"Suleimani took command of the Quds Force fifteen years ago, and has sought to reshape the Middle East in Iran's favor: assassinating rivals, arming allies, and directing a network of militant groups that killed hundreds of Americans in Iraq. And yet he has remained mostly invisible to the outside world. 'Suleimani is the single most powerful operative in the Middle East today,' a former C.I.A. officer in Iraq, told me, 'and no one's ever heard of him.'"
The White House should seize on Tehran's diplomatic signals to advance a resolution to the nuclear question and potentially Syria, says expert Mohsen M. Milani.
Tension between senior civilian and military officials over where and how U.S. armed forces should be used has been visible in recent debates on intervention in Syria. Micah Zenko discusses reasons for and consequences of the civilian-military split.
The U.S.-Japan alliance has been the cornerstone of Washington's security policy in East Asia, but rising threats from China, North Korea, and economic recovery in both countries have raised questions about the future of the rapport.
Foreign Affairs magazine and Syria Deeply held a media call with former U.S. ambassador to Syria Richard W. Murphy, Syria expert and NOW Lebanon columnist Michael Weiss, and CFR Adjunct Senior Fellow Richard K. Bettsabout the current crisis in Syria and the framework to remove and dismantle Syria's chemical weapons program.
Foreign Affairs magazine andSyria Deeplyheld a media call with former U.S. ambassador to SyriaRichard W. Murphy, Syria expert andNOW LebanoncolumnistMichael Weiss, and CFR Adjunct Senior FellowRichard K. Bettsabout the current crisis in Syria and the framework to remove and dismantle Syria's chemical weapons program.
The unexpected convergence of the United States and Russia over Syria's chemical weapons is likely to be strained by delays in the disarmament process, says expert Nicolas Gvosdev.
The implementation of the U.S.-Russia agreement to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons will face challenges, and the deal could "easily unravel" as a result of the ongoing civil war, says CFR's Paul B. Stares.
The East and South China Seas are the scene of escalating territorial disputes between China and its neighbors, including Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The tensions, shaped by China's growing assertiveness, have fueled concerns over armed conflict and raised questions about Washington's security commitments in its strategic rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region.
The United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic submitted an investigative report to UNSecretary-GeneralBanKi-moon on Sunday, September 15, 2013. This "Report on the Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in the Ghouta Area of Damascus on 21 August 2013" concludes that "chemical weapons were used on a relatively large scale, resulting in numerous casualties, particularly among civilians and including many children."
The Council on Foreign Relations' David Rockefeller Studies Program—CFR's "think tank"—is home to more than seventy full-time, adjunct, and visiting scholars and practitioners (called "fellows"). Their expertise covers the world's major regions as well as the critical issues shaping today's global agenda. Download the printable CFR Experts Guide.
Special operations play a critical role in how the United States confronts irregular threats, but to have long-term strategic impact, the author argues, numerous shortfalls must be addressed.
The author analyzes the potentially serious consequences, both at home and abroad, of a lightly overseen drone program and makes recommendations for improving its governance.
An authoritative and accessible look at what countries must do to build durable and prosperous democracies—and what the United States and others can do to help. More
Through an in-depth analysis of modern Mexico, Shannon O'Neil provides a roadmap for the United States' greatest overlooked foreign policy challenge of our time—relations with its southern neighbor. More
