U.S. and Western military officials are calling on Iran to help stabilize Afghanistan, but historic tensions and allegations of arming militants raise doubts about Tehran’s intent.

Iraq’s provincial elections provide signals about the maturity of the country’s political system, as well as highlight new power brokers in the provinces.

Iran’s influence in Iraq is the subject of enormous speculation. The United States is taking steps to counter that influence.

As he weighs options on Iraq, President Bush will consider not only the Iraq Study Group report but also pending in-house reports from the National Security Council and the Pentagon.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faces the unenviable task of refereeing Iraq’s many ethno-religious factions while subduing sectarian violence on the streets. His relationship to a powerful Shii…