In The News

Islamic State Is Prime Suspect in Turkey Bombing as Protests Erupt

Daren Butler and Humeyra Pamuk October 12, 2015
Suicide bombers attacked a peace rally organized by activists in Ankara, killing at least 97 people. Many suspect that Islamic State extremists are responsible for the attack as the country prepares for the November 1 election: “Opponents of [President] Erdogan, who has led the country over 13 years, blame him for the attack on a rally organized by pro-Kurdish activists and civic groups, accusing...

Refugee Camps Empty as Syrians Head for Europe

Elisa Oddone and Alisa Reznick October 9, 2015
The United Nations, international charities and neighboring nations like Jordan have organized camps for refugees streaming from the civil war in Syria since 2012. At one point Zaatari Camp was Jordan’s fourth largest population center. But the conflict has lasted too long. Syrians are impatient for jobs, education and stability. Elisa Oddone and Alisa Reznick, writing for Time, describe a...

Putin’s Syria Move Raises Profile – With Risks

Thomas Graham October 6, 2015
Vladimir Putin, determined to revive Russia’s status as a global power, has rapidly mobilized forces to bolster the Assad regime in Syria. He orchestrated a meeting with US President Barack Obama at the September UN General Assembly meeting in New York, to give the appearance that he is taking charge of ending the Islamic State’s expansion in Iraq and Syria, explains Thomas Graham, expert on...

Pakistan Keen to Keep Ties with Iran and Saudi Arabia

Debalina Ghoshal October 1, 2015
Diplomacy in Asia is complicated by religious conflict and sets of regional rivalries including Iran and Saudi Arabia, along with Pakistan and India. A deal on Iran’s nuclear program negotiated by the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, could test strategic relations in Asia and trigger a series of recalculations. In particular, strengthening Indian-Iranian ties could fray...

Carter Says Russian Airstrikes in Syria Didn't Target ISIS

Richard Sisk October 1, 2015
Efforts by major powers and advanced militaries to control extremism have faltered before – Russia in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the United States after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Americans and Russians alike resent high-cost interventions that result in horrific casualty counts and demonstrate little progress. Some critics would prefer that the international onlookers choose sides and pass out...

Obama, Putin Need Steady Nerves and Stout Hearts in Syria

M.K. Bhadrakumar September 30, 2015
Conflict, extremism and a refugee crisis in the Middle East, spurred by autocratic governance and glaring inequalities, challenge the international community. Leaders of the United States, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia are committed to removing the scourge of Islamic State terrorists, but do not agree on a role for the Assad regime: Russia and Iran support the dictator and functioning...

We Should Have Seen This Refugee Crisis Coming

Rana Novack September 23, 2015
Conflict combined with high rates of fertility, poverty, failed governance and lack of opportunity is behind the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Africa. The world’s developed economies should have prepared, argues Rana Novack in an opinion essay for Wired. “Predictive analytics provides the ability to extract meaningful information from vast amounts of data allowing us to identify patterns...