America’s Secret African Drone War Against the Islamic State

by Nick Turse On October 7th, at an “undisclosed location” somewhere in “Southwest Asia,” men wearing different types of camouflage and dun-colored boots gathered before a black backdrop adorned with Arabic script.  They were attending a ceremony that mixed solemnity… Continue Reading

Who Will Fight the Islamic State?

by Peter Van Buren In the many strategies proposed to defeat the Islamic State (IS) by presidential candidates, policymakers, and media pundits alike across the American political spectrum, one common element stands out: someone else should really do it. The… Continue Reading

America’s Empire of African Bases

by Nick Turse In the shadows of what was once called the “dark continent,” a scramble has come and gone. If you heard nothing about it, that was by design. But look hard enough and — north to south, east… Continue Reading