This publication is now archived. Syria’s slow declineWhat a difference five years makes. At the beginning of the century, Syria was a proud Arab country, ruled with brutal consistency for thirty yea…

This publication is now archived. Was the war in Iraq justified? There is broad agreement that removing Saddam Hussein from power neutralized a ruthless tyrant. But the debate over why the Unit…

As U.S. public opinion increasingly favors stronger immigration controls, the Senate considers a bill that would impose harsh penalties on illegal immigrants. The U.S.-Mexican relationship has suffer…

Pakistan is bracing for more turbulence in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s killing. This Backgrounder looks at how state support for Islamist militants has led to growing religious intolerance in socie…

The largest humanitarian program in UN history was also victimized by the organization’s worst corruption scandal. The oil-for-food case has triggered moves toward reform at the UN but the shockwaves…