Ties to Pakistan in the Times Square bomb case suggest a direct al-Qaeda influence on the goals of some of Pakistan’s Taliban militants, says counterterrorism expert Brian Fishman.

The attack on the UK embassy in Tehran was clearly endorsed by the regime and signals more troubles ahead on the effort to contain its nuclear program, says expert Robin Wright.

Ongoing violence and corruption in Iraq since the U.S. military pullout could augur a return to full-on sectarian strife and continued poor governance, says CFR’s Ned Parker.

The future of Iraq depends as much on melding the many differences between its Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish groups as on integrating its smaller ethnic and religious communities. Among its largest mino…