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Political Isolation and Libya's Future

Middle East Policy Council, May 17, 2013

Ever since the downfall of Qadhafi, Libyans have wrestled with the question of what to do with those ...

Yair Lapid and Israeli Austerity

Middle East Policy Council, May 14, 2013

The last few days have been particularly difficult for Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, and especially so for ...

Has Syria Crossed the "Red Line"?

Middle East Policy Council, April 30, 2013

Israel, the United States, the UK and other nations have confirmed with varying degrees of certainty the use ...

Al Jazeera Interviews Thomas Mattair on U.S. Reaction to Syrian Chemical Weapons Use (Arabic)

Al Jazeeera, April 29, 2013

Al Jazeera recently interviewed Middle East Policy Council executive director Dr. Thomas R. Mattair on the U.S. reaction to ...

Hezbollah in Syria

Middle East Policy Council, April 25, 2013

After more than two years of civil war in Syria, few people dare to hope for a swift or ...

Iraqis Vote in Provincial Elections

Middle East Policy Council, April 22, 2013

Iraqis across the country voted in provincial elections over the weekend, the first of their kind since the ...

Thomas Mattair Interviewed on UAE al-Qaeda Arrests

Voice of America, April 19, 2013

Dr. Thomas R. Mattair, executive director of the Middle East Policy Council, was recently interviewed by Voice of America concerning ...

Palestinian Unification and Fayyad's Resignation

Middle East Policy Council, April 16, 2013

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accepted the resignation of his prime minister, Salem Fayyad. Regarded as a reformer and ...

Is Iraq Better Off?

Middle East In Focus, April 12, 2013

Iraqis are marking the ten year anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime this week. However, unlike ...

Erdogan's Case for KRG Oil Exports

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, April 10, 2013

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have much to talk about when he visits the White House on May ...

Israeli-Turkish Relations and a New Government in Lebanon

Middle East In Focus, April 9, 2013

Two developments in particular have drawn the attention of the public and observers in the Middle East: the ...

Iran Tries to Come In from the Cold

Middle East In Focus, April 4, 2013

Much to the chagrin of Iran, the Arab League voted last week to officially back the Syrian opposition, ...

Whither GCC-US Relations?

Abdulaziz Sager, April 3, 2013

Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, the chairman and founder of the Gulf Research Center, has published an important analysis of the problems ...

Book Lecture April 5th

Middle East Policy Council, March 27, 2013

The Middle East Policy Council ...

Netanyahu's Apology and Turkish-Israeli Detente

Middle East In Focus, March 25, 2013

Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has finally apologized to the Turkish government for the lethal raid mounted by Israeli ...

Israel / Palestine: What Is to Be Done Now?

John V. Whitbeck, March 23, 2013

Today’s issue of LE MONDE, France’s preeminent newspaper, features a front-page editorial entitled “Israel-Palestine: the renunciation of Obama.” ...

Obama's Visit to Israel and Palestine - Part I

Middle East In Focus, March 21, 2013

Barack Obama has embarked on his first presidential trip to Israel and Palestine. The White House has tried ...

On China's Leadership Transition

Middle East In Focus, March 18, 2013

China’s once-in-a-decade leadership change has just been completed with the appointment of Xi Jinping as president and Li Keqiang ...

Iraq 10 Years After the Invasion

Middle East In Focus, March 15, 2013

Ten years since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraq continues to suffer from near-constant sectarian violence, which ...

Opposition in Syria Gains U.S. Support even as UN Hostages Taken

Middle East In Focus, March 11, 2013

News that an armed faction of the Syrian opposition captured (and subsequently released) 21 members of a UN ...

Reactions to Erdogan's Comments on Zionism

Middle East In Focus, March 6, 2013

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruffled the feathers of Israeli officials and the U.S. government by ...

Boycotting Egyptian Elections a Non-Starter, Say Observers

Middle East In Focus, February 28, 2013

The situation in Egypt continues to remain unstable, as opposition figures call for a boycott of the upcoming parliamentary ...

Israel Needs a New Map

Ian Lustick, February 26, 2013

I’m delighted to be here. I want to thank Phil Wilcox and Anne Joyce from the Foundation for Middle ...

Palestinians Protest Israeli Detention Policies

Middle East In Focus, February 26, 2013

Palestinians took to the streets this week to protest the death of Arafat Jaradat, a Palestinian prisoner in an ...

Tzipi Livni Joins Netanyahu Coalition

Middle East In Focus, February 22, 2013

News of the appointment of former Kadima leader and current Hatnuah chairwoman Tzipi Livni as Justice Minister in the ...

What Eisenhower and Dulles Saw in Nasser

Middle East Policy Council, February 21, 2013

The Council’s Capitol Hill conference this quarter examined whether there is a U.S. Grand Strategy for the ...

Tunisia in Trouble

Middle East In Focus, February 20, 2013

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali resigned yesterday, after failing to form a new coalition government. Jebali's departure comes after ...

Anxiety Grips Egypt's Economy

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, February 13, 2013

On the second anniversary of the departure of Hosni Mubarak, the Obama Administration is criticizing President Mohammed Morsi ...

Wolfram Lacher - Mali: Beyond Counterterrorism

Middle East Policy Council, February 13, 2013

Wolfram Lacher has co-authored a new article analyzing the international effort to stabilize Mali, including a history of the root ...

Chas Freeman on U.S. Grand Strategy in the Middle East

Middle East Policy Council, February 11, 2013

In this clip from our recent conference, U.S. Grand Strategy in the Middle East, Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, ...

Obama's Upcoming Visit to the Holy Land

Middle East In Focus, February 11, 2013

It was announced last week that Barack Obama will visit Israel, the West Bank and Jordan at the ...

Violence, Anarchy and Hunger Stalk Arab Lands

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, February 6, 2013

All my life, I’ve been proud to call myself an Arab. Our ancestors gave birth to great civilizations and ...

Israel's Airstrike Draws Rebukes

Middle East In Focus, February 6, 2013

It has been almost a week since the Israeli airstrike on a Syrian convoy allegedly delivering anti-aircraft weapons ...

Libya's Spheres of Bad Influence

Karim Mezran, February 4, 2013

In this new piece written for The American Prospect, Karim Mezran highlights the decline of law and order in the ...

Quo Vadis Syria?

Middle East In Focus, February 1, 2013

Conflicting reports of an Israeli air strike inside Syrian territory have caught many in the region by surprise. ...

William Quandt on U.S. Grand Strategy in the Middle East

Middle East Policy Council, January 29, 2013

In this clip from our recent conference, U.S. Grand Strategy in the Middle East, William Quandt (Professor, University ...

Egypt's New Normal?

Middle East In Focus, January 29, 2013

In Egypt, deadly violence — never too far from the surface as of late — has erupted once again. ...

Joshua Landis on Assad Regime

Joshua Landis, January 28, 2013

Referencing his essay one year ago in our journal titled "The Syrian Uprising of 2011: Why the Assad Regime ...

Elections in Israel and Jordan Maintain Status Quo

Middle East In Focus, January 24, 2013

This week’s election in Israel has once again failed to yield a clear mandate. While the current right-wing Prime ...

Regional Wariness and Obama's Second Term

Middle East In Focus, January 22, 2013

Barack Obama was publically sworn in yesterday to a second term as President of the United States of ...

Saudi Women Gain Representation on the Shura Council

Middle East In Focus, January 14, 2013

The attention of the world community turned to Saudi Arabia last week, as the controversy surrounding the execution of ...

