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The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfConflicts and Conflict ResolutionTroubling Ambiguities in the UAE’s Role in Yemen
Sep 8, 2017Imad K. HarbThe UAE’s ambiguous policies in Yemen expose the entire restoration of Yemeni legitimacy to uncertain circumstances, put it and Saudi Arabia at cross purposes,…
- Washington Policy Weekly
IranMigrants, Refugees, and IDPsCongressional Update – Week Ending September 8, 2017
Sep 8, 2017Marcus MontgomeryThe Senate moves closer to deciding on a State Department budget; Kuwaiti delegation canvasses Washington; Nikki Haley takes aim at Iran deal; and Trump’s trav…
- Policy Analysis
Can the Gulf Cooperation Council Survive the Current Crisis?
Sep 7, 2017Kristian Coates UlrichsenThe GCC is likely to survive the current crisis, at least on paper, but to become far less relevant as policymaking is driven by younger decision-makers who ha…
- Washington Policy WeeklyUS Domestic Politics and Elections
Congressional Update – Week Ending September 1, 2017
Sep 1, 2017Marcus MontgomeryI. CongressThis was the final week of Congress’ August recess. Both the Senate and House of Representatives will return for legislative business on September 5…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionWill Netanyahu’s Legal Troubles Break the Stalemate?
Aug 31, 2017Yousef MunayyerWith or without Benyamin Netanyahu, there is little reason to believe that any likely foreseeable Israeli government will be ready for peace with the Palestini…
- Policy Analysis
LevantUS Foreign PolicyAn Evaluation of President Trump’s Emerging Counterterrorism Strategy
Aug 30, 2017Charles W. DunnePresident Trump’s counterterrorism strategy that relies on military solutions is unlikely to succeed in a region with complex politics, dubious allies, and lon…
- Policy Analysis
EgyptDemocracy and GovernanceEgypt’s Extremist Groups and the Shrinking Political Space
Aug 29, 2017Gregory AftandilianThe Egyptian government’s repressive policies have contributed to the problem of extremism by constricting political space, severely cracking down on opponents…
- Policy Analysis
EgyptJustice, Equality, and Human RightsIs the Trump-Sisi Honeymoon Over?
Aug 28, 2017Imad K. HarbThe State Department’s decision on aid to Egypt shows that the Trump Administration cannot sidestep established law or Congress’s power of appropriation despit…
- Washington Policy WeeklyEgyptUS Foreign Policy
Congressional Update – Week Ending August 25, 2017
Aug 25, 2017Marcus MontgomeryThe Trump Administration goes all out for peace as Kushner and Company travel the region; Secretary Mattis visits allies in Jordan and Iraq; Secretary Tillerso…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionStakeholders of the Syrian Conflict Divide the Pie
Aug 23, 2017Joe MacaronThe recent local and regional developments in Syria signal that it is entering a new phase where major powers are coming to terms with a compromise that the Sy…
- Washington Policy WeeklyLevantReligion and Politics
Congressional Update – Week Ending August 18, 2017
Aug 18, 2017Marcus MontgomeryThe White House is set to try jumpstarting the Middle East peace process; the State Department launches its annual report on religious freedom; former CIA empl…
- Policy Analysis
LibyaConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Still Elusive Libyan Peace
Aug 17, 2017Imad K. HarbThe political impasse in Libya may pave the way for a final collapse of the nearly failed Libyan state and the subsequent divorce between the eastern and weste…
- Policy Analysis
IraqSecurity and DefenseThe Realities and Challenges of a New US SOFA with Iraq
Aug 15, 2017Gregory AftandilianThe United States and Iraq are currently negotiating a new Status of Forces Agreement that is contingent upon numerous domestic, regional, and American conditi…
- Washington Policy WeeklyUS Foreign Policy
Congressional Update – Week Ending August 11, 2017
Aug 11, 2017Marcus MontgomeryWhile Congress is away, think tanks and NGOs around the city recommend policy prescriptions for the program on Countering Violent Extremism amidst uncertaintie…
- Policy Analysis
EgyptConflicts and Conflict ResolutionAn Economic Explanation for Egypt’s Alignment in the GCC Crisis
Aug 9, 2017Imad K. HarbWith Egypt heavily reliant on Saudi Arabia and the UAE for its economic stability and survival, Cairo may not find much room for independent foreign policy dec…
- Policy Analysis
LebanonConflicts and Conflict ResolutionStretched over Two Borders, Hezbollah is Making Israel Anxious
Aug 8, 2017Joe MacaronIn the long run, the risks of confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah may largely depend on how the US-Russia deal will unfold in southern Syria.
