General (Ret.) Mohammed al-Samarae says that for the U.S. to successfully and decisively defeat ISIS, it must change the balance of power and momentum on the ground, something it cannot achieve with airstrikes alone.

Chris Miller argues that the 'No boots' mentality and 'economy of force' have led to deeply unpopular and indecisive wars since 9/11, strategies President Obama seems determined to follow against ISIS. It's time to bring back the Powell Doctrine.

Lionel Beehner argues we should not partner with Assad to defeat ISIS. That is a recipe for regional instability.

Col. S. Clinton Hinote argues that by occupying territory and grabbing the world's attention ISIS has also made itself vulnerable to attack, something the U.S. and its partners should take advantage of now.

Lionel Beehner ponders the inconsistent and indifferent reaction of the American public to massacres, genocide, and mass violence in places like Syria and Iraq and closer to home in Newtown, Aurora, and inner-city Chicago.

Michael Page writes that prevailing Realist rhetoric on 'restraint' and 'containment' coming from Washington underestimates the gathering threat ISIS poses to regional stability and international security.

Nicholas Seeley, author of A Syrian Wedding, discusses life inside Jordan's largest Syrian refugee camp.

Chemical weapons expert Dan Kaszeta writes that the presence of Hexamine implicates Bashar al-Assad and Syrian government forces in the August 2013 chemical attacks in Ghouta.