Israeli Voters Prepare for New Elections

Middle East In Focus, January 11, 2013

Elections in Israel are fast approaching, and the notoriously fractious Israeli political system continues to prove volatile and ...

Maliki's Actions Continue to Antagonize Iraqi Sunnis

Middle East In Focus, January 8, 2013

The new year in Iraq has begun much as the old one ended. The Nouri al-Maliki government appears ...

No Mercy for Terrorists and Conspirators

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, January 6, 2013

The enlightened thought, sweat and sheer hard slog that has gone into making the UAE the near Utopia it ...

Sanctions and Iran's Trade Deficit

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, December 28, 2012

As the U.S. Treasury gears up to impose new sanctions in 2013, Iran will be looking for ways to rearrange ...

Israel Determined to Push Forward with Settlement Construction

Middle East In Focus, December 21, 2012

The Israeli government is promising to make good on its threat to retaliate against the Palestinian Authority’s decision to seek ...

Syria Conflict Increasingly Sectarian

Commission of Inquiry on Syria, December 20, 2012

Council board member Karen AbuZayd is part of the independent international Commission of Inquiry on Syria, mandated by the UN ...

Egypt's Constitutional Poll Seen as Divisive

Middle East In Focus, December 18, 2012

On Saturday, the Egyptians went to the polls to determine the fate of the country’s much contested new constitution. The ...

Study Group on a New Israeli Strategy 2000

Institute for Advanced Strategic & Political Studies, December 12, 2012

This report from 1996 was prepared for newly elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Authored by the Institute for Strategic ...

Bahrain Crown Prince Calls for Talks with Opposition

International Institute for Strategic Studies, December 11, 2012

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa said Bahrain must continue political and judicial reforms in an address ...

Israel's "Doomsday" Settlement

Middle East In Focus, December 7, 2012

Following the UN General Assembly’s overwhelmingly supported vote to recognize Palestine as a non-member observer state, the Israeli ...

Sectarian Tension in Lebanon and Iraq

Middle East In Focus, December 3, 2012

The conflict in Syrian continues to largely take the form of a sectarian struggle, with the Sunni majority ...

The Exhumation of Arafat

Middle East In Focus, November 30, 2012

Amid the pomp of the UN General Assembly vote granting Palestine non-member observer status, a forensic investigative committee ...

Egypt's Revolution at Risk

Middle East In Focus, November 27, 2012

Shortly after being praised by Western observers for his crucial role in the Israel-Hamas negotiations, Egyptian President Mohamed ...

Turkey and Egypt Vie for Influence

Middle East In Focus, November 26, 2012

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to be holding for now. And nobody stands to gain more ...

Prelude to Another War in Gaza?

Middle East In Focus, November 16, 2012

This week has seen a worrying surge in violence between Israel and Gaza. Claiming it was acting in response ...

Egypt's Economy Looks to 2013

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, November 15, 2012

Talks between Egypt and the IMF regarding a loan package of $4.8 billion will continue through the end of ...

Scott McConnell on the Israel Lobby and American Politics

Middle East Policy Council, November 15, 2012

In this clip from our recent conference, Policy Choices for the New Administration, Scott McConnell, founding editor of The ...

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Changes in Saudi Arabia and Syria

Middle East In Focus, November 13, 2012

With the entire world seemingly distracted by the U.S. presidential elections last week (not to mention China’s once-a-decade leadership ...
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Regional Comments on Obama's Re-election

Middle East In Focus, November 9, 2012

Barack Obama has secured a second term as President of the United States, defeating GOP Presidential hopeful Mitt ...
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Are the Palestinians Giving up the Right of Return?

Middle East In Focus, November 6, 2012

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas seems to have come closer than other Palestinian leader to dropping one of the ...
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Paul Pillar on Iran and Syria

Middle East Policy Council, November 2, 2012

In this clip from our recent conference, Policy Choices for the New Administration, Paul Pillar, former National Intelligence Officer ...
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Al Jazeera Interviews Thomas Mattair on U.S. Syria Policy (Arabic)

Al Jazeera, November 2, 2012

Al Jazeera recently interviewed Middle East Policy Council executive director Dr. Thomas R. Mattair on the topic of U.S. policy ...
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The Two-State Solution Drifts Further Away

Middle East In Focus, October 31, 2012

In the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s surprise announcement of early parliamentary elections, the main ...
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U.S. and Arab Strategies Toward Iran

C-SPAN, October 26, 2012

Dr. Thomas R. Mattair, executive director of the Middle East Policy Council, recently chaired a panel discussing Iran at the ...
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Is Lebanon on the Cusp of Another Civil War?

Middle East In Focus, October 25, 2012

The killing of Lebanon’s domestic intelligence chief Wissam al-Hassan last week in a massive car bombing in the heart ...
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Christian and Jewish Groups Clash over Military Aid to Israel

Middle East Policy Council, October 23, 2012

Church leaders represent an important constituency for peace. Recently a letter was sent to members of the U.S. ...
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In Memoriam: George McGovern

Middle East Policy Council, October 22, 2012

We at the Council are mourning the death of our former president, George McGovern (see his full ...
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Regional Reactions to the Presidential Debate

Middle East In Focus, October 19, 2012

This week, President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney met for their second debate. Even though foreign policy accounted ...
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Gulf States Are Pawns in a New 'Great Game'

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, October 18, 2012

The pieces of the jigsaw are slowly coming together, and from the perspective of Gulf States and Arab ...
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Thomas Mattair Interviewed on Iran-UAE Island Dispute

Voice of America, October 18, 2012

Voice of America recently interviewed Thomas R. Mattair, executive director of the Middle East Policy Council, on the disputed Abu ...
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The Human Cost of Military Strikes against Iran's Nuclear Facilities

Recommended Reading, October 18, 2012

The new publication The Ayatollah’s Nuclear Gamble examines a neglected facet of the Iranian nuclear issue: the chemical and radiological ...
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Morsi at 100 Days

Middle East In Focus, October 15, 2012

One hundred days into the term of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Egyptians and the media are asking ...
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A Letter to President Obama

Maya Rosenfeld, October 15, 2012

Dear President Obama:

I have been tempted to write to you ever since your first days in office ...
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The Other Elections

Middle East In Focus, October 12, 2012

The eyes of the world are fixated on the upcoming presidential and congressional elections in the United States. However, ...
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Will Turkey and Syria Go to War?

Middle East In Focus, October 9, 2012

Ever since the anti-Assad demonstrations began in Syria over 18 months ago, there have been worries that the internal ...
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Green-on-Blue Attacks in Afghanistan

Middle East In Focus, October 2, 2012

This week marked a grim milestone in the United States’ involvement in Afghanistan, as an American soldier gunned down ...
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U.S. Faces Challenges in Arab World, but Obama Is on Right Track

Brian Katulis, October 1, 2012

MEPC boardmember Brian Katulis, writing for U.S. News & World Report, gives a mostly-positive scorecard to the Obama administration for ...
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Mixed Reactions to Netanyahu's UN Speech

Middle East In Focus, September 28, 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu showed his knack for the dramatic at the UN yesterday, bringing out a cartoony ...
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Palestinians Protest Amid Economic Hardship

Middle East In Focus, September 24, 2012

Last week, Palestinians vented their frustration against what they perceive as mismanagement of the economy by Palestinian Authority ...
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Romney's Palestine Comments Raise Eyebrows

Middle East In Focus, September 21, 2012

Most of the recent blowback in the United States against Mitt Romney, the GOP candidate for president, has focused ...
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Regional Media Reactions to Film Protests

Middle East In Focus, September 19, 2012

The U.S. release of a crude amateur film depicting the prophet Mohammed has sparked violent protests across the Middle ...
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Netanyahu's Divided Cabinet

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, September 19, 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu insists that Washington must set clear “red lines” if it wants to stop ...
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After Benghazi and Cairo: The New Face of the Middle East?