- Policy Analysis
IraqDemocracy and GovernanceExistential Questions: Iraq Gears up for Elections
Aug 7, 2017Charles W. DunneIraqi political forces are beginning to come together, pick fights, ingratiate themselves with potential foreign patrons, and evaluate the mood of the country …
- Washington Policy WeeklyIraqConflicts and Conflict Resolution
Congressional Update – Week Ending August 4, 2017
Aug 4, 2017Marcus MontgomeryThe Senate finishes legislative business and joins the House for August recess; pro-Israel bills loom large in Congress while Washington discusses the plight o…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionTaylor Force Act: Putting the Palestinian Authority on Notice
Aug 3, 2017Marcus MontgomerySenators have agreed to revise a bill that will put the Palestinian Authority on notice, conditioning US aid to the PA on ending payments to Palestinian prison…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaDemocracy and GovernanceMohammed bin Salman’s Elevation and the Way Forward
Aug 1, 2017Imad K. HarbCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman faces serious challenges in affirming Saudi Arabia’s domestic stability and addressing the fallout from the GCC crisis and the…
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranThe GCC
Congressional Update – Week Ending July 28, 2017
Jul 28, 2017Marcus MontgomeryCongress takes on budgets before the House goes on recess; Qatar and the GCC are front and center in Washington; Lebanon’s PM Visits DC.
- Policy Analysis
IraqConflicts and Conflict ResolutionImproving Iraq-GCC Relations: No Time Like the Present
Jul 27, 2017Charles W. DunneIraq’ reintegration into the Arab world, particularly in terms of improving its relations with its Gulf neighbors, will support its stability as well as ensure…
- Policy Analysis
QatarConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe GCC Crisis: Media, Hacks, and the Emergence of “Cyber Power”
Jul 25, 2017Tamara KharroubMedia tools have been employed heavily in the GCC crisis to suppress freedom of the press and expression, indicating a shift from military and soft power to a …
- Policy Analysis
IraqConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Day after Mosul’s Liberation
Jul 25, 2017Abdulwahab Al-QassabCrafting a new social and political order after the defeat of ISIL in Mosul, and elsewhere in Iraq, is a responsibility for the Iraqis, their allies, the regio…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionPalestine Recentered
Jul 25, 2017Yousef MunayyerThe Jerusalem events show that the Palestine issue remains central to the region and that a serious, sustained, and committed engagement in its resolution is p…
- Policy Analysis
LebanonDemocracy and GovernanceHariri Comes to Washington in the Shadow of Hezbollah’s Wars
Jul 25, 2017Joe MacaronThe measure of success for Hariri’s visit to Washington is his ability to convince US officials that the status quo is the best Lebanon can do considering the …
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Arab Peace Initiative is Back on the Table; Netanyahu Is Not Budging
Jul 24, 2017Gregory AftandilianThe Arab Peace Initiative has not gone anywhere since it was launched in 2002. Developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict do not inspire confidence that …
- Policy Analysis
AlgeriaDemocracy and GovernanceChallenges Facing Algeria’s Future
Jul 21, 2017Imad K. HarbAlgeria is challenged by a lethargic political system headed by an ailing president, a poorly performing rentier economy, and a rising Salafi Islam that is com…
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranUS Domestic Politics and Elections
Congressional Update – Week Ending July 21, 2017
