Washington must increase aid to Yemen to help deter forces like the al-Qaeda affiliate linked to a plot to destroy a U.S. airliner, says Christopher Boucek.

Egypt’s next president is likely to be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood or a Mubarak-era figure. Either way, U.S. ties are likely to cool, says CFR’s Steven A. Cook.

As Iraq’s pre-election crisis deepens, Iraq analyst Reidar Visser says Washington must do more to counter the sectarian agenda emerging in Baghdad’s political landscape.

A pending American military offensive in southern Afghanistan is buoying hopes for a return to government control, but New York Times reporter David Rohde says success could be short-lived.

Regardless of the outcome of the presidential runoff elections, the Egyptian military is seeking to assert control to protect its privileges, says CFR’s Steven A. Cook.