Brian Katulis, September 14, 2012

MEPC boardmember Brian Katulis, speaking at an AEI panel, discusses the future of American aid to Egypt and Libya in ...
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Syria Censorship Challenges U.S. Policymakers

William Rugh, September 13, 2012

Ambassador William Rugh, a Middle East Policy Council boardmember, has been interviewed by Voice of America's Middle East Voices, answering ...
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Reflections on the 11th Anniversary of 9/11

Middle East In Focus, September 13, 2012

Eleven years since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the debate still continues about the significance of the ...
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Remembering Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens

Middle East Policy Council, September 12, 2012

J. Christopher Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, was among four Americans killed in an attack in Benghazi, Libya ...
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Middle East Perspectives on the U.S. Election

Middle East In Focus, September 10, 2012

Following the conclusion of the Republican and Democratic Party Conventions in Tampa and Charlotte (respectively), observers and newspaper ...
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Republicans, in Search of a Foreign Policy

Brian Katulis, September 7, 2012

MEPC boardmember Brian Katulis writes an op-ed for the New York Times, describing differences of opinion on foreign policy throughout ...
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Rachel Corrie Verdict Draws Strong Reactions

Middle East In Focus, September 4, 2012

Nine years after the death of American activist Rachel Corrie, an Israeli court has found not guilty the IDF ...
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Iraq Instability Grows Amidst Regional and Local Tension

Middle East In Focus, August 29, 2012

News of increased violence in Iraq has once again raised fears that the country might slide back into civil ...
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Israeli Court: American Protester Rachel Corrie's Death an Accident

CNN, August 28, 2012

Haifa, Israel (CNN) -- Nine years after an American activist was crushed by an Israeli army bulldozer, an Israeli civil ...
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Tehran Hosts the Non-Aligned Movement

Middle East In Focus, August 24, 2012

Next week, the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) will meet in Tehran. NAM is an international organization ...
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Syrian Conflict Risks Destabilizing Region

Middle East In Focus, August 22, 2012

As refugees flee Syria and civil strife there becomes more and more violent, politicians and observers from the region ...
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Mark Katz on Russia and the Crisis in Syria

Middle East Policy Council, August 22, 2012

In this clip from our recent conference, Crisis in Syria: What Are the U.S. Options?, ...
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Iran's Troubled Economy

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, August 21, 2012

Earlier this month, the Iranian rial closed at a record low of 22,300 per dollar at currency trading houses ...
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Israel's Media: Debating the Merits of War with Iran

Middle East In Focus, August 17, 2012

In what seems to have become a favorite national pastime, Israeli commentators and dailies have spent the week occupied ...
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UN Panel: Syrian Government and Opposition Forces Responsible for War Crimes

Middle East Policy Council, August 15, 2012

Karen AbuZayd (former Commissioner-General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ...
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Leon Hadar on the Crisis in Syria

Middle East Policy Council, August 15, 2012

In this clip from our recent conference, Crisis in Syria: What Are the U.S. Options?, ...
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Egypt: A Muslim Brotherhood Power-Grab?

Middle East In Focus, August 14, 2012

The militant attacks against Egyptian border police in the Sinai Peninsula seem to have claimed their most high profile ...
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Sinai Turmoil Raises Serious Questions

Middle East In Focus, August 10, 2012

Egyptian troops continue to pour into the Sinai Peninsula, days after the killing of 16 border guards by suspected ...
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Steven Heydemann on the Crisis in Syria

Middle East Policy Council, August 9, 2012

Analysts at the Middle East Policy Council’s 68^th Capitol Hill Conference, Crisis in Syria: What Are ...
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Turkish FM's Visit to Kirkuk Raises Eyebrows

Middle East In Focus, August 7, 2012

Last week’s visit to the autonomous Kurdish Region in Iraq by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has drawn ...
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Romney's Visit to Israel

Middle East In Focus, August 2, 2012

Mitt Romney, the GOP candidate for president, visited Israel this past week as part of an international tour designed ...
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It's up to Iraq's Government to Prevent a Civil War

Brian Katulis, July 31, 2012

Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a member of the Middle East Policy Council ...
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Thomas Mattair on the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act

Al Jazeera, July 30, 2012

Al Jazeera recently interviewed Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair on the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act ...
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Iraq Sees Spike in Violence

Middle East In Focus, July 27, 2012

After months of relative silence, Iraq is once again attracting the attention of the international community and regional observers. ...
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Is It Endgame for Assad?

Middle East In Focus, July 23, 2012

News of the killing of several senior Syrian government officials over the weekend has sparked a serious discussion about ...
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Libya's Elections

Middle East In Focus, July 20, 2012

While the civil strife continues in Syria, Libyans have gone to the polls for the first time since the ...
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Mursi Visits Saudi Arabia in First Trip Abroad

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, July 16, 2012

Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi completed his first trip abroad as head of state this month. He visited Saudi Arabia ...
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Levy Report Resurrects "Greater Israel"

Middle East In Focus, July 16, 2012

A committee appointed by the Netanyahu government to examine the legality of Israel’s claim to Judea and Samaria (known ...
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Who Killed Yasser Arafat?

Middle East In Focus, July 12, 2012

Eight years since his death, Yasser Arafat still stirs up emotions from both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Those ...
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Action Group on Syria Fails to Deliver

Middle East In Focus, July 9, 2012

Last week’s meeting in Geneva, which strived to bridge the differences between Russian and Western policies on Syria and ...
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The U.S. Apology: A Fig Leaf or a Victory for Pakistan?

Middle East In Focus, July 6, 2012

Pakistan closed NATO supply routes to Afghanistan six months ago, following a NATO attack that killed 24 Pakistani ...
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Turkey and Syria at the Brink... and Back

Middle East In Focus, June 29, 2012

The downing of a Turkish military jet by Syrian forces one week ago had threatened to turn Syria’s unrest ...
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Gaza Blockade Turns 5

Middle East In Focus, June 25, 2012

Last week, with the attention of the world turned toward the presidential elections in Egypt, the Palestinians in Gaza ...
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The Crown Prince and the Allegiance Commission

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, June 21, 2012

King Abdullah’s appointment of Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz as Crown Prince on June 18 was widely expected ...
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Thomas Mattair on Arms to Syria (Arabic Language)

Sky News Arabia, June 18, 2012

Sky News Arabia recently interviewed Middle East Policy Council executive director Dr. Thomas R. Mattair on the flow of arms ...
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Tahrir Square 2.0?

