Policy

Kerry Defends UN Vote on Iran Deal, Says Bought Congress Time

Members of Congress wanted a vote on the Iran agreement before the U.N. had its say, but the Obama administration says it fought and won them a 90-day window.

Policy

The Tiny, Cash-Strapped Agency at the Heart of the Iran Deal

Enforcing the agreement is the job of the IAEA, an organization that has a budget the size of San Diego's police department.

Policy

The UN Still Can't Stop Genocide

A failure to recognize the 1995 massacre at Srebenica as genocide sent the world body decades into the past.

Ideas

UN's Purpose Questioned in a 'Post-Nation' World

At the UN Charter's 70th anniversary, some ambassadors question its purpose in a world of empowered and agile non-state actors.

Policy

Two Ways the United Nations Could Improve Cybersecurity Policy This Week

It will come down to sticking with an unsatisfactory status quo or coming up with something new.

Ideas

Why the West Will Ignore Samantha Powers’ Call for UN Peacekeepers

The West may have abandoned peacekeeping operations, but UN blue helmets are going strong amid a quiet global power shift.

Policy

How UN Members Want To Bypass a Security Council Veto

Proposals from France and Brazil reopened a much-needed discussion on how to make the Security Council more responsive to mass atrocities like the Syrian conflict. By Stewart M. Patrick

Ideas

The Race To Claim the North Pole Is Heating Up

After 12 years and $50 million of research, Copenhagen is claiming an area of the North Pole about 20 times the size of Denmark. By Kabir Chibber

Ideas

Four Ways the US Can Help the African Union Stand on Its Own

A united and capable Africa appeals to both regional players and Washington, which increasingly views violence within Africa’s many fragile states as enabling conditions for terrorists with growing global ambitions. By Stewart M. Patrick

Policy

Syria Says It Supports the Fight Against ISIL

The Syrian regime says fighting terrorism ‘is certainly possible through military strikes,’ but warns of a ‘double-standard policy’ on arming the rebels. By Ben Watson

Policy

In UN Address, Netanyahu Compares Iran to ISIL

The Israeli prime minister called ISIL and Hamas 'branches of the same poisonous tree,' and said the UN's Human Rights Council is an 'oxymoron.' By Rebecca Nelson

Policy

Iran Says the West Should Step Aside in the Fight Against ISIL

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says he believes 'the right solution to this quandary comes from within the region.' By Kaveh Waddell

Policy

Obama Takes on (Most of) the World

Obama shames Russia, buries the myth of Middle East 'linkage' and promises to lead the fight against barbarism -- in a decidedly different speech at the UN. By Jeffrey Goldberg

Threats

Waging War for Peace at the United Nations

With Wilsonian echoes, a pacifist President Obama tries to rally the world on ISIL, Russia and Ebola. By Ron Fournier

Policy

The Evolution of a War President in Six Speeches

Gone was the talk of moving beyond war and closing Guantanamo. In its place was ISIL and more references to 'terror' than all of his previous UN speeches combined. By George E. Condon, Jr.

Policy

Israel's Man at the United Nations

Can Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor change the UN from within? By David Frum

Threats

Here’s a Map of Obama’s Coalition Against the Islamic State

Over 50 nations have joined the U.S. in the fight against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, but only five have taken major military action. By Kedar Pavgi

Threats

What To Expect from Obama's Plan To Stop Foreign Fighters

Getting the UN Security Council to agree on Obama's plan to curb transnational jihad will be the easy part. What comes after is where the real problems lie. By Stewart M. Patrick and Daniel Chardell

Threats

Why the U.N. Is Likely Underestimating the Iraq Death Toll

Before we can prevent deaths in Iraq, we first have to learn to count them correctly. By Patrick Tucker

Threats

More Than 1,000 Iraqis Killed in Past Two Weeks Alone

As Beltway pols watch Tuesday’s U.S. primaries, Secretary Kerry is in Iraq where politics actually are deadly. Molly O’Toole