Applying the Lessons of Sri Lanka to Syria
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently issued a major address, his first such speech in months, proclaiming his intention to retake “every inch” of Syria from his opponents. His declaration, combined with Russian intervention...
Inside the Nuclear Deal: Iranian Fashion Revolution
Tehran joined the ranks of London, Paris, and Milan in February 2015, when the city hosted its first ever Fashion Week. Seven designers—the majority of whom were women—participated in the luxury event, which emphasized just how...
U.S. Approves Boeing Fighter Jet Sales to Qatar and Kuwait
As of September 28, after over a two-year delay, the United States government has officially started proceedings to approve the sales of Boeing fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait. Both the Pentagon and the U.S. State Department...
Defining the Enemy
During a recent CNN presidential town hall, President Obama again refused to use the term “Islamic terrorism,” explaining that he did not want to lump together terrorists and the vast majority of Muslims who are peaceful. Bill...
The Syrian Ceasefire: Deciphering the Chaos
The Syrian military declared on September 20, 2016 that the seven-day, U.S.-Russian brokered ceasefire was over as the government and opposition exchanged accusations over who was responsible for the violations and mounting...
To Help Syrian Refugees, Highlight The Communities That Help Them
In Washington, the Syria conflict is a story told in zeros. A protracted civil war has claimed the lives of over 400,000 innocent men, women, and children. Over 1,500 of them were killed in chemical weapons attacks, one of which...
A Not So New Nuke Race in the Middle East
The Iran nuclear deal sparked an intense debate among experts, commentators, and U.S. officials about whether such a deal will ignite a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. The argument suggests that the nuclear deal...
3-D Printing and the Islamic State: Pivotal Moment, or More of the Same?
To listen to some policymakers and pundits talk about 3-D printing, it seems to be the harbinger of World War III, a “game-changing” technology that could result in nonstate actors like ISIS becoming incalculably deadlier. United...
#MediaEffects Terrorism
One hashtag at a time, the so-called Islamic State uses social media as a very effective tool. Direct and open access to a large audience enables them to successfully attract foreign fighters and spread fear across the world....
Authorization for Monuments Men in Iraq and Syria
In many parts of this vast world, long departed civilizations left rich and enduring tributes to the way people saw their environment, themselves and their legacy. In a tragic twist of fate, many of these invaluable examples of...