Middle East In Focus, June 15, 2012

Egypt’s supreme court rendered a decision on Thursday which effectively nullified the recent parliamentary elections, bringing the country ...
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Maliki and the Opposition

Middle East In Focus, June 12, 2012

Iraq’s governance drama has proved remarkably persistent. Nouri al-Maliki, the current prime minister, continues to come under attack ...
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Israel-Turkey Relations Remain Strained

Middle East In Focus, June 5, 2012

Two years after the Mavi Marmara tragedy — when nine Turkish citizens were killed by Israeli soldiers while aboard ...
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Syria after Houla

Middle East In Focus, June 1, 2012

Following the worst single-day killing of innocent civilians since the beginning of anti-government protests in Syria, many commentators ...
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Iraq, Turkey and the New Kurdistan Pipeline Deal

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, May 30, 2012

Last month Iraqi crude exports rose to their highest levels since 1990, averaging 2.51 million barrels per day ...
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Regional Reflections on Egypt's Elections

Middle East In Focus, May 30, 2012

The results of the first round of Egypt’s presidential elections have taken many by surprise. While it was expected ...
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Pakistan and Afghanistan Take Center Stage at NATO Summit

Middle East In Focus, May 25, 2012

The 28 member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) met in Chicago this week to discuss ...
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Brian Katulis Interviewed about America's Relationship with Pakistan

Al Jazeera Inside Story, May 23, 2012

Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a member of the Middle East Policy Council ...
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GCC Debates Gulf Union

Middle East In Focus, May 22, 2012

Last December, Saudi Arabia proposed an expanded, tighter and stronger union for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Now, months ...
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Syria's Conflict Spills into Lebanon

Middle East In Focus, May 17, 2012

Fresh clashes in the northern Lebanese town of Tripoli have once again underscored the fragile situation on the Syrian ...
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Netanyahu Forms Surprise Coalition with Kadima

Middle East In Focus, May 14, 2012

In an unexpected move last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called early elections for September of this year. ...
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Tunisia's Islamists: Ennahda and the Salafis

Roberta Lusardi, May 8, 2012

In November 2011, less than one year after the ouster of President Ben Ali, the College of Arts and ...
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A Tense Period for Egyptian/Saudi Relations

Middle East In Focus, May 8, 2012

Last week, protests against Riyadh’s decision to press charges against an Egyptian human rights lawyer forced the closure of ...
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Looking Ahead to the Egyptian Presidential Elections

Middle East In Focus, May 4, 2012

With the Egyptian presidential elections scheduled to take place in less than three weeks, the attention of the media ...
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Gone and Forgotten?

Mark N. Katz, May 2, 2012

One year ago, on May 2, 2011, the elite U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 unit killed al-Qaeda leader Osama ...
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Taking Stock on the Anniversary of Osama bin Laden's Death

Middle East In Focus, May 2, 2012

One year since the death of Osama bin Laden, regional newspapers and commentators are taking stock of the consequences ...
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Brian Katulis Interviewed about America's Future in Afghanistan

PBS Newshour, May 1, 2012

Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a member of the Middle East Policy Council ...
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Leaving Without Losing

Mark N. Katz, April 30, 2012

The Middle East Policy Council is pleased to announce the release of former MEPC visiting scholar Mark N. Katz's new ...
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State of Israel Turns 64 Amid Uncertainty

Middle East In Focus, April 30, 2012

Looking forward to the 64^th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel, many Israeli commentators and newspaper ...
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Al Hurra Interviews Thomas Mattair on Iran and Abu Musa (Arabic Language)

Al Hurra, April 25, 2012

Al Hurra recently interviewed Middle East Policy Council executive director Dr. Thomas R. Mattair on the topic of Ahmadinejad's visit ...
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Mixed Reaction to recent IDF Violence

Middle East In Focus, April 23, 2012

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) once again finds itself in the spotlight. News and video of the beating of ...
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Iran's Busy Week in International News

Middle East In Focus, April 17, 2012

Last Saturday, Turkey hosted talks between members of the UN Security Council and Iran aimed at addressing ongoing ...
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Iran's "Preemptive Boycott" is Propaganda

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, April 16, 2012

If you believe state media in Iran, the Islamic Republic is now preemptively boycotting some states in the European ...
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Shia Opposition in Bahrain Return to the Streets

Middle East In Focus, April 13, 2012

Nearly a year after failing to give birth to its own version of the Arab Spring, the majority Shia ...
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Instability in Yemen as ex-Regime Loyalists Purged

Middle East In Focus, April 9, 2012

Over a month after the departure of the country’s long-ruling ex-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen’s new leader, Abed Rabbo ...
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Presidential Elections in Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood

Middle East In Focus, April 6, 2012

This week, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt reversed its long-held promise that it would not field a candidate for ...
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The Middle East Today: The Arab Spring, The Syrian Summer

The Policy Studies Organization, April 6, 2012

Dr. Thomas R. Mattair, executive director of the Middle East Policy Council, recently participated in the Policy Studies Organization's Middle ...
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Palestinians Commemorate Land Day with Protests

Middle East In Focus, April 2, 2012

Last week, Palestinian took to the streets to commemorate Land Day. As Miftah’s Julie Holm notes in ...
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Israelis React to the Toulouse Killings

Middle East In Focus, March 29, 2012

The targeted killing of three Jewish children and their teacher by a French-Algerian in the French city of Toulouse ...
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Arab Summit to be Held Amidst Violence

Middle East Policy Council, March 22, 2012

Members of the Arab League are due to meet in Baghdad amidst violence and uncertainty. Expectations are low, with ...
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What Asad's Leaked Emails Tell Us

Middle East In Focus, March 20, 2012

The Guardian and Al Arabiya recently revealed that they had received thousands of leaked emails from Syrian President Bashar ...
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Heeding the Experts on Iran

Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, March 20, 2012

The Philadelphia Inquirer has published an editorial by General Jospeh P. Hoar (USMC, ret.), former commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command ...
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Karen AbuZayd on Refugees in Syria

Brookings, March 20, 2012

Karen AbuZayd, former Commissioner-General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) ...
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Will the Kandahar Killings Hasten U.S. Withdrawal?

Middle East In Focus, March 16, 2012

The day that U.S. and international forces leave Afghanistan may have drawn nearer. After weeks of bad PR resulting ...
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Why the Arab League Summit Matters

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, March 15, 2012

Arab leaders and officials will meet in Baghdad later this month for the annual Arab League summit. The meeting, ...
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Israelis and Palestinians under Attack

Middle East In Focus, March 13, 2012

Despite the news of a last minute ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza, few believe ...
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Russian Elections and Syria

Middle East In Focus, March 9, 2012

Vladimir Putin has, surprising nobody, won Russia’s presidential elections, returning to the office after his stint as prime ...
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Saudi Speech Signals Shift on Syria

Middle East In Focus, March 6, 2012

Frustration over the escalating death toll and suffering in Syria is beginning to show. Fed up with what some ...
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U.S. Insensitivity Sparks Riots

Middle East In Focus, February 28, 2012

Two incidents in recent days have raised questions about the ability of the U.S. government and military to maintain ...
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Yemen after Saleh

Middle East In Focus, February 24, 2012

Last week, Yemenis voted in an uncontested election for the successor of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The only candidate ...
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Iraq's Kurds under Pressure

Middle East In Focus, February 21, 2012

Iraq’s Kurds continue to come under intense pressure from the authorities in Baghdad. In the latest twist of what ...
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In Memoriam: Anthony Shadid

Middle East Policy Council, February 17, 2012

Anthony Shadid, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times (and before that for the Boston Globe and the ...
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Israeli/Iranian Cold War Heats Up

Middle East In Focus, February 17, 2012

The Israeli-Iranian cold war has gotten hotter, judging from news coming from India, Georgia and Thailand, where Iranian operatives ...
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Running Out of Options in Syria

Middle East In Focus, February 14, 2012

Syria continues its descent into chaos as the Asad regime continues to brutally suppress popular protests and armed rebels ...
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The Ripple Effects of Iran Sanctions

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, February 13, 2012

The secondary effects of the European Union ban of Iranian oil and new American sanctions targeting Iran’s Central Bank ...
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Debating the Prospects for Israeli-Palestinian Peace

Middle East In Focus, February 10, 2012

Following news of the recent negotiated agreement between Fatah and Hamas on a unity government headed by President ...
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Soccer and Politics in Egypt

Middle East In Focus, February 7, 2012

Last Wednesday in Port Said, 74 Egyptians were killed in a riot that began on the soccer pitch — ...
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What Options for Iran?