Jul 21, 2017Marcus MontgomeryHouse Appropriations Committee bolsters defense spending, cuts the State Department’s budget; Iran is back in the spotlight; Washington grapples with how to he…
- Policy Analysis
QatarConflicts and Conflict ResolutionStupendous Hubris…and Its Damage
Jul 18, 2017Imad K. HarbRevelations in the Post article stand the entire GCC crisis on a new footing, now that tangible information has been made public and confirms the Qatari govern…
- Washington Policy WeeklyLevantMigrants, Refugees, and IDPs
Congressional Update – Week Ending July 14, 2017
Jul 14, 2017Marcus MontgomeryThe House eyes funding for the Departments of Defense and State; the Tunisian Prime Minister visits Washington; Qatar decries the humanitarian costs of the Gul…
- Policy Analysis
JordanConflicts and Conflict ResolutionJordan and the US-Russia Deal in Southern Syria
Jul 12, 2017Joe MacaronThe recent ceasefire agreement for southern Syria and the Syrian regime’s military campaigns may be turning points in Jordan’s position on the war in Syria.
- Policy Analysis
QatarConflicts and Conflict ResolutionQatar-US Memorandum of Understanding: A Game Changer
Jul 11, 2017Imad K. HarbThe MOU is a game changer and provides a significant milestone on the road to a political solution that preserves GCC unity, stability, and prosperity.
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfEducation and DevelopmentYouth Unemployment Remains the Main Challenge in the Gulf States
Jul 11, 2017Gregory AftandilianPersistently high youth unemployment remains the chief domestic challenge facing the Gulf states. Efforts to encourage the private sector to absorb new entrant…
- Policy Analysis
IraqIdentity Politics and SectarianizationThe Independence Referendum: A Pyrrhic Victory for Barzani
Jul 10, 2017Mustafa GurbuzThe Kurdish decision to hold a referendum on independence from Iraq may bring happiness to the Kurds but will come at a heavy price for the Kurdish leadership.
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfConflicts and Conflict ResolutionCurrent Competing Dynamics in the GCC Region
Jul 10, 2017Abdulwahab Al-QassabThe competing strategic dynamics of Gulf and other actors complicate the current crisis and make its resolution contingent upon sometimes divergent interests.
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranUS Foreign Policy
Congressional Update – Week Ending July 7, 2017
Jul 7, 2017Marcus MontgomeryLawmakers have the week off for the Independence Day recess; the Iran-Russia sanctions bill hits another roadblock; terrorism finance experts discuss how the G…
- Policy Analysis
US Domestic Politics and ElectionsWhen Friends Spy on Friends: A US Spy Tool Could Spell Trouble for the Middle East Under Trump
Jul 5, 2017Marcus MontgomeryFISA Section 702 is an often debated topic, but now there are serious concerns about how US spying will affect Middle Eastern countries under President Trump
- Policy Analysis
Democracy and GovernanceA Case for Human Rights and Democracy in US Middle East Policy
Jul 5, 2017Charles W. DunneAmerican advocacy of human rights has helped defend US security in the long term, stabilize US allies and the international system, and build the moral capital…
- Policy Analysis
QatarConflicts and Conflict ResolutionAbsent Rationality in the GCC Crisis
Jul 5, 2017Imad K. HarbDevelopments since last May have shown a careless disregard on the part of the Saudi Arabia-United Arab Emirates-Bahrain entente of the basic tenets of rationa…
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranUS Domestic Politics and Elections
Congressional Update – Week Ending June 30, 2017
Jun 30, 2017Marcus MontgomeryCongress faces a setback in Iran-Russia sanctions legislation; the Senate explores authorizing the use of military force against ISIL; experts discuss US role …
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranUS Domestic Politics and Elections
