Iraq Looking for an “Independent” Sunni Defense Minister

by Barbara Slavin Iraqi President Fouad Massoum said that the government was looking for an independent Sunni Muslim to fill the post of defense minister in an effort to improve chances of reunifying the country and defeating the group that calls… Continue Reading

Let’s Keep ISIS in Perspective

by Wayne White American political and media commentary on ISIS (which calls itself the Islamic State) since the beheading of James Foley has been flush with exaggeration and skewed focus. Identifying Foley’s murderer is desirable but far less important than… Continue Reading

Wanted: Reliable Iraqi Partners for the US

by Wayne White An old military dictum still applies: no determined enemy can be stopped by air power alone. Following President Obama’s statement last night that he has authorized US air strikes in Iraq, much will depend on whether the… Continue Reading

Islamic State on the Move With Baghdad Still Gridlocked

by Wayne White Forces of the Islamic State, formerly known as ISIS, have lunged toward two strategic dams earlier this month, one in the north and the other west of Baghdad. The northern offensive drove Kurdish forces from areas they… Continue Reading

The Kurdish Future in Iraq: Independence or Confederation

by Mohammed A. Salih Ebril — The Iraqi Kurdish media and public are these days buzzing with heated discussions about independence. The reason is simple: never before has there been such a promising opportunity for Kurds to establish their own… Continue Reading