Islam

Four Reasons for Optimism in Pakistan

Pakistan's military and government is finally turning the tide against the Taliban. Isn't it time we give them a little credit?

BY IMTIAZ GUL | SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

Don't Waste the Afghan Election Crisis

Last month's presidential vote in Afghanistan has become a royal mess -- but it's also a great opportunity to do much-needed political clean-up.

BY DANIEL MARKEY | SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

Iran's Imperial Presidency

As the fallout continues from the June election, Ahmadinejad is working to consolidate power in his secular executive branch, and away from the mullahs. But what happens if his play backfires?

BY JAMSHEED K. CHOKSY | SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

Arming Somalia

The United States sent RPGs, machine guns, mortars, and -- in the words of one U.S. official -- "cash in a brown paper bag" to Somalia last spring. Foreign Policy reports on how the shipments took place, and who's not happy about it.

BY ELIZABETH DICKINSON | SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Can Mosquito Nets Stop Terrorists?

A previously unreported program sheds light on the battle for Africa's hearts and minds -- and the battle between the State Department and the Department of Defense.

BY ELIZABETH DICKINSON | SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

Fasting and Feasting During Ramadan

Muslims everywhere are observing a holy month of fasting and feasts, a time of religious reflection shared with family and friends.

BY MICHAEL WILKERSON | AUGUST 28, 2009

Strategic Communication: Getting Back to Basics

Writing in Joint Force Quarterly, Adm. Michael G. Mullen critiques the U.S. government's approach to winning hearts and minds.

BY MICHAEL G. MULLEN | AUGUST 28, 2009

A Bright Shining Slogan

How "hearts and minds" came to be.

BY ELIZABETH DICKINSON | SEPT. / OCT. 2009

The Surge That Could Defeat al Qaeda

Is al Qaeda and its ideology dead, dormant, or ascendant? While the United States debates the question, it should work on discrediting jihadists.

BY SEBASTIAN GORKA | AUGUST 10, 2009

Somalia: Too Big a Problem to Fail?

A new hotbed of terror could be a domestic problem for Obama. But he shouldn't treat it like one.

BY KEN MENKHAUS | AUGUST 6, 2009

Can Abbas Save Fatah?

A convention in Bethlehem might be the Palestinian leader's last chance to save his dying party.

BY LUBNA TAKRURI | AUGUST 5, 2009

The Real Tragedy in Nigeria's Violence

Nigeria's problem isn't Islamist fundamentalism -- it's the country's corrupt and self-serving government.

BY JEAN HERSKOVITS | AUGUST 3, 2009

Interview: Mehdi Khalaji

The former Iranian seminarian speaks with FP about his unorthodox life, Moqtada al-Sadr, and what it's like to try and become an ayatollah.

BY ELIZABETH DICKINSON | JULY 27, 2009

The Rise of Ayatollah Moqtada al-Sadr

What is the fiery Iraqi cleric doing in Qom, Iran?

BY BABAK RAHIMI | JULY 27, 2009

What Israel Needs to Know About Sharia

Israel and the United States should understand the Islamic laws Hamas obeys to begin finding solutions for a peaceful coexistence.

BY OSAMA ABU-IRSHAID, PAUL SCHAM | JULY 22, 2009

Welcome to Hamaswood

A trip inside Hamas's movie studio.

BY SHARON WEINBERGER | JULY 16, 2009

Seven Questions: Jay Garner

The man who first led reconstruction efforts in Iraq says that Arab-Kurd tensions are overblown and that "soft partition" would have been a good idea.

BY ELIZABETH DICKINSON | JULY 15, 2009

Mute Muslims

Why doesn't the Islamic world speak up about the Uighurs?

BY MOISÉS NAÍM | JULY 13, 2009

A Hollow Victory for Iraq

How the militants are celebrating the U.S. withdrawal.

BY RANJ ALAALDIN | JULY 9, 2009

Meeting in the Middle

Islamist opposition groups need the United States more than they can admit. But they've got a little homework to do before the United States can offer help.

BY AMR HAMZAWY, JEFFREY CHRISTIANSEN | JULY 9, 2009

Commander of the Faithful

Meet the man who is Islamabad and Washington's new Public Enemy No. 1.

BY IMTIAZ ALI | JULY 9, 2009

Shark Attack

How Iran’s political crisis might only strengthen the Islamic Republic -- and why Rafsanjani could be the election’s real winner.

BY GENEIVE ABDO | JULY 8, 2009

Obama's Shallow Realism

Why the U.S. president shouldn't react to one bad foreign policy with another.

BY DAVID GARDNER | JULY 8, 2009

China's Latest Tibet

Why Beijing won't compromise in Xinjiang.

BY JOHN LEE | JULY 6, 2009

Iraq's Real Deadline

The true test for Iraq will come from its next round of elections -- and the real U.S. troop withdrawal.

BY JOOST HILTERMANN | JUNE 29, 2009

Ignoring the Green Revolution

With so much at stake, why don't Palestinians care about Iran?

BY LUBNA TAKRURI | JUNE 29, 2009

The 8 Books Ahmadinejad Doesn’t Want You to Read

And what they say about modern Iran

BY PATRICK CLAWSON | JUNE 24, 2009

Iran's Worst Clerics

As the Iranian opposition takes its case to the country's religious leader, here's a look at five hard-line mullahs who could stand in the way.

BY JOSHUA KEATING | JUNE 18, 2009

Fatwa Overload

Why Middle East sheikhs are running amok.

BY NEIL MACFARQUHAR | APRIL 17, 2009

The Shoes Don’t Fit

Reader Mustafa S. Hassan says an FP illustration is offensive to Islam.

FEBRUARY 16, 2009