Middle East In Focus, February 3, 2012

Questions about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program continue to occupy the pages of the regional dailies. Not ...
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Is Libya's Future at Risk?

Middle East In Focus, February 1, 2012

Recent events in Libya have raised serious doubts about the stability and future of the nation. The ruling ...
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Israeli-Palestinian Talks at an Impasse

Middle East In Focus, January 27, 2012

The current Palestinian-Israeli talks hosted by Jordan’s King Abdullah were meant to offer a venue where the two sides ...
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Thomas Mattair Interviewed by VOA (Dari Language)

Voice of America Afghanistan Service, January 25, 2012

Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair has been interviewed by Voice of America's Afghanistan Service on political ...
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Turkey and France at Odds Over Armenian 'Genocide' Bill

Middle East In Focus, January 25, 2012

The French Senate this week passed a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian “genocide” in the dying days ...
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Adelsons Double Down on Gingrich

Peter H. Stone, January 23, 2012

The following article by Peter H. Stone appeared on the Center for Public Integrity iWatch News site on Monday ...
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Egypt's Revolution Turns One Year Old

Middle East In Focus, January 20, 2012

Next week, the Egyptian revolution turns one year old. Much has transpired in one year, but unrest continues to ...
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Letter to President Obama: A Path to Closing Guantanamo

Gen. Joseph Hoar, January 20, 2012

General Joseph Hoar (USMC, ret.), former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command and current Middle East Policy Council board ...
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Iraq Risks Further Disintegration

Middle East In Focus, January 17, 2012

Over the last two weeks, Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities have suffered a barrage of suicide bombings ...
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Israel's Ultra-Orthodox Problem

Middle East In Focus, January 9, 2012

Recent events in Israel have once again raised questions about the ability of Israeli society to peacefully integrate ...
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Bar Low for Israeli-Palestinian Talks

Middle East In Focus, January 6, 2012

A new year has brought with it yet another attempt at bridging the gap between the Israelis and the ...
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Al Jazeera Interviews Thomas Mattair on Iran (Arabic)

Al Jazeera, January 6, 2012

Al Jazeera recently interviewed Middle East Policy Council executive director Dr. Thomas R. Mattair on the topic of U.S. sanctions ...
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Iran in a Changing Arab World

Karim Sadjadpour, January 5, 2012

Analysts at the Middle East Policy Council’s 67th Capitol Hill Conference titled “Israel, Turkey & Iran in a Changing Arab ...
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Israel in a Changing Arab World

Robert Malley, January 5, 2012

Analysts at the Middle East Policy Council's 67^th Capitol Hill Conference titled "Israel, Turkey & Iran in a Changing ...
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Turkey in a Changing Arab World

Ömer Taşpınar, January 5, 2012

Analysts at the Middle East Policy Council’s 67th Capitol Hill Conference titled “Israel, Turkey & Iran in a Changing Arab ...
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Should Iranian Threats Be Taken Seriously?

Middle East In Focus, January 3, 2012

After the tumultuous events of 2011, the ratcheting up of rhetoric over a possible conflict in the straits of ...
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Hamas and Fatah Contemplate Closer Cooperation

Middle East In Focus, December 27, 2011

In the latest attempt aimed at bridging the differences between Fatah and Hamas (as well as other Palestinian factions), ...
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Lebanon Continues to be Rocked by Instability

Middle East In Focus, December 22, 2011

Nearly a year since the fall of the Hariri government, the situation in Lebanon continues to remain tense. ...
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Gingrich's Lie Reveals His Bigotry

John E. Sununu, December 16, 2011

The following op-ed by John E. Sununu appeared in the Boston Globe on Friday December 16, 2011.
The article is ...
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Iran's Horrible Year

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, December 15, 2011

Earlier this year, Ayatollah Khamenei claimed that the unrest seizing the Arab world was inspired by the Iranian ...
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Iraq after the U.S. Troop Withdrawal

Middle East In Focus, December 15, 2011

On December 15, U.S. troops in Baghdad lowered their flag, signaling the end of the American military mission in ...
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Guantanamo Forever?

Gen. Joseph P. Hoar / Charles C. Krulak, December 12, 2011

The New York Times has published an editorial by Charles C. Krulak and General Jospeh P. Hoar (USMC, ret.), former ...
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U.S. Presidential Politics and the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict

Middle East In Focus, December 12, 2011

With the Republican presidential primaries weeks away it is perhaps inevitable that some of the statements of the GOP ...
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U.S. Actions in Pakistan Draw Criticism

Middle East In Focus, December 1, 2011

This week’s errant airstrike by ISAF forces — which killed 25 Pakistani soldiers — has raised the ire of ...
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What Does Saleh's Departure Mean for Yemen?

Middle East In Focus, November 28, 2011

Last week, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh finally signed off on a Gulf Cooperation Council-backed plan which transitions ...
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Flurry of Controversial Legislation in Israel

Middle East In Focus, November 23, 2011

Over the last several weeks, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has been considering a series of controversial measures that ...
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Has Egypt's Revolution been Hijacked?

Middle East In Focus, November 21, 2011

As suggested last week, the first Egyptian parliamentary elections since the ouster of Mubarak always held ...
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Syria in Crisis

Middle East Policy Council, November 17, 2011

Pressure continues to mount on the Assad regime from external parties and opposition tactics appear to be increasingly brazen, ...
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Change and Succession in Saudi Arabia

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, November 15, 2011

In the three weeks since Saudi Crown Prince Sultan passed away, many Western pundits have speculated about succession, given ...
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The Arab League Takes on Syria: Part 2

Middle East In Focus, November 14, 2011

In a dramatic turn of events, and following weeks of frustrating diplomacy, the Arab League decided last week ...
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Is Egypt's Revolution at Risk?

Middle East In Focus, November 10, 2011

Following the rather successful conclusion of parliamentary elections in Tunisia, attention has now turned to elections in Egypt. ...
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How real is Israel's Threat against Iran?

Middle East In Focus, November 7, 2011

Last week, Israeli newspapers broke the news that their government was considering a plan to take out Iranian ...
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Regional Reaction to Palestine's UNESCO Bid

Middle East In Focus, November 3, 2011

Following the success of Palestine’s UNESCO bid, it was only a matter of time before the United States ...
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Thomas Mattair Interviewed by RTV Arabic on Syrian Uprising

RTV Arabic, October 31, 2011

Dr. Thomas R. Mattair, executive director of the Middle East Policy Council, has been interviewed by RTV Arabic regarding the ...
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Islamist Party Wins in Tunisia

Middle East In Focus, October 31, 2011

Last week, Tunisia, the forerunner of the Arab Spring, held its first free elections since the toppling of ...
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Thomas Mattair Discusses Bahrain

NCUSAR 2011 Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, October 28, 2011

Middle East Policy Council Executive Director Thomas Mattair made the following comments regarding Bahrain at the 2011 Arab-U.S. Policymakers ...
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The End of Qaddafism and the Future of Libya

Karim Mezran, October 24, 2011

Qaddafi’s death and Abd el-Jalil’s declaration on Sunday to apply Sharia in the new Libyan state have raised doubts ...
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The Arab League Calls for Dialogue in Syria

