Keeping US Troops in Iraq Wouldn’t Have Stopped the Rise of ISIS

by Jim Lobe Just a quick note to cite and link to an important analysis on the three-year-old debate, first raised by Charles Krauthammer, over “Who Lost Iraq.” The article, entitled “Behind the U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq,” was published this… Continue Reading

ISIS Improves Hezbollah’s Standing

by Aurélie Daher When protests began in Syria against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2011, the leadership of Lebanon’s Hezbollah did not play for time. It immediately and officially announced that it preferred the current regime but also encouraged both Assad… Continue Reading

The Collapse of Order in the Middle East

by Chas Freeman* Will Rogers once observed that “when you get into trouble 5,000 miles from home, you’ve got to have been looking for it.”  It’s a good deal more than 5.000 miles to Baghdad or Damascus from here.  And,… Continue Reading

The Islamic State’s Ideology is Grounded in Saudi Education

by Emile Nakhleh According to an article published Oct. 21 on Al-Monitor, the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) has issued new regulations for the school systems under its control in Iraq and Syria. The announced purpose of the so-called guidelines,… Continue Reading

As Optimism Grows, Possible Iran Deal Gains Key Endorsement

by Jim Lobe Optimism that the US and world powers can, after all, strike a nuclear deal with Iran by or shortly after the current November 24 deadline appeared to grow here in Washington substantially this week. Such a deal… Continue Reading