In the post-Cold War era, the right and even some on the left are playing a new game of “Who’s your favorite dictator?”
Authoritarian Symps
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Syria
The Islamic State Needs to Be Stopped, But With Imagination, Not Intervention
Intervention may not be the answer, but the damage that the Islamic State wreaks on the regions it rules requires immediate action.
Seizures of Ramadi and Palmyra Suggest Islamic State, Despite Setbacks, Still on a Roll
The Islamic State is less a product of Islamist extremism than the legacy of Saddam Hussein.
The Problem with Young Dictators
Bashar al-Assad is not going to age out of office any time soon.
The Islamic State’s Crimes Against Islam
For those who doubt mainstream Islam’s commitment to stopping extremists, this is for you.
America’s Hydra Problem in the Middle East
ISIS may be more famous for cutting off heads, but it’s Washington that’s learning the hard way not to slash first and ask questions later.
The Islamic State’s Strange Co-dependency With Syrian President Assad
The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may not be as close to the brink as reported.
Chlorine: Assad’s Double-Edged Sword
Except that in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s world both sides of the sword are death dealing.
Is Al Qaeda Waxing or Waning?
Reading the tea leaves to determine whether Al Qaeda or the Islamic State will lead the Islamist extremist world.
Diplomacy Is the Only Plausible Solution to Syria and Yemen
Unification of the Middle East, though not a caliphate, would be ideal, but unity would be a step in the right direction.