Congressional Update – Week Ending June 30, 2017
Jun 30, 2017Marcus MontgomeryI. CongressCapitol Hill was very busy again this week in the run-up to the July 4 recess. In the House of Representatives, there were several markups on budget…
- Policy Analysis
IraqConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe GCC in Turmoil: Repercussions of the Gulf Crisis on Iraq-GCC Relations
Jun 27, 2017Abdulwahab Al-QassabIraq and the GCC have a long history of cooperation as well as enmity. How has the relationship between Iraq and GCC nations developed and what is the impact o…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Gaza Crisis and the Politics of the Light Switch
Jun 26, 2017Yousef MunayyerThe Gaza Strip is under unprecedented pressure. The situation on the ground has reached a climax over the past few months, making it ripe for either an implosi…
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Yemen Conflict and Its Elusive Political Solution
Jun 26, 2017Gregory AftandilianOvershadowed by the conflict in Syria, Yemen continues to suffer from an internal civil war, a regional proxy war, and a grave humanitarian crisis. Unfortunate…
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranSecurity and Defense
Congressional Update – Week Ending June 23, 2017
Jun 23, 2017Marcus MontgomeryCongress faces a setback in Iran-Russia sanctions legislation; the Senate explores authorizing the use of military force against ISIL; experts discuss US role …
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfSecurity and DefenseForeign Policy Aspects of US Weapons Sales in the Gulf: What Does the United States Get Out of It?
Jun 22, 2017David B. Des RochesUS government policy in the Arabian Peninsula is often maddeningly inconsistent to outside— and inside—observers. A republic such as the United States, which …
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfEnergy and EconomicsImpact of the GCC Crisis on Global Energy Markets
Jun 21, 2017Joe MacaronWhile the diplomatic row among GCC countries had no immediate impact on energy trade, the uncertainty and longevity of the crisis might have long term reverber…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionHow Did Syria Become a Victim of Regional and International Conflicts?
Jun 19, 2017Radwan ZiadehAs a seventh round of peace talks is announced, the United States and Russia clash over Syria and the GCC crisis remains unresolved. What is the impact of conf…
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranSecurity and Defense
Congressional Update – Week Ending June 16, 2017
Jun 16, 2017Marcus MontgomeryCongress holds a number of budget hearings; senators overwhelmingly pass sanctions that target Iran and Russia; the United States finalizes foreign military sa…
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfThe GCCPresident Trump Failed His Gulf Test
Jun 15, 2017Imad K. HarbThe United States must show a full-fledged commitment to GCC unity and refrain from appearing to side with some of the council’s members against others.
- Policy Analysis
US Domestic Politics and ElectionsInstitutional Challenges to US Foreign Policy: Trump’s Problematic Approach
Jun 13, 2017Charles W. DunneSlashing the budget for diplomacy will affect Trump’s priorities such as building new Gulf security structures, defeating ISIL, containing Iran, and tackling A…
- Washington Policy WeeklyLebanonUS Domestic Politics and Elections
Congressional Update – Week Ending June 9, 2017
Jun 9, 2017Marcus MontgomeryJames Comey's testimony shakes the Capitol; Congress holds hearings on ISIL, Hezbollah; battles continue over Saudi Arabian arms deal; Iran and Russia sanction…
- Policy Analysis
QatarRegional Relations and GeopoliticsWhat’s at Stake for the United States in the GCC Crisis?