Middle East In Focus, October 24, 2011

The Arab League met last week in an emergency meeting to discuss the ongoing instability in Syria and allegations ...
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Libya and the Region after the Death of Gaddafi

Middle East In Focus, October 21, 2011

As news of Muammar Gaddafi’s death spread yesterday, many stopped to consider his legacy as well as what his demise ...
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Libyan Exports Fail to Confirm Production Claims

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, October 18, 2011

Libya is restoring oil production faster than many analysts initially expected but probably not as fast as some ...
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Regional Perspectives on the Alleged Iranian Plot

Middle East In Focus, October 17, 2011

Following revelations of an alleged plot by Iranian operatives against the Saudi ambassador to the United States, reaction ...
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Israel and Hamas Agree on Prisoner Swap

Middle East In Focus, October 13, 2011

The news of a breakthrough in the case of Gilad Shalit — an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas ...
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Afghanistan Ten Years Later

Middle East In Focus, October 12, 2011

The tenth anniversary of the beginning of US military action in Afghanistan has provided an opportunity for looking ...
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Saudi Arabia - Iran Relations

Middle East Policy Council, October 11, 2011

The Middle East Policy Council published the following press release containing a summary of our 66th Capitol Hill Conference ...
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The Road Ahead for Yemen

Middle East In Focus, October 6, 2011

The situation in Yemen continues to remain deadlocked, despite months of anti-government rallies. Though opposition forces have been ...
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Military Government in Egypt Announces Parliamentary Elections

Middle East In Focus, October 4, 2011

The announcement of new parliamentary elections in Egypt, together with new provisionary laws governing them, has triggered an ...
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A Step Forward for Women in Saudi Arabia

Middle East In Focus, September 30, 2011

This week’s announcement by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia that women would now have a greater role in ...
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Thomas Mattair Interviewed on Rick Perry's Critique of Obama's Mideast Policy

McClatchy Newspapers, September 26, 2011

Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair has been interviewed by McClatchy Newspapers on Texas Governor Rick Perry's ...
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Unhappiness at President Obama's UN Speech

Middle East In Focus, September 26, 2011

In his speech at the United Nations last week, President Barack Obama made clear what everyone in his ...
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Reactions to the Palestinian UN Statehood Bid

Middle East In Focus, September 21, 2011

As discussions at the UN about the future status of the Palestinian Occupied Territories heat up, observers from ...
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Iran Frees U.S. Hikers via Oman

BBC News, September 21, 2011

American hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, captured on the Iran-Iraq border in 2009, have been released by Tehran. ...
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Palestinian Statehood

Middle East Policy Council, September 20, 2011

On September 23, the Palestinian Authority is going to ask the UN Security Council to admit the state ...
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Instability in Northern Iraq

Middle East In Focus, September 19, 2011

Lost amidst the Arab Spring turmoil and recent events in Libya and Syria, the news coming out of Iraq ...
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Presbyterians Move Closer to Divestment

Middle East Policy Council, September 19, 2011

The Committee on Mission Responsibility through Investment, an important part of the hierarchy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has ...
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Prince Turki to United States: Veto a State, Lose an Ally

New York Times Editorial, September 13, 2011

Prince Turki al-Faisal, former director of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence service, former ambassador to the United States and current ...
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Israeli Embassy Attack Raises Questions

Middle East In Focus, September 12, 2011

Last Friday, hundreds of Egyptian youths stormed the Israeli embassy in Cairo and set it on fire, triggering ...
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Karen AbuZayd on Human Rights Abuses in Syria

Middle East Policy Council, September 12, 2011

Karen AbuZayd, former Commissioner-General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) ...
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Middle Eastern Perspectives on 9/11

Middle East In Focus, September 9, 2011

Ten years since that fateful day in September, commentators and editorials have begun reflecting on the significance of ...
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The Syrian Crisis

Moran Stern, September 8, 2011

The salvation of the Syrian people may not be achieved by initiatives of the West or international organizations, ...
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Another Blow to the Israeli-Turkish Alliance

Middle East In Focus, September 7, 2011

Following the release of the UN “Palmer” report on last year’s raid by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound ...
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Eid Messages from the Region

Middle East In Focus, September 1, 2011

Tuesday marked the first day of Eid Al Fitr. Leaders and simple citizens alike have taken the opportunity on this ...
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Revisiting the Camp David Peace Treaty

Middle East In Focus, August 29, 2011

Ever since the collapse of the Mubarak regime earlier this year, Israeli government officials have expressed concerns about ...
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The International Role in Post-Qadhafi Libya? Withdraw.

Wolfram Lacher, August 29, 2011

Planning is ongoing in Western capitals for a prominent international role in the state-building process that is to ...
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Libya: Commentary from the Region

Timely Articles, August 25, 2011

It has been only a few days since the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) forces stormed the Libyan ...
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Post-Qaddafi Libya

Frank Anderson and Thomas R. Mattair, August 24, 2011

There are many things that could go wrong in a post-Qaddafi Libya. The 20th century does not provide too ...
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Can Jallud Play a Positive Role in Libya's Future?

Karim Mezran, August 23, 2011

This weekend has been a decisive one for Libya. Having recently made substanial progress by capturing important cities ...
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Egypt-Israel Relations Increasingly Tenuous

Timely Articles, August 23, 2011

Relations between Israel and Egypt have taken a turn for a worse since the fall of ...
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Syria Under Pressure... Again

Timely Articles, August 16, 2011

As the Syrian government continued its policy of military confrontation against domestic opposition forces, erstwhile allies of the ...
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The Sinai Bedouin: Political and Economic Discontent Turns Increasingly Violent

Dona Stewart, August 12, 2011

Against the backdrop of the Arab Spring and the removal of Hosni Mubarak, the long-simmering but low-level conflict ...
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The Middle East Debates the London Riots

Timely Articles, August 12, 2011

England has been rocked for the last few days by rioting and looting in a number of its ...
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Israel's Own Version of the Arab Spring?

Timely Articles, August 8, 2011

For the last two weeks, Israel has been rocked by large street demonstrations protesting regarding recent changes in ...
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Regional Perspectives on Mubarak's Trial

Timely Articles, August 5, 2011

As the trial of Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, began this week, many were incredulous at the events ...
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Turkey at a Crossroads

Timely Articles, August 2, 2011

In an unprecedented act, all four chiefs of the Turkish General Staff have requested early retirement. The move ...
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Some Reflections on the Arab Spring

Timely Articles, July 29, 2011

Ever since December’s Tunisian revolution and the subsequent upheavals throughout the region, pundits and commentators have been asking, ...
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The Region Reacts to the Norway Massacre

Timely Articles, July 26, 2011

In the aftermath of the worst attack on Norway’s soil since World War II, editorials and commentary from ...
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Moment of Truth for Syria's Bashar Al-Assad

Timely Articles, July 22, 2011

As the Syrian government struggles to contain what is turning out to be a resilient opposition movement, many ...
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Palestinians Continue their Quest for a State

Timely Articles, July 20, 2011

Last week, the Arab League released a statement in support of the Palestinian plan to call on UN ...
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Reaction to the New Israeli Boycott Ban Law

Middle East in Focus, July 15, 2011

This week, the Knesset passed a law banning boycotts. The new measure has met with fierce opposition not only from ...
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Israel and Turkey on the Mend

Middle East In Focus, July 13, 2011

While the Israeli-Turkish relationship had been on the decline for some time, the killing by the Israeli Defense Forces of ...
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The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt: A Victim of its Own Success?

