The US-Russia Race to Beat ISIS in Eastern Syria

By: Patrick Hoover, Columnist Photo Credit: Daily Sabah The race to rule eastern Syria after the defeat of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is quickly and quietly escalating into a focal point of US-Russian tension and competition. The US-backed, Kurdish-majority Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Russian-backed Syrian regime are conducting separate, but competing, … Continue reading The US-Russia Race to Beat ISIS in Eastern Syria

Prospect Theory Suggests the Islamic State is Primed for Risk-Seeking Behavior

By: Collin Meisel Photo Credit: The Guardian Iraqi forces have recaptured Mosul, Raqqa is surrounded by US-backed forces, and, in all likelihood, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is no more.[1] For all intents and purposes, the Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate is dead. So, is it time to celebrate and declare victory? Not exactly. Much like a cornered … Continue reading Prospect Theory Suggests the Islamic State is Primed for Risk-Seeking Behavior

The Syrian Conflict: The Difference Between Peace and Justice

By: Lauren Prudente, Columnist Photo Credit: The Independent (via US Navy) The current United States strategy in Syria is to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), but that cannot happen until the Syrian Civil War ends and the country is unified. The current US strategy is not equipped for ending the civil … Continue reading The Syrian Conflict: The Difference Between Peace and Justice

Turkey’s Referendum Affects the Fight Against ISIS

By: Yasmin Faruki, Columnist Photo Credit: CNN.com On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared victory in a sweeping constitutional referendum that transformed the government’s parliamentary system into a presidential one. The changes are a welcome victory for Erdogan, who just survived a military-led coup last July.[i] Though 51% of the population voted in favor … Continue reading Turkey’s Referendum Affects the Fight Against ISIS

With Elections Near, Putin Can’t Afford to Double Down on Syria

By: Sam Skove, Columnist Photo Credit: Viktoria Odissonova/Novaya Gazetta The United States’ increasing focus on Syria poses a hard policy problem for Russian President Vladimir Putin as he readies for important March 2018 Presidential Elections in Russia. If the United States raises pressure on the Assad regime and Russia does nothing, Putin will lose face internationally. … Continue reading With Elections Near, Putin Can’t Afford to Double Down on Syria

A Misguided Military Escalation in Yemen

By: Nate Subramanian, Columnist Photo Credit: Newsweek This past month, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis reportedly asked the Trump administration to lift Obama-era restrictions on direct military support for the Saudi-led coalition that has been battling Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015. While the United States has provided intelligence, targeting, planning, arms, and logistical support … Continue reading A Misguided Military Escalation in Yemen

Pakistan’s Militancy Conundrum

By: Nicole Magney, Columnist Photo Credit: Dawn News The Pakistani state’s relationship with terrorism is convoluted and, ultimately, self-defeating. Militant groups that are viewed by elements of the Pakistani government as aligning with state interests, like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Haqqani Network, are offered complicity or support, while other groups are condemned and targeted, like … Continue reading Pakistan’s Militancy Conundrum

How the ISIL War Changed the Political System in Iraqi Kurdistan

By: Frzand Sherko, Guest Contributor Photo Credit: KRG Department of Foreign Relations The continuation of a de facto autocracy in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has led to an extension of oligarchic authority and created a neglected nation, poor society, locked economy, and an irresponsible and corrupt government. The persistence of this situation would direct … Continue reading How the ISIL War Changed the Political System in Iraqi Kurdistan

Civilian Casualties and the United States’ Dilemma in Syria and Iraq

By: Sara Sirota, Columnist Photo Credit: The Independent As many as 200 civilians died on March 17 in western Mosul, when the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria conducted an aggressive series of airstrikes to destroy ISIS targets.[1] Another 30 died on March 22 in a school, when the coalition pursued targets near Raqqa. And … Continue reading Civilian Casualties and the United States’ Dilemma in Syria and Iraq

Libya Could Be the Trump Test for US-Russia Cooperation in the Middle East

By: Yasmin Faruki, Columnist Photo Credit: Middle East Eye President Trump has no issue cooperating with Russia in the Middle East. Just earlier this year, he suggested cooperating militarily with Russia in Syria, despite the fact that the United States and Russia have fundamentally different objectives in the region.[i] Though it seems Trump has backed … Continue reading Libya Could Be the Trump Test for US-Russia Cooperation in the Middle East