al-Qaeda

Lessons Learned, Relearned, and Unlearned in Afghanistan
Lessons Learned, Relearned, and Unlearned in Afghanistan

In the almost-19 years since they dispatched their military to Afghanistan, US policymakers and the people they represent have learned, relearned, and unlearned several lessons.

The Battle for the History of the Afghan War
The Battle for the History of the Afghan War

Much of Carter Malkesian’s narrative about the Afghan war is spot-on, but he gets several key events wrong.

Africa in 2020

Each African state faces its unique prospects and challenges heading into the new decade. Nevertheless, there are common themes and transnational trends we may expect to shape the continent in the new year and beyond.

The Crisis in Syria, US Policy and Future Prospects
The Crisis in Syria, US Policy, and Future Prospects

Recently, Robert Nicholson sat down with Ambassador Frederic C. Hof to discuss the tragedy of Syria and American foreign policy in regards to the ongoing crisis.

Strange Bedfellows: Is the US Supporting al-Qaeda in Yemen?

The Arab coalition and the US find themselves in the awkward position of directly and indirectly supporting al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula while they fight the Houthis in Yemen.

Whose Fault is the Yemeni Crisis Anyway?

Though the Yemen conflict is in many ways a proxy war between Iran and the Saudi coalition, it is much more complicated, and not all the blame should be placed on the coalition for worsening the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

Good Riddance to a Bad Iran Deal
The Return to Reason: A Defense of Trump’s Iran Decision

The core problem with the Iran deal is not in its details, but rather in the nature of Iran.

Al-Qaeda’s First Attack on the World Trade Center: A Quarter-Century of War 1993
Al-Qaeda’s First Attack on the World Trade Center: A Quarter-Century of War

The war Osama bin Laden began 25 years ago—what US military leaders aptly call “the long war”—is far from over.

NATO Compass, Izmir, Turkey
NATO Takes the Fifth

What does NATO need to do going forward? The short answer: more and less.