Loving USAID to Death

by Diana Ohlbaum For those who recall the relentless attacks on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the recent outpouring of support for the institution and its mission is simply stunning. A discussion… Continue Reading

Why Haven’t We Defeated al-Shabaab?

by Diana Ohlbaum “We’ve been fighting al-Shabaab for a decade, why haven’t we won?” the Trump transition team asked the State Department. To foreign policy professionals, such questions may sound naïve and uninformed. They may reflect “an overwhelmingly negative and… Continue Reading

Is the U.S. Facilitating the Use of Mercenaries in Yemen?

by William D. Hartung The recent New York Times report that the United Arab Emirates is paying, arming, and training retired soldiers from Colombia and other Latin American countries to fight in Yemen marks a troubling turning point in the… Continue Reading

Think Twice About More Military Aid to Nigeria

by William D. Hartung On his trip to Nigeria to attend the inauguration of the country’s new president Muhammadu Buhari late last month, Secretary of State John Kerry indicated that the Obama administration is ready to send more military advisers… Continue Reading