Former law professor Barack Obama went into surprising depth on issues of war and peace during his fifth State of the Union address. Here’s how he should grade himself.
SOTU: Obama Grades His Foreign Policy
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Middle East & North Africa
The Tiguentourine Natural Gas Facility Attack in Algeria One Year Later
Before restarting operations at Tiguentourine, Washington and London demanded a major restructuring of its security by Algeria.
Foreign Policy Thin-Sliced (1/24)
Syria is Iran’s Vietnam; Burma’s former head still pulls strings.
History and the Right of Return in Israel-Palestine
In light of competing historical narratives and a fraught political environment, can negotiators find a middle ground on the right of return for Palestinian refugees?
Forget the Final Status Issues
Rather than continuing to fixate on a grand agreement, a more incremental approach should be considered.
Iraq: Revisiting the Pottery Barn Rule
In Iraq, the U.S. broke a nation of human beings, and it owes them an apology–and restitution.
Will Discovery of Torture Trove Weaken Syria’s Hand at Geneva II?
Syrian President Assad can’t be happy about the images and documents of systematic torture and killing smuggled out on the eve of peace talks.
Netanyahu vs. the Spooks
Right-wing Israeli politicians like to boast about their country’s famed intelligence service, but they’ve gotten good at ignoring it when it tells them things they don’t want to hear.
No, Really, the Sarin Attack Wasn’t Assad’s
A recent report by highly respected experts shows that it’s almost certain that the Assad regime wasn’t responsible for the sarin attack on the suburbs of Damascus.
Al Qaeda Seizure of Falluja Throws U.S. Attitudes Toward Iraq Into Sharp Relief
U.S. Marines react to loss of Falluja to al Qaeda affiliate ISIS.