![YPG and US military](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/us-military-ypg-rtr-img.jpg)
Is Turkey’s War on Syrian Kurds Becoming a War on the United States? Is Turkey’s War on Syrian Kurds Becoming a War on the United States?
President Erdogan seems to believe he can bully Trump into abandoning his allies in the fight against ISIS.
Apr 28, 2017 / Juan Cole
![US Navy sailors](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/US_military_ap_img.jpg)
Why We Can’t Afford to Send More Troops to the Middle East Why We Can’t Afford to Send More Troops to the Middle East
Pursuing such policies would all but hand victory to ISIS and other extremist groups.
Apr 18, 2017 / Danny Sjursen
![US Warships near Korean Peninsula](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/us-warships-korea-ap-img.jpg)
In Trump’s Cruise-Missile Diplomacy, Iran and North Korea Could Be Next In Trump’s Cruise-Missile Diplomacy, Iran and North Korea Could Be Next
The president has steadily increased the use of force, relaxing the rules of engagement and giving his generals free rein.
Apr 11, 2017 / Michael T. Klare
![Civilians killed in Mosul](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/mosul-iraq-airstrike-ap-img.jpg)
Under Trump, the United States May Now Be Killing More Civilians Than Russia Under Trump, the United States May Now Be Killing More Civilians Than Russia
With mass-casualty events from Raqqa to Mosul, some think the US military is scrapping rules designed to protect innocents.
Mar 29, 2017 / Peter Certo
![Donald Trump](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/donald_trump_side_ap_img.jpg)
Foreign-Policy Elites Have No Answer For Trump Foreign-Policy Elites Have No Answer For Trump
Trump won because the status quo was terrible. We can’t go back to it.
Mar 9, 2017 / Robert L. Borosage
![Trump Doesn’t Realize These Are Wars We Cannot Win](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/soldiers_rtr_img.jpg)
Trump Doesn’t Realize These Are Wars We Cannot Win Trump Doesn’t Realize These Are Wars We Cannot Win
From Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII to today’s Afghanistan, America has developed a dangerous obsession with “winning.”
Mar 7, 2017 / Rebecca Gordon
![US Navy aircraft carrier](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/jet_rtr_img.jpg)
How Wealthy Donors Drive Aggressive Foreign Policy How Wealthy Donors Drive Aggressive Foreign Policy
As the influence of high-dollar donors grows, so too will our bellicosity.
Mar 1, 2017 / Sean McElwee, Brian Schaffner, and Jesse Rhodes
![Refugees fleeing clashes in Iraq](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Qayyarah_Iraq_rtr_img.jpg)
‘Oh, ISIS. They Really Don’t Like It When Women Make Problems for Them.’ ‘Oh, ISIS. They Really Don’t Like It When Women Make Problems for Them.’
Iraqi refugees talk about how they resisted the group’s reign of terror.
Feb 23, 2017 / Anna Lekas Miller
![US soldier in Afghanistan](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/afghanistan_soldier_rtr_img.jpg)
This US Military Officer Explains Why America’s Middle East Wars Have Been Utter Failures This US Military Officer Explains Why America’s Middle East Wars Have Been Utter Failures
Hint: The foundational narrative is the problem.
Feb 21, 2017 / Danny Sjursen
![Mosul fight against ISIS](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Cole_Iraq_Mosul_AP_img.jpg)
Trump’s Muslim Ban Hurts US Troops and Helps Islamist Extremists Trump’s Muslim Ban Hurts US Troops and Helps Islamist Extremists
The president has enraged Middle Eastern allies who are carrying the brunt of the fight against ISIS.
Jan 30, 2017 / Juan Cole