Jun 8, 2017Joe MacaronA lot is at stake for US national security in the Gulf, including the possibility of living with a divided GCC, the potential expansion of Iranian influence, a…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionA Discussion of the UN Report on “Israeli Practices Regarding the Palestinians and the Question of Apartheid”
Jun 8, 2017Virginia TilleyThe two-state solution will allow Israel as an apartheid state to rule over a smaller portion of historical Palestine but will not be a just solution for the c…
- Policy Analysis
QatarConflicts and Conflict ResolutionWhy Qatar? Explaining Contentious Issues
Jun 6, 2017Imad K. HarbWhat should concern all members of the GCC today is working together not only to simply iron out differences but to provide an agenda for successful collective…
- Policy Analysis
EgyptConflicts and Conflict ResolutionEgyptian-Saudi Relations: Managing a Difficult Marriage
Jun 6, 2017Gregory AftandilianSaudi Arabia and Egypt need each other at this uncertain time and this inter-dependence keeps them together in a symbiotic relationship despite occasional stra…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionA Bird’s Eye View of the 1967 War: Palestine Remains the Central Issue
Jun 5, 2017Imad K. HarbAfter fifty years of the 1967 war that changed the map of the Middle East and destroyed the Arab republican nationalist regimes, the Question of Palestine rema…
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranUS Foreign Policy
Congressional Update – Week Ending June 2, 2017
Jun 2, 2017Marcus MontgomeryI. CongressThe House and Senate were in recess this week for the Memorial Day holiday. The Senate will return to session June 5 and the House will get back to …
- Washington Policy WeeklyLevantUS Domestic Politics and Elections
H.R. 2712: Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act of 2017
May 31, 2017Marcus MontgomeryOn May 25, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Florida) introduced H.R. 2712, “a bill to impose sanctions with respect to foreign support for Palestinian terrorism, and for oth…
- Policy Analysis
IranConflicts and Conflict ResolutionA US-Iran Race to Control the Damascus-Baghdad Highway
May 31, 2017Joe MacaronSecuring the Damascus-Baghdad highway and deterring Iran’s regional activities might lead to a direct US involvement in the Syrian war.
- Policy Analysis
EgyptConflicts and Conflict ResolutionTurkish-Egyptian Relations: Nowhere to Go but Up
May 30, 2017Charles W. DunneEgypt and Turkey, both staunch US allies, have found themselves locked in a war of words—and worse—for nearly four years since the overthrow of President Moham…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionNetanyahu’s Nightmare: Trump Visits Palestine
May 30, 2017Yousef MunayyerTrump will not bring about a two-state solution but he may be in a unique position to get Israelis to understand that they have to end their oppression of the …
- Policy Analysis
LevantJustice, Equality, and Human RightsGaping Holes in Trump’s Well-Received Speech
May 26, 2017Imad K. HarbPresident Trump’s speech on better relations with Muslims exposed flaws and gaping holes the Administration will have to correct if it wants to advance its int…
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranSecurity and Defense
Congressional Update – Week Ending May 26, 2017
May 26, 2017Marcus MontgomeryPresident Trump visits the Middle East and signs arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Congress proposes legislation regarding Iran, Syria, and violent extremism.
- Policy Analysis
LevantReligion and PoliticsTrump’s Riyadh Speech: Same Intolerance, Different Packaging, No Strategy
May 24, 2017Tamara KharroubTrump’s speech in Saudi Arabia received praise and acclaim but it is hard to see if the president has indeed changed his opinion about Islam and Muslims.
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionBeyond the Trump-Erdoğan Meeting: The Rise of Eurasianists and Turkey’s Syria Policy
May 23, 2017Mustafa GurbuzA structural change in Turkey’s political system is gradually forcing serious changes in the country’s foreign policy toward Syria, the Gulf countries, Russia,…
- Washington Policy WeeklyIranReligion and Politics
Congressional Update – Week Ending May 19, 2017
May 19, 2017Marcus MontgomerySyria bill imposing sanctions on Asad regime and its supporters passes the House, and US Treasury places sanctions on these individuals and entities. Several b…
- Policy Analysis
LebanonDemocracy and GovernanceOnce Again, Lebanon Faces the Ghost of a Political Vacuum
May 17, 2017Joe MacaronLebanon’s sectarian consensus rule raises questions about the functionality of the country’s political system. An agreement on its new electoral law is needed …
