New Fires in Iraq Deflect from Simmering Ukraine

by Derek Davison While the world’s attention has largely shifted to events in Iraq following last week’s capture of Mosul by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the crisis in Ukraine continues unabated. Ukraine’s relations with Russia are… Continue Reading

Timelines Dominate Iran Nuclear Talks

by Derek Davison The three key timelines at the center of the negotiations between world powers and Iran over its nuclear program were the subject of a panel discussion at the Wilson Center today. Jon Wolfsthal of the Center for… Continue Reading

Rise of Terror Groups Demands Hard Look at US Policy

by Derek Davison The resurgence of “Salafi-jihadist” terrorist groups is once again at the forefront of national security thinking in Washington. A report released this week by the RAND Corporation, “A Persistent Threat: The Evolution of al Qa’ida and Other… Continue Reading

Toward Better US-Iran Relations

by Derek Davison The challenge of rebuilding the once strong but now broken ties between the United States and Iran was the topic of a June 3 Atlantic Council event, “US-Iran Relations: Past, Present, and Future.” The discussion, moderated by… Continue Reading

What’s Next for Ukraine?

by Derek Davison Ukrainians took to the polls May 25 to elect a new president, the chocolate magnate and former foreign minister, Petro Poroshenko. But the election was marred by violence involving pro-Russian separatists in the country’s beleaguered eastern Donbas… Continue Reading