WASHINGTON One cause for Syria’s torments is that regional powers have used proxy forces to advance their position in the “great game” of influence, without regard for the effects on the Syrian people. An example is the standoff between two Syrian Kurdish militia groups. One, known as the YPG, appears to be tacitly backed by an odd coalition that includes ...

  Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Athens appears economic at its face value, but it is also an attempt to demonstrate Moscow could move through its allies in Europe, notably Athens, to flout EU sanctions imposed by Brussels over Russia’s involvement in Ukraine. Putin is quite aware that Athens could play a role in restoring rapprochement with Brussels amid ...

  Donald Trump has a personal problem with voters that transcends policy differences, partisan affiliations and political concerns: They don’t want him in their homes and aren’t eager to have their kids exposed to him. These are among the findings of an online poll of working-class voters in the Rust Belt. When asked which likely general election candidate would be ...