The long war in Iraq has been dogged by a tough chicken-and-egg question: what is the relationship between military gains and political progress?

It will take three to five years before Iraq's government is stable enough to operate on its own, according to the former commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, who said the surge of American forces has not solved the country's broader problems...

It was interesting that both Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker took the opportunity during their congressional testimony Monday to bash Iran...

For people who say their ideas can't get heard, those who contend "the Israel Lobby" has a poisonous grip on American foreign policy are getting a lot of airtime these days...