We want to believe there was some reason, even a bad one, for a tragedy like this. This is normal, but it doesn’t make good public policy. Some things are just senseless
European policymakers worry about Russian and Chinese integration efforts, which push them to think more strategically about the Eurasian landmass
The battle to retake the Iraqi city of Fallujah has begun: 20,000 Iraqi soldiers, backed by US air power and advisers, are attempting to expel some 800 to 1,000 ISIS fighters
US policymakers understand very well that Europe is the most important region of the world for the United States
The US remains stuck in a Cold War mindset of keeping allies happy, rather than ensuring that they support US interests
The collapse of European integration could potentially mean an end to the stability, order, and prosperity that the US worked very hard and spent a lot of money to help Europe achieve. And while it's unlikely we'd see a return to anything like the 20th century's massive world wars, the consequences could still extend far beyond Europe's borders
It is this terrifying symbiosis between the terrorists in the Middle East and the populist politicians in the West that is the real threat
The lesson is that even a president who has shown extraordinary awareness that the “Washington playbook” frequently dictates unwise military interventions often feels forced to compromise his policy
Justice is not the same as peace. In Syria, we have to choose
Civilian protection, humanitarian access and freezing the conflict must be priority in Aleppo and Syria to avert escalation to even more dangerous levels