It was hard not to feel good about news that Iraqi forces backed by U.S. military retook Ramadi, a key Iraqi city, from Islamic State militants despite the cautious words from top Obama administration officials. “While Ramadi is not yet fully secure and additional parts of the city still must be retaken, Iraq’s national flag now flies above the provincial government center and enemy forces have suffered a major defeat,” said Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement. The mission to defeat ISIS remains long and unpredictable. But after a year of seemingly endless bad news about the war on terror – not the least of which was the brutal and deadly mass shooting of civilians at a holiday party in San Bernardino, California by a radicalized Muslim couple – it feels good to hold onto this moment of hope.
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ISIS Loses Ground With Recapture of Ramadi
5 Times Obama Said There Would Be No Ground Troops or No Combat Mission in Syria
As we’ve written before, it’s generally a bad idea for presidents, or would-be presidents, to make iron-clad promises about foreign policy. And President Obama has been stymied repeatedly when it comes to this.
Draft Women? Why Not?
I’d do away with registration if it were up to me. And I wouldn’t bring back the draft, either. But to the extent we have either, women should be just as subject as men. That’s what equality means.
A Grim Decision on Afghanistan
The key to ending the Afghan war remains a negotiated truce between the government and the leading factions of the Taliban, which has entered into talks with the Kabul government in recent years, but has not been persuaded to join the political process.
Are We Doing Enough to Stop ISIS?
With reports of female sex-slaves, including a young American hostage, the destruction of ancient ruins and the latest execution posted online, there are worries that the world has come to accept — and expect — the extreme brutality of Islamic State fighters. The current US strategy is quietly being debated once again, with some observers calling for more American engagement.
American Hegemony Is Here to Stay
Is retreat from global hegemony in America’s national interest? No idea has percolated more widely over the past decade—and none is more bogus.
Afghanistan — The Case for Staying
As 2015 ends, and after a trip to the country in December, my overall impression is that there is plenty to worry about but also ample reason for hope.