Analysis & Commentary

US Must Begin Bolstering Regional Allies to Mitigate Fallout from Syria Withdrawal

The Hill - Friday, December 21, 2018 by Jonathan Ruhe and Ari Cicurel and

Sometimes big things do come in small packages – 91 characters, to be exact. In one tweet President Trump abruptly declared mission accomplished in Syria and initiated a precipitous U.S. withdrawal that gives ISIS a lifeline while handing the strategic heart of the…

Iran’s Ballistic Missile Test Shows U.S. Defense of Middle East Allies Must Change. Here’s How

Newsweek - Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) and

Iran’s recent nuclear-capable ballistic missile test exploded three myths popular in Washington: that missile development was forbidden by the 2015 Iran nuclear deal; that Saudi Arabia’s reckless and heinous killing of Jamal Khashoggi represents the most pressing regional threat to the United…

The United States Needs a Clear Strategy to Roll Back Iran

The Hill - Monday, December 3, 2018 by Michael Makovsky, PhD and

National Security Advisor John Bolton stated recently about Iran, “it’s our intention to squeeze them very hard.” But to what end? The Trump administration has been admirably tough on Iran but vague about its objectives and has insufficiently acted upon…

Syria’s S-300 Gift From Russia

Real Clear Defense - Wednesday, November 21, 2018 by Jonathan Ruhe and Ari Cicurel and

Recently satellite imagery revealed what Russia is calling a “radical change” in its Syria policy: delivering the S-300 to bolster Bashar al-Assad’s air defenses against Israel. This will not make Israel’s ongoing air campaign against Iran in Syria any easier. However, this should not…