Ramadi: No Model for the Future

by Wayne White The recapture of most of the Iraqi city of Ramadi is good news, especially since Iraq Army units backed by Sunni Arab tribesmen pulled it off without abusive Shi’a militias. This victory, however, was tarnished by the… Continue Reading  

Combating the Islamic State: Turkey the Spoiler

by Wayne White Turkey has disrupted efforts to isolate and weaken the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) since last year. Having the longest border with Syria, Turkey has been a serious obstacle in dealing with the military challenge IS poses… Continue Reading  

Syrian Refugee Crisis: Another Perspective

by Wayne White Post-Paris, there are good reasons for concern over the mass migration of mainly Syrian refugees into Europe. The knowledge that a November 13 Islamic State (ISIS or IS) attacker slipped into Europe among the refugees surely demands… Continue Reading  

Putin Tosses His Russian Monkey Wrench into Syria

by Wayne White Inserting Russian military power directly into the Syrian maelstrom is Vladimir Putin’s bold gambit to prop up sagging Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. The battle against the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) appears to be a marginal consideration—merely… Continue Reading  

Why We Went to War Against Iraq: Re-Writing History Again

by Wayne White Some Republican presidential hopefuls—plus Colin Powell—are trying to shift responsibility for the Iraq War away from Bush administration politicians by blaming the U.S. intelligence community. This is only part of the real story. The rest, which the… Continue Reading