Washington Policy Weekly

A weekly report outlining and analyzing developments in US policy related to the Middle East and covering activities in the three branches of the US government.

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  • Washington Policy Weekly
    LevantConflicts and Conflict Resolution

    Bad Press is Turning Congress’s Attention Back to Saudi Arabia

    Jun 12, 2019Marcus Montgomery

    Marcus Montgomery writes that recent negative press coverage is raising Saudi Arabia’s visibility on Capitol Hill and hastening momentum among members of Congr…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranConflicts and Conflict Resolution

    While Trump Sides with Haftar, the Rest of Washington Is Unsure

    May 22, 2019Marcus Montgomery

    While President Trump has sided with General Khalifa Haftar, many in Washington are skeptical of the would-be strongman and seek a political solution to the fi…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranSecurity and Defense

    Congress and White House Have Rival Plans for the Gulf

    May 15, 2019Marcus Montgomery

    Many Arab Gulf states have enjoyed unwavering support from the Trump Administration in their confrontations with Iran, but Congress has other ideas, including …

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranConflicts and Conflict Resolution

    This Week in Washington: Trump’s “Deal of the Century”

    May 8, 2019Marcus Montgomery

    President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is tasked with achieving what has been an unobtainable peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinian…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranSecurity and Defense

    What Does Trump Want for the Middle East?

    May 1, 2019Marcus Montgomery

    The Trump Administration wants to defeat the Islamic State and push back against Iran, but it has no serious strategy for either. This makes President Trump’s …

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranConflicts and Conflict Resolution

    Fallout from Trump’s Iran Strategy

    Apr 24, 2019Marcus Montgomery

    Feeling emboldened by the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran, some Arab Gulf states look to intensify proxy battles with the Islamic Repu…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    EgyptSecurity and Defense

    In Washington, the IRGC Is Now Like IS

    Apr 10, 2019Marcus Montgomery

    President Trump took the unprecedented step of listing the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. A lack of specifics on how to enforce sanctions means that…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    LevantEnergy and Economics

    Congress Balks at a Nuclear Riyadh

    Apr 3, 2019Marcus Montgomery

    The Trump Administration has been working quietly to facilitate a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia, but Congress has qualms about any potential US-Saud…