• Washington Policy Weekly
    LevantSecurity and Defense

    Congressional Update – Week Ending October 20, 2017

    Oct 20, 2017Marcus Montgomery

    I. Congress1) Legislation. This week, with the House of Representatives on recess and the Senate preoccupied with passing its version of a budget resolution, t…

  • Policy Analysis
    IraqConflicts and Conflict Resolution

    The Kirkuk Battle Is a Watershed Event for Iraq

    The Iraqi central government harnessed domestic and international support to abort the Kurdish referendum for independence, in the process weakening the KRG’s …

  • Policy Analysis
    LevantMigrants, Refugees, and IDPs

    The Challenges of Turkey’s Operation in Syria’s Idlib

    Oct 19, 2017Mustafa Gurbuz

    Turkey is concerned about who controls neighboring Idlib Province in Syria but is equally interested in thwarting the Syrian Kurds’ plans for autonomy south of…

  • Policy Analysis
    IranSecurity and Defense

    The Art of (Decertifying) the Deal: Trump’s Iran Strategy and the Nuclear Agreement’s Future

    Oct 17, 2017Charles W. Dunne

    The president’s decertifying the Iran nuclear deal does not terminate US participation in the JCPOA but opens the door to such a move, roils US relations with …

  • Op-Eds

    Mostafa Gurbuz: Raqqa: a fatal blow to the Islamic state (in Portuguese)

    Oct 17, 2017

    Losing Raqqa is certainly a fatal blow to the EI, whose legitimacy is built on the territorial claim.Read More

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranUS Foreign Policy

    Congressional Update – Week Ending October 13, 2017

    Oct 13, 2017Marcus Montgomery

    Congress debates Iran and its proxies; President Trump refuses to certify Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA and designates the IRGC a terrorist organization.

  • Policy Analysis
    LebanonDemocracy and Governance

    Will US, Saudi Pressure Deter Hezbollah in Lebanon?

    Oct 12, 2017Joe Macaron

    Given the current status quo in Lebanon, the best American and Saudi pressure can do is to make the country’s political environment unbearable for Hezbollah.

  • Policy Analysis
    IraqDemocracy and Governance

    The Kurdish Referendum and Cross-Communal Dynamics in Iraq

    While Abadi’s popularity has risen because of his stewardship of the successful anti-Islamic State campaign, his standing could be jeopardized if the crisis ov…

  • Op-Eds

    Marcus Montgomery: Trump is about to make matters much worse with Iran

    Oct 12, 2017Marcus Montgomery

    Undermining the nuclear deal coupled with designating the IRGC a "foreign terrorist organization" only risks emboldening hardliners in Iran, which is bad news …

  • Mustafa Gurbuz talkss to The Medialine on Turkey’s latest crackdown on local Kurds

    Oct 10, 2017

    Such incidents are increasing because the officials do not regard them as crimes, and ultranationalist groups know thisRead more

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranConflicts and Conflict Resolution

    Congressional Update – Week Ending October 06, 2017

    Congress looks to stabilize Iraq and Syria after IS; countering Iran takes center stage as Trump vows not to certify the JCPOA; travel ban back in the court sy…

  • Op-Eds

    Marcus Montgomery: Despite the bravado, Trump will leave Iran deal decision to Congress

    The nuclear deal is another situation where Trump hopes to deface one of Obama's key accomplishments, while leaving it to Congress to decide the consequences.R…