Timely Articles, July 5, 2011

Almost six months after mass protests toppled the Mubarak regime, it is still unclear what the future holds ...
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Hezbollah Members Indicted by International Criminal Tribunal

Timely Articles, July 1, 2011

Lebanon is once again in the news as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued indictments for four individuals ...
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Siding with McCain and Kerry on Libya, but for Different Reasons

Karim Mezran, June 30, 2011

In the past few weeks, Senators McCain and Kerry have emerged among the strongest supporters of the idea that ...
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The Religious Right in Israel and the Transformation of the IDF

Timely Articles, June 29, 2011

The arrest of Kiryat Arba-Hebron Chief Rabbi Dov Lior this week for endorsing extremist views has all sides ...
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A New Iran for a New Middle East

Pejman Abdolmohammadi and Karim Mezran, June 27, 2011

The Arab Spring is giving a new strategic role to Iran in the region. In this process of ...
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Reaction to Announcement of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Timely Articles, June 27, 2011

President Barack Obama announced last week the withdrawal of 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year ...
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Unemployment in Gaza and EU Diplomatic Forays

Timely Articles, June 16, 2011

The deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories, particularly in the Gaza strip, has once again captured the headlines this ...
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Iraq: Renewed Internal Tensions

Timely Articles, June 13, 2011

Hundreds of protesters gathered this week in Iraq to protest the failure of the Maliki government to fulfill its ...
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What's Next for Syria?

Timely Articles, June 9, 2011

After weeks of protests resulting in a government clampdown, the situation in Syria seems to be reaching a ...
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Debating Turkey's Upcoming Elections

Timely Articles, June 7, 2011

This coming Sunday, Turkey will hold its parliamentary elections. Turkey’s two main political parties, the ruling Justice and ...
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Saudi Arabia Debates Right of Women to Drive

Timely Articles, June 2, 2011

In Saudi Arabia, an old debate on whether women should be allowed to drive or not has resurfaced after ...
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Egypt Opens Its Border with Gaza

Timely Articles, May 31, 2011

Last week, the interim Egyptian government decided to permanently open the Rafah crossing at the border between Egypt ...
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Pakistan in Disarray: Introspection and Finger-Pointing

Timely Articles, May 27, 2011

Last Sunday, Islamic terrorists in Pakistan made good on their threats following Osama Bin Laden’s death by launching ...
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Yemen's Saleh: Should He Stay or Should He Go?

Timely Articles, May 23, 2011

After triggering the collapse of the Ben-Ali and Mubarak regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, the forward momentum of ...
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Obama's Speech Gets Mixed Reviews from Israeli and Arab Press

Timely Articles, May 20, 2011

President Barack Obama gave his second major speech on the Middle East yesterday, in which he outlined the U.S. ...
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Comments on President Obama’s May 19, 2011 Speech

Dr. Thomas R. Mattair, May 20, 2011

In his speech yesterday, the president committed his administration to supporting reform and transitions to democracy across the region, opposing ...
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Al Jazeera interviews Thomas Mattair on U.S. Sanctions on Bashar al-Asad

Al Jazeera (Arabic), May 20, 2011

Al Jazeera interviews Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas Mattair on U.S. Sanctions on Bashar al-Asad and his associates. ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair about the discussion between President Obama and Jordan's King Abdullah II

RT Arabic, May 18, 2011

Click here to watch an RT Arabic interview with Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair ...
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Amid Turmoil, GCC Extends Invitation to Jordan and Morocco

Timely Articles, May 16, 2011

In the course of last week’s meeting in Saudi Arabia, the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ...
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Internal Divisions in Iran

Timely Articles, May 13, 2011

In Iran, tensions between the camps of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been ...
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A New Foreign Policy in Egypt

Timely Articles, May 9, 2011

Following Egypt’s successful efforts to broker a reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah, against the opposition ...
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What the Fatah/Hamas Reconciliation Means for the Region

Timely Articles, May 6, 2011

Last week Fatah and Hamas reached an agreement, mediated by Egypt. According to various news reports, it marks ...
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The Region Reacts to News of Bin Laden's Death

Timely Articles, May 2, 2011

In the age of instant communication, news of Osama Bin Laden's death spread quickly. Almost as instantaneous was the ...
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Reaction to the Syrian Crackdown

Timely Articles, April 29, 2011

Following last week's decision by Syrian President Bashir Al Assad to lift the emergency law, in place for over ...
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Palestinian Factionalism and the Murders of Juliano Mer-Khamis and Vittorio Arrigoni

Timely Articles, April 26, 2011

Twice this month, members of extreme Palestinian factions murdered pro-Palestinian activists in Gaza. The tragedy has once again ...
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Uncertainty in Syria after Assad's Speech

Timely Articles, April 21, 2011

Following protests in various parts of Syria, President Bashar al-Assad promised in two recent speeches to move forward with ...
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France Bans Wearing of the Full Veil in Public

Timely Articles, April 18, 2011

Last week, the French government prohibited the wearing of the full veil in public spaces. Some see in the ...
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Riz Khan Interviews Thomas Mattair on Saudi Arabia's views on Regional Unrest

Al Jazeera, April 15, 2011

Click here to watch Al Jazeera's Riz Khan interview Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. ...
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Arab Protests, Islam and the West

Timely Articles, April 14, 2011

As people in the MENA countries begin to assess the changes and achievements of the last four months, questions ...
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Knesset Passes Nakba Law Targeted at its Arab Citizens

Timely Articles, April 12, 2011

Preoccupied by the dilemma over what to do in Libya and more immediate concerns about a possible U.S. government ...
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Middle East Reacts to the Goldstone Retraction

Timely Articles, April 8, 2011

Following Judge Richard Goldstone's turn-around last week regarding the findings of the UN sponsored “Goldstone Report,” Israeli officials ...
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Israelis React to the Goldstone Retraction

Timely Articles, April 7, 2011

In an opinion piece in The Washington Post on April 1, Judge Richard Goldstone wrote that in light of ...
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Iran and Saudi Arabia Spar over GCC Troops in Bahrain

Timely Articles, April 5, 2011

Following the intervention of Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council troops in Bahrain, Iranian leaders have made a series of charges ...
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Will the Taliban Rise Again?

Mark N. Katz, April 1, 2011

Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989; the Marxist regime Moscow had been supporting fell in 1992. The ...
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Frank Anderson discusses U.S. Options in Libya on NPR

NPR, March 31, 2011

Middle East Policy Council president Frank Anderson brings his experience in Afghanistan to bear in this NPR story ...
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The Failed Revolution

Kristin Smith Diwan, March 31, 2011

The following was presented at the Middle East Policy Council's round table discussion, "Governance, Human Rights and ...
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Governance, Human Rights and American Interests in Bahrain

Middle East Policy Council, March 31, 2011

Remarks by H.E. Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Alkhalifa, international media advisor, Information Affairs Authority for the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. ...
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Statement by H.E. Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Alkhalifa

H.E. Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Alkhalifa, March 31, 2011

The following was presented at the Middle East Policy Council's round table discussion, "Governance, Human Rights and ...
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The Israeli Peace Initiative (IPI)

Various signatories, March 31, 2011

The following proposal, endorsed by various signatories including former Mossad Chief Danny Yatom, former IDF Chief Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, General (Res) ...
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The Constitutional Monarchy Option in Morocco and Bahrain

