Commentary and Analysis

In 2022, there were about 170,000 troops stationed outside of the U.S. and its territories, according to the Department of Defense. As of June 2023, there were over 30,000 troops stationed in the Middle East alone, before America expanded its military presence following Hamas' attack on Israel in October. 

But public opinion has likely shifted following Hamas' attacks on Israel.

"A China beginning to lose the underpinnings of its new-found international influence could prove even more dangerous," John Austin writes.

Overall, Americans say the status quo between Israelis and Palestinians is unacceptable.

"What you're seeing on both sides of the border there right now is just complete despair," says Cécile Shea.

The current configuration of the international system is a recipe for frozen conflicts to thaw, Paul Poast argues.

The American public is under no illusions as to how long the war is likely to last, Ivo Daalder writes.

Cécile Shea unpacks the militant group's background following its recent attacks on Israel.

Explore the complex history of the Gaza Strip, the rise of Hamas, and the implications for the current conflict.

The spate of civil-military crises is a product of countries dealing with their new positions in a shifting global order, Paul Poast argues.