Qatar’s Diminishing Returns in Syria

by Giorgio Cafiero Recent developments have set back Qatar’s five-and-a-half-year campaign to topple the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad. Donald Trump’s win last month and the president-elect’s vows to sever Washington’s limited support for Syrian rebels, Russia and China’s… Continue Reading

Trump’s National Security Advisor: A Troubling Appointment

by Emile Nakhleh President-elect Trump’s appointment of Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn will likely create a Kafkaesque situation that Trump himself will find unmanageable. Questions surrounding the appointment could hamper the president’s plans to pursue his policy initiatives and will… Continue Reading

Will the Trump Administration Start a War with Iran?

by Paul R. Pillar The direct stakes in whether the Trump administration adheres to the agreement that restricts the Iranian nuclear program are important enough, in terms of nuclear nonproliferation.  Also important are the opportunities to build on that agreement… Continue Reading

Putin’s Unclenching Fist

by Eldar Mamedov When Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation in his annual state of the union speech on December 1, he mostly focused on internal economic and social issues. But he also sent several important messages to the… Continue Reading

Trump the Predictable

by John Feffer Shortly after taking office in 1969, President Richard Nixon devised his “madman theory.” It was the height of the Vietnam War, and Nixon believed that he could end the conflict. It just required a bit of unpredictability.… Continue Reading