by Derek Davison A recent spate of high-casualty Islamic State-linked attacks in France, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and (arguably) Orlando, Florida, has raised fears about the group’s ability to carry out international terrorist strikes while also obscuring its failures at… Continue Reading
by Shireen T. Hunter The end of June and the beginning of July were especially bloody times as terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) struck in several places. As usual, Baghdad, especially its Shia quarters, were favorite… Continue Reading
by Paul R. Pillar The temporary takeover of the Iraqi parliament building and other facilities in the fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad by followers of Muqtada al-Sadr was a demonstration not only of current fractures in Iraqi politics but… Continue Reading
by Wayne White Regardless of its terrorist spectacles abroad, from Beirut to Paris, the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) continues to lose territory in its Syrian-Iraqi base. Large dollops of US ground forces in roles closer to the fighting are… Continue Reading
by Charles Davis Imagine that the people of Iraq are real human beings with hopes and fears who are subject to the influence of powerful regional actors but are nonetheless capable of acting without someone in Washington, Tehran, or Riyadh… Continue Reading