Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, served five years in a U.S.-run prison camp.
ISIS Leader a Product of Zarqawi and US Detention
read more
Iraq
Emergency Airstrikes on ISIS Immediately Blossom Into Long-term Strategy
From providing relief for trapped Yazidis to supporting a potential new Iraqi unity government.
Obama’s Mythical Retreat from Military Force
TV pundits and analysts could use a reality check when it comes to Obama’s use of military force.
Apathy and Denial Won’t Make ISIS Go Away
ISIS is intent on forming its own state, but it may turn to international terrorism next.
How Western Aid Bungled Syria’s Opposition & Paved the Way for ISIS
The U.S. and its allies have funded a host of Syrian opposition councils that are more interested in seeking Western aid than serving the Syrian people.
The “Responsibility to Protect” Is Buried in Iraq
After the war in Iraq, is it feasible to invoke the Responsibility to Protect doctrine to protect civilians from ISIS?
Is Obama Really Adrift in the World?
Four myths American exceptionalists peddle about the U.S. president and America’s role in the world.
Behind Door Number Three in Iraq
Obama has few good options in Iraq, but the worst choice would be emulating George W. Bush.
America Should Open Its Doors to Iraqis
Iraq’s dire refugee crisis is posing a humanitarian and political challenge to the Obama administration.
Refugee Crisis: The Stunning Collapse of Syria’s Safe Spaces
In just five years, Syria has gone from being the world’s second-largest host of refugees to the second-largest producer of them.