Global

Cross-regional, system-level stories that span multiple theaters, alliances, and strategic domains.

690 Dispatches

Bashar Al-Assad: The Rise and Fall of Syria's Brutal Tyrant
Geopolitics & Strategy

Bashar Al-Assad: The Rise and Fall of Syria's Brutal Tyrant

Explore Bashar Al-Assad's 24-year rule: chemical weapons, torture prisons, mass displacement, and his 2024 fall from power.

Simon Whistler · December 31, 2024
When Nepal Caught Fire: How a Social Media Ban Ignited a Gen Z Uprising
Conflicts & Crises

When Nepal Caught Fire: How a Social Media Ban Ignited a Gen Z Uprising

A localized Kathmandu protest swelled into a national reckoning that toppled Nepal's government, exposing decades of corruption and a generation's fury.

Simon Whistler · December 28, 2024
Russia's Demographic Time Bomb: A Population in Collapse
Geopolitics & Strategy

Russia's Demographic Time Bomb: A Population in Collapse

Analyze the root causes of Russia's demographic crisis, from Soviet-era policies to the devastating impact of the Ukraine war on a shrinking population.

Simon Whistler · December 26, 2024
The Evolution of Abu Mohammed al-Golani: The Man Who Overthrew Assad
Geopolitics & Strategy

The Evolution of Abu Mohammed al-Golani: The Man Who Overthrew Assad

Explore the complex evolution of Abu Mohammed al-Golani, from an al-Qaeda jihadist to the leader of HTS and the uncrowned ruler of post-Assad Syria.

Simon Whistler · December 24, 2024
Abdul Qadeer Khan and the Global Nuclear Black Market
Geopolitics & Strategy

Abdul Qadeer Khan and the Global Nuclear Black Market

Discover how Abdul Qadeer Khan built a clandestine global network that supplied nuclear weapons technology to rogue states for nearly two decades.

Simon Whistler · December 19, 2024
South Korea's Martial Law Was Nearly So Much Worse
Conflicts & Crises

South Korea's Martial Law Was Nearly So Much Worse

Inside South Korea's failed coup attempt: the military orders, close calls, and ordinary people who prevented democratic catastrophe.

Simon Whistler · December 18, 2024
The Complete History of the Iranian Nuclear Crisis: From Cold War Origins to the JCPOA Collapse
Geopolitics & Strategy

The Complete History of the Iranian Nuclear Crisis: From Cold War Origins to the JCPOA Collapse

Discover the complete history of Iran's nuclear program, examining its Cold War origins, the 1979 Revolution, the JCPOA collapse, and current enrichment

Simon Whistler · December 17, 2024
Inside Ethiopia's Growing Drone War: How UAVs Are Devastating Civilian Populations in Amhara and Oromia
Conflicts & Crises

Inside Ethiopia's Growing Drone War: How UAVs Are Devastating Civilian Populations in Amhara and Oromia

How Ethiopia's drone campaign against insurgencies is killing hundreds of civilians in marketplaces, schools, and hospitals with no military effect.

Simon Whistler · December 16, 2024
Mysterious Drone Swarms Over US Military Bases: The Pentagon's Unsolved Security Challenge
Military & Defense

Mysterious Drone Swarms Over US Military Bases: The Pentagon's Unsolved Security Challenge

Sophisticated drones conducted 17-day surveillance over Langley Air Force Base. Explore the Pentagon's unsolved security challenge and attribution mystery.

Simon Whistler · December 14, 2024
Life After Assad: Syria's Uncertain Path to Reconstruction and Peace
Conflicts & Crises

Life After Assad: Syria's Uncertain Path to Reconstruction and Peace

Explore Syria's path forward after Assad's fall: territorial control, HTS leadership, Kurdish tensions, reconstruction costs, and international involvement

Simon Whistler · December 12, 2024
The Fall of the Syrian Regime: How Bashar al-Assad Was Finally Overthrown
Conflicts & Crises

The Fall of the Syrian Regime: How Bashar al-Assad Was Finally Overthrown

Comprehensive analysis of Assad regime's collapse in December 2024. Explore HTS offensive, Aleppo's fall, and nationwide rebel advances that ended 50 years

Simon Whistler · December 12, 2024
How Can Ukraine Protect Itself After the War? A Strategic Analysis
Geopolitics & Strategy

How Can Ukraine Protect Itself After the War? A Strategic Analysis

Explore the strategic options for post-war Ukraine, from NATO security guarantees and the Taiwan porcupine model to Korean DMZ-style active deterrence.

Simon Whistler · December 10, 2024