Policy Analysis

Lafer International Fellow Michael Knights discussed Iraq's political situation and U.S. policy on PRI's "The World."

Reza Akhlaghi interviews Dr. Cagaptay about the crisis in Iraq, the state of U.S.-Turkish relations, Ankara's policy toward Syria, and more.

Sealing borders and arming tribes and the moderate opposition are keys to uprooting jihadists in Syria and Iraq.

With a massive Israeli crackdown under way, the militant Palestinian movement is struggling to determine its true identity.

Aaron Y. Zelin examines the history and evolution of relations between ISIS and al-Qaeda, detailing factors that could help determine their respective agendas in the global Jihadi arena.

Polling suggests that Americans are open to backing overseas engagements if the president demonstrates will, casualties remain low, and the United States does not act alone.

Soner Cagaptay is the author of the new book The Rise of Turkey: The Twenty-First Century's First Muslim Power . His other work includes the book Islam, Secularism, and Nationalism in Modern Turkey: Who is a Turk? He is the Beyer Family Fellow and director of the Turkish Research Program

For the second time in less than a year, U.S. President Barack Obama is considering military strikes in the Middle East. But they will not fix the region's problems -- especially the ongoing war between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Hezbollah's past operations in Iraq show that a limited number of experienced "consultants," working with Iran's Qods Force, could significantly increase the lethality of the local Shiite militias currently gearing up to counter the ISIS offensive.

New survey results show that violence is not a popular option among Palestinians and that Hamas is not benefiting from the current troubles, giving U.S. policymakers some breathing room to concentrate on more urgent crises in Iraq and Syria while backing practical steps to cool tensions.

Failing a unified response by Iraq’s political factions, a rival insurgent group may represent the best chance of stopping ISIS from forming an Islamic caliphate in the heart of the Middle East.

Israeli authorities have been targeting the group's financial networks in Europe and elsewhere for some time.

Significantly undermining ISIS's financial base would require rolling back the group's access to local Syrian and Iraqi income sources.

To truly safeguard its regional interests and allies, Washington will need to pressure Maliki on political inclusiveness while also quarterbacking a meaningful assistance effort to the Syrian opposition.

In conventional political terms, Maliki likely remains the frontrunner for the premiership, but the argument that he is unable to stabilize the country by sharing power is once again gaining currency.

The Bowe Bergdahl controversy has brought renewed attention to the costs of trading for hostages, and how the United States, Israel, and other countries weigh those costs.

Deborah Kalb interviews Dr. Levitt on Hezbollah's potential involvement in Iraq, its commitment to Iran, and other issues.

Events on the battlefield will reveal the true effects of the crisis, but the ISIS campaign in Iraq could ultimately help the Syrian opposition and hurt the Assad regime.

Iran is more likely to accept a stringent nuclear accord if it perceives that Washington is willing to hold out at the negotiating table and is not looking for a quick exit from the region.

A U.S. contribution could help blunt ISIS advances in at least three ways.