Central Asia

The Iranian regime won’t last forever. Squeezing Iran tighter through sanctions and the threat of an attack will sour Western ties with its successor and may encourage Tehran to go nuclear.

The unrest in Syria has underscored a broader Middle East game being played between the United States, Russia and China.

Barack Obama’s attraction to unconventional operations has perhaps only been rivaled by John F. Kennedy. But plans for a floating base have their limits.

Iran’s navy may not be a match for the U.S. on the high seas, but the Strait of Hormuz offers plenty of ways for it to make life tricky.

Iran’s supreme leader has built much of his legitimacy around demonizing the United States. So what could he really offer in talks with the U.S.?

Plans to establish a Taliban political liaison office in Qatar suggest peace talks may finally make progress. But are the Taliban really ready to stop fighting?

Iran would likely be a far more formidable adversary than any the United States has faced in decades. The U.S. should be very wary about launching military strikes.

Last year was an unsettling year for Pakistanis. With political upheaval and security threats looming, 2012 will likely bring more of the same.

A cornered Iranian supreme leader might be tempted to boost his domestic standing by lashing out at Israel. Israel is ill-equipped to respond.

Iran’s military could probably make life uncomfortable for the U.S. in the Strait of Hormuz. But the downsides far outweigh the advantages of trying.

Osama bin Laden is dead, but his close ally and Taliban chief Mullah Omar still complicates the future of Afghanistan.

The threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz could come back to haunt Iran’s leaders. Still, Obama will be wary of becoming the second president to come unstuck over Iran.