• Washington Policy Weekly
    LevantSecurity and Defense

    Congressional Update – Week Ending June 22, 2018

    Jun 22, 2018Marcus Montgomery

    Lawmakers set out budget figures for Departments of Defense and State; Kushner and Greenblatt tour Middle East seeking support for the “ultimate deal”; US with…

  • Policy Analysis
    JordanSecurity and Defense

    It May Be Time to Restructure American Assistance to Jordan

    Jun 15, 2018Marcus Montgomery

    Since May 30, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has seen a wave of massive, largely peaceful protests that have King Abdullah II in a bind. The current turmoil h…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranSecurity and Defense

    Congressional Update – Week Ending June 8, 2018

    I. CongressThe House of Representatives and the Senate both returned to Washington this week to tackle legislative business and move toward securing the federa…

  • Policy Analysis
    LevantReligion and Politics

    The Damascus-Aleppo Highway and Stabilizing Northwest Syria

    Jun 7, 2018Joe Macaron

    While Russia, Turkey and Iran are stabilizing northwest Syria along the Damascus-Aleppo highway, they are also normalizing an irregular situation that could ul…

  • Policy Analysis
    North AfricaRegional Relations and Geopolitics

    Political Calculations…from the Western Sahara to the Arabian Gulf

    The timing of Morocco’s decision to sever relations with Iran and to close the Iranian embassy in Rabat “immediately” on May 1, 2018, has raised questions abou…

  • Policy Analysis
    QatarSecurity and Defense

    Measures of Stalemate in the Gcc Crisis

    Jun 1, 2018Imad K. Harb

    The current existential crisis in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) began in May 2017 with a hacking operation of the Qatar News Agency website and the public…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IraqSecurity and Defense

    Congressional Update – Week Ending May 25, 2018

    May 25, 2018Marcus Montgomery

    I. Congress1) LegislationH.R. 5898. On May 21, Democratic Representative David Cicilline (Rhode Island) introduced a bill requiring Secretary of State Mike Pom…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    LevantSecurity and Defense

    Congressional Update – Week Ending May 18, 2018

    May 18, 2018Marcus Montgomery

    I. Congress1) HearingsAuthorizing the Use of Military Force. On May 16, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) held an open hearing to vet a proposed ne…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranSecurity and Defense

    Congressional Update – Week Ending May 11, 2018

    May 11, 2018Marcus Montgomery

    I. Congress 1) Legislation H.R. 5677. On May 7, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Ed Royce (R-California) introduced a bill to revise the…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IranSecurity and Defense

    Congressional Update – Week Ending April 20, 2018

    Apr 20, 2018Marcus Montgomery

    I. Congress1) Legislation J. Res. 59. On April 16, a bipartisan group of senators, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chairman Bob Corker (R-T…

  • Washington Policy Weekly
    IraqSecurity and Defense

    Congressional Update – Week Ending April 6, 2018

    Congress remains quiet as Israel kills and wounds Palestinians; Trump sows confusion on Syria while top officials outline their visions for its future; courts …

  • Policy Analysis
    JordanConflicts and Conflict Resolution

    Jordan’s Four Worst-case Scenarios on Its Syrian Border

    Mar 30, 2018Joe Macaron

    Jordan faces four worst-case scenarios as the US-Russia ceasefire agreement is gradually collapsing in southwestern Syria. Amman’s options to limit the damage …