The U.S. involvement in the fighting in Afghanistan and in four wars in the Middle East—Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and Syria—has led to a necessary focus on the military dimension and the tactical need to defeat given extremist movements and “enemies.” This focus, however,...

Two years after the withdrawal of all US military forces from Iraq, the Iraqi military is facing major challenges as it seeks to confront a resurgence of Islamist violence.

The visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is scarcely something to celebrate. There will be the usual vacuous speeches and empty, dishonest rhetoric. Words like “democracy” and “partnership” will be misused with the usual lack of concern....

The development of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is one of the most critical aspects of the war.

The Changing Challenge to Iraqi Security

There is no victory in Iraq as yet. The bombings on August 19^th and October 25^th are parts of a pattern that give us a grim warning that Iraq still faces major challenges at virtually every level....

The Burke Chair at CSIS is issuing two new reports on the Iraq and Afghan Wars.

The challenges involved are described in detail in an updated analysis by Erin K. Fitzgerald and Anthony H. Cordesman for the Burke Chair at CSIS.