All Policy Analysis by Dennis Ross

For many of those watching in the Middle East, the administration's decision to stand by as the Kurds were forced to retreat has sent a message far more powerful than its tough words on Iran.

Had Walt and Mearsheimer not been so committed to indicting pro-Israel groups with responsibility for the failures of U.S. policy in the Middle East, they could have raised legitimate issues worth debating.

European leaders surely do not want the U.S. to walk away from the JCPOA. But their room to maneuver is politically limited, given Mr. Trump's unpopularity in their countries. Responding to the White House on Iran will prove difficult for them unless Mr. Trump changes his tone and emphasizes that

A veteran diplomat reflects on how Jews have been perceived within the national security apparatus over the years, and why false presumptions only impede efforts to formulate better policies in the Middle East.

To garner support for a return to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Washington needs to show that it will counter the Iranian threat in the region even as it coordinates tangible first moves by Saudi Arabia and the two parties.

Without a defined strategy, events will determine policy.

Instead of decertifying the nuclear deal, and thus isolating the United States from its allies, Washington should impress upon Tehran the immense costs of producing a weapon.

A vacuum in Raqqa following the defeat of the Islamic State will embolden Iran and lay the grounds for future jihadists.

Rather than seeking indiscriminate cuts to Palestinian aid, U.S. legislators must craft a bill that encourages the PA to reform its behavior.

To preserve his credibility as a diplomat, the secretary of state needs to put a win on the board.

A sensible approach would entail cooperation where U.S. and Russian interests converge, such as on proliferation, terrorism, and drugs, and management where they differ, such as on Iran.

The United States should work with Muhammad bin Salman, the new crown prince, as he pushes for change.

The United States cannot defeat the Islamic State without first reckoning with Iran's nefarious role in Syria.