al Qaeda

Beyond Al Qaeda

As Western countries rush into Africa's troubled Sahel region, are we once again forgetting history?

BY HOWARD W. FRENCH | JANUARY 18, 2013

The Eradicateurs

Why Algeria doesn't talk to terrorists -- even if that means killing hostages.

BY GEOFF D. PORTER | JANUARY 18, 2013

Al Qaeda Is Alive in Africa

A witches' brew of Islamic jihadists is stirring up trouble across the continent. But is that America's problem yet?

BY DANIEL BYMAN | JANUARY 17, 2013

Al Qaeda Country

Why Mali matters.

BY PETER CHILSON | JANUARY 15, 2013

Exit, Minus Strategy

Barack Obama has clearly decided to cut his losses in Afghanistan. Will all hell break lose when he does?

BY JAMES TRAUB | JANUARY 11, 2013

Killing the 'Good Taliban'

The death of Mullah Nazir exposes why Pakistan's love affair with jihadis is likely to end in tears.

BY ARIF RAFIQ | JANUARY 4, 2013

Did Awlaki Really Help the 9/11 Hijackers?

What Judicial Watch and Fox News got wrong about al Qaeda's leading English-language ideologue.

BY J.M. BERGER | JANUARY 4, 2013

The Year in Quotes

The 20 most puzzling, hypocritical, and revealing things said about U.S. foreign policy in 2012.

BY MICAH ZENKO | DECEMBER 28, 2012

Syria's Time Is Running Out

The country tears itself further apart with each passing day. This is the moment to do something about it.

BY FREDERIC HOF | DECEMBER 19, 2012

The Last Stand of Somalia's Jihad

Can Kenya's invasion of Kismayo put an end to al-Shabab for good?

BY JAMES VERINI | DECEMBER 17, 2012

Yemen's Rocky Roadmap

Yemenis hope that a planned National Dialogue will save the revolution. But what abut the guys with the guns? 

BY ADAM BARON | DECEMBER 10, 2012

The Rise of Al Qaeda in Syria

The White House wants to marginalize radicals within the anti-Assad insurgency -- but does it have any leverage left with the rebels?

BY AARON Y. ZELIN | DECEMBER 6, 2012

Words Are Weapons of Mass Destruction

Why Hamas should watch its language.

BY DAVID KEYES | NOVEMBER 19, 2012

The Hot Seat

What you need to know about Benghazi going into this week's congressional hearings.

BY TY MCCORMICK | NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Losing Yemen

How this forgotten corner of the Arabian Peninsula became the most dangerous country in the world.

BY GREGORY JOHNSEN | NOVEMBER 5, 2012

The Man Who Brought the Black Flag to Timbuktu

A new Islamist strongman has taken the stage in North Africa. His rising power is giving him a lot of bad ideas.

BY WILLIAM LLOYD-GEORGE | OCTOBER 22, 2012

Think Again: The Bin Laden Raid

Six myths about President Obama's greatest foreign-policy success.

BY MARK BOWDEN | OCTOBER 15, 2012

Holy Warriors

A field guide to Syria's jihadi groups.

BY ARON LUND | OCTOBER 15, 2012

Is Iraq an Iranian Proxy?

Inquiring minds want to know.

BY SAFA AL-SHEIKH, EMMA SKY | OCTOBER 11, 2012

A Truly Credible Military Threat to Iran

The Israelis and the Americans are zeroing in on a strike option that has a real chance of deterring the mullahs -- and defusing Mitt Romney's attacks.

BY DAVID ROTHKOPF | OCTOBER 8, 2012

Reports of al Qaeda's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

The terrorist group may be headless, but its tentacles still pack a mean punch.

BY DAVEED GARTENSTEIN-ROSS | OCTOBER 3, 2012

Know Your Ansar al-Sharia

From Sanaa to Benghazi, Cairo to Casablanca, radical new jihadi groups have adopted the same name in recent months. Is it all just a coincidence?

BY AARON Y. ZELIN | SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

The Seven Deadly Sins of John Brennan

What Obama's high priest of targeted killings doesn't want you to know.

BY MICAH ZENKO | SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

Brother of Al Qaeda Leader Offers Peace Plan

Mohamed al-Zawahiri was behind the protests at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, but what he really wants is to make peace with the West.

BY MOHAMED FADEL FAHMY | SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

Libya's Downward Spiral

The country has been going to hell in a handbasket for months now. We just weren't paying attention.

BY CHRISTOPHER S. CHIVVIS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

It's Time to Act in Syria

Yes, it's true: Military involvement in Syria has its risks. But the costs of non-intervention are growing by the day.

BY MARK N. KATZ | SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Bipartisan Bloat

If there's one thing that Obama and Romney agree on, it's more military spending. Too bad they're both wrong.

BY CHRISTOPHER PREBLE | SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Strategic Error

When the big picture misses the point.

BY ROBERT HADDICK | AUGUST 24, 2012

Fiasco in the Levant

Unless the United States gets serious now about its postwar planning, Syria could spin out of control.

BY JAMES DOBBINS | AUGUST 8, 2012

The Scorpion and the Frog

For years, Syria supported a witches' brew of terrorist groups across the Middle East. Now, it's payback time.

BY TY MCCORMICK | AUGUST 7, 2012