should be condemning, not celebrating. By Brian Dooley

Policy

Rand Paul Wants To Tie Declaration of War Against ISIS To Defense Bill

Under Sen. Paul's largely symbolic bill, the U.S. would have 12 months to fight ISIS with limited ground troops. By Alex Brown

Threats

Lebanon Says It Detained a Wife and Child of ISIL’s Leader

Security officials from Lebanon say they apprehended the two at the Lebanese-Syrian border 10 days ago. By Bobby Ghosh

Threats

Baghdad, Kurds Put Aside Differences To Secure Oil from Smugglers

Iraq finally closed a deal with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to rout oil sales through Baghdad in exchange for finally funding the Peshmerga fighters. By Steve LeVine

Policy

Congress Has Less Than 10 Days To Make All of These National Security Decisions

From Iraq to the budget, Congress has a long way to go and a short time to get there. By Molly O’Toole

Threats

FBI Accuses Two in Minnesota of Trying To Join ISIS

A 20-year-old Somali American is believed to have made it to Syria and his 18-year-old friend was stopped before he could leave the U.S. By Kaveh Waddell

Policy

Boehner Snubs Report, Pushes Forward on Benghazi

After the release of a recent GOP-led report vindicating the Obama administration, the House speaker wants to reappoint his own select inquiry into the 2012 terrorist attacks. By Russell Berman

Policy

A Resurgent GOP Is Fuming Over Extending the Iran Nuclear Talks

The seven-month delay gives Iran and the U.S. more time to nail down terms on Iran’s nuclear program. It also gives Congress ample time to intervene. By Kaveh Waddell

Ideas

NATO’s Campaign in Libya Offers Salient Lessons for the Air War Against ISIL

These five lessons from the 2011 air campaign in Libya are relevant today in the campaign against the Islamic State. By Karl P. Mueller

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

Policy

What Rand Paul Gets By Declaring War Against ISIS

By declaring war against the Islamic State, he's also picking a legal battle with the White House. By Emma Roller

Threats

What Iran Loses From the Failed Nuclear Talks

Tehran stands to lose billions in oil exports as the days without a deal drag on. By Steve LeVine

Threats

Tunisia May Be Headed for Another Arab Spring

Tunisia just held its second consecutive peaceful election -- but regional instability means it's still too soon to celebrate a stable democratic transition in Tunis. By Sam Kimball and Nicholas Linn

Threats

The Many Iranian Obstacles in the Way of a Strong Nuclear Deal

The military option isn't much of an option. But diplomacy could inadvertently pave the way to a nuclear Iran. By Jeffrey Goldberg