Foreign Affairs

Welcome to the World’s Next Failed State

Weeks after the last U.S. soldier finally left the country, Iraq is on the road to becoming a failed state, with a deadlocked political system, an authoritarian leader, and a looming threat of disintegration. Baghdad can still pull itself together, but only if Washington starts applying the right kind of democratic pressure — and fast. Full article here.

Opponents of military action against Iran assume a U.S. strike would be far more dangerous than simply letting Tehran build a bomb. Not so, argues this former Pentagon defense planner. With a carefully designed attack, could Washington  mitigate the costs and spare the region and the world from an unacceptable threat? Read the full article.

Why the U.S. Should Raise Taxes—Just As it Has in Previous Conflicts

Most Americans have made no sacrifices at all for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The burden should be shared. It’s long past time for Congress to enact a wartime tax, something it’s done in almost every war in the past, says James Wright. Read more here.

Why the United States Should Withdraw this December

The White House has been pressuring Maliki to invite U.S. troops to stay in Iraq after the upcoming deadline for withdrawal. It should stop. There are no good reasons for the military to stay. Read more here.