The Blurred Lines of Religious Zealotry

by Paul Pillar Last week I commented on the unhelpful habit of throwing everything Islamist, no matter how extreme or moderate, into a single conceptual bucket and writing off the whole lot as incorrigible adversaries. That habit entails a gross misunderstanding of… Continue Reading

Battling ISIS: Some Unanswered Questions

by James A. Russell All wars, no matter how long or short they may be, draw on historical and political context that is germane to the application of force in pursuit of strategic objectives. The ongoing American-led bombing campaign to… Continue Reading

Obama’s Anti-ISIS Strategy Met with Skepticism

by Jim Lobe U.S. President Barack Obama’s new strategy to “degrade, and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is being met with widespread scepticism among both hawks and doves, as well as regional specialists. While Congress… Continue Reading

Obama’s Speech on ISIS: The Big Picture

by Robert E. Hunter “Those who in quarrels interpose, are apt to get a bloody nose.” —Lord Palmerston on keeping Britain from supporting the South in the American Civil War. This Wednesday night President Obama will lay out his strategy… Continue Reading

US Airstrikes Won’t Eradicate ISIS

by Emile Nakhleh Millions of words have been written about the rise, conquests, and savagery of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, and Boko Haram in Nigeria. Both have declared an “Islamic State” in their areas although Boko… Continue Reading