Stephen Juan King, March 31, 2011

The following was presented at the Middle East Policy Council's round table discussion, "Governance, Human Rights and American Interests ...
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Interview with Frank Anderson about Arming the Rebels in Libya

CNN, March 30, 2011

Click here to watch a CNN interview with Middle East Policy Council president Frank Anderson discussing the possibilities ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair about the Unrest in Bahrain

Defense News, March 28, 2011

Click here to watch a Defense News interview with Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair discussing ...
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Amid Chaos, Palestinians Call for Unity

Timely Articles, March 25, 2011

Following the widespread protests in the Middle East, Palestinian youth took to the streets last week calling for ...
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MEPC - Interactive Media Award Winner

Staff, March 21, 2011

The Council's website was recognized for a prestigious Interactive Media Award, naming us Best in Class for non-profit organizations. ...
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The UN Resolution on Libya: A Conflicted Middle East

Timely Articles, March 21, 2011

The Arab world and other countries in the MENA region are deeply conflicted about the UN Security Council resolution ...
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Women and Revolution in the Middle East

Timely Articles, March 11, 2011

On the occasion of International Women's Day, many commentators and activists voiced their opinions on the status of ...
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Lessons of the Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Mark N. Katz, March 9, 2011

After Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 1988-89, the regime it was defending there fell. This experience contributes to ...
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Council President Frank Anderson interviewed about Libya

NBC, March 7, 2011

Click here to read a NBC interview with Middle East Policy Council president Frank Anderson discussing the Libyan government's ...
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J Street holds annual conference amid controversy

Timely Articles, March 7, 2011

J Street, the dovish Jewish lobby, held its second annual national conference in Washington, DC, February 26-28. ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on U.S. Policy toward Libya

RT Arabic, March 4, 2011

Click here for an interview with MEPC Executive Director Thomas Mattair discussing U.S. policy toward Libya and ...
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Who Will Lead Egypt?

Timely Articles, February 28, 2011

Earlier this week, the Egyptian military leadership approved a draft for constitutional amendments aimed at satisfying the demands ...
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What Should the West Do about Libya?

Timely Articles, February 25, 2011

Libya’s strongman Muammar Qadhafi appears willing to fight on against Libya’s own citizens, prolonging the battle between government ...
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Reaction to U.S. Veto of UNSC Resolution on Israeli Settlements

Timely Articles, February 23, 2011

Over the weekend, the United States vetoed a resolution before the UN Security Council condemning Israeli settlements in the ...
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Israel in a post-Mubarak Middle East

Timely Articles, February 17, 2011

Following the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, experts and pundits began commenting on the significance of his ...
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Middle East Turmoil: Saudi Arabia Apart From the Rest?

Timely Articles, February 16, 2011

With Tunisia and Egypt roiled by mass protests, Al Jazeera reports that Middle East rulers have been ...
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Russia and the Arab Uprisings of 2011

Mark N. Katz, February 15, 2011

The official Russian response to recent popular demonstrations against governments in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle ...
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Bush and Obama: Parallels with the Past

Mark N. Katz, February 15, 2011

As noted earlier, there are several parallels that can be drawn between America’s involvement in Indochina ...
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Winter Update

MEPC Staff, February 14, 2011

This year started with a series of significant political developments in the Middle East. The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, ...
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Elections in Palestine and a Hezbollah-led Government in Lebanon

Timely Articles, February 14, 2011

Lost in the news barrage on Egypt are two important developments elsewhere in the region: the scheduling of ...
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The Arab Uprisings of 2011 and the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, February 10, 2011

The extraordinary uprisings in the Arab world that began in early 2011 have already achieved extraordinary results: the ...
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The U.S. Role in the Middle East Takes a Hit

Timely Articles, February 8, 2011

President Barack Obama’s electoral promises of change in foreign policy have come under fire these last few weeks. ...
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The "War on Terror:" (How) Will It End?

Mark N. Katz, February 7, 2011

Having stated in the last article that the “War on Terror” seems certain to continue for years ...
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Ripple Effects of the Turmoil in Egypt

Timely Articles, February 2, 2011

With the protests in Egypt showing no signs of abating, many regional governments are taking measures to head off ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on Egypt

RT Arabic, February 2, 2011

Click here for an interview with MEPC Executive Director Thomas Mattair discussing the political situation in Egypt.
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The "Palestine Papers" Leak: A Game Changer?

Timely Articles, January 28, 2011

Last week, Al Jazeera and The Guardian began the release of what many are now calling the “Palestine Papers.” Continue Reading

The "War on Terror:" Future Directions

Mark N. Katz, January 25, 2011

One prediction about the “War on Terror” can be made with great confidence: It is not going to end ...
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What the Jasmine Revolution Means for the MENA Countries

Timely Articles, January 21, 2011

Following a revolt in Tunisia sparked by the suicide of a university graduate prevented by police from selling fruit ...
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American Foreign Policy and Regional and Local Conflicts in the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, January 18, 2011

There are many regional and local conflicts that are linked to the “War on Terror.” As argued in the ...
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Al-Sadr Returns to Iraq

Timely Articles, January 13, 2011

The Iraqi firebrand Moqtada Al-Sadr has returned to Iraq almost four years after his last public appearance in ...
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Pakistan and the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, January 13, 2011

Pakistan’s relationship to the “War on Terror” has been highly ambivalent. On the one hand, Pakistan played a key ...
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Yemen and the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, January 11, 2011

Yemen has witnessed many conflicts since the early 1960s. Currently, there is conflict taking place between the Saleh regime ...
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The Mideast Peace Process: Running Out of Time?

Timely Articles, January 6, 2011

Following the most recent setback to U.S. diplomatic efforts to mediate a peace process between the Israeli government ...
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The Peace Process: A Look Back

Middle East Policy Council, January 5, 2011

In light of the serious setbacks to U.S. efforts to advance Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the Middle East Policy Council is highlighting ...
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Iran and the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, January 4, 2011

Hostility between Iran on the one hand and the United States, as well as several of its allies (especially Israel), ...
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The Israeli - Palestinian Conflict and the War on Terror

Mark N. Katz, December 20, 2010

While there are many other regional and local conflicts linked to the ...
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Iraq: Kurds Renew Demands for Self-Determination

Timely Articles , December 16, 2010

Just as Iraqi politicians seem to have finally put behind them a rather difficult political season, calls by the ...
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Regional and Local Conflicts in the War on Terror

Mark N. Katz, December 14, 2010

At the end of the ninth article in this series, I argued, “The emergence of…local opposition to ...
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The Middle East Reacts to WikiLeaks - Part 2

Timely Articles, December 9, 2010

With the release of yet more confidential documents from the WikiLeaks website — containing embarrassing and revealing conversations and ...
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Rifts among the Radicals

Mark N. Katz, December 7, 2010

If serious disputes arose between Islamic revolutionary actors, America and others might be able to exploit them. But will ...
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Why Iran Loves WikiLeaks

New York Times, December 5, 2010

Former president of the Middle East Policy Council Chas W. Freeman wrote an op-ed in the New York Times this ...
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The U.S. Offer to Israel: An Act of Desperation or Audacity?

Timely Articles, December 2, 2010

Faced with the prospects of a yet another failed Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Obama administration indicated last week ...
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Radical Repression

Mark N. Katz, November 30, 2010

Whatever popular support they may have enjoyed before coming to power or just afterward, radical Islamic revolutionaries have quickly proven ...
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Regional Opposition

Mark N. Katz, November 23, 2010

Many fear (and many others hope) that American withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan will lead to a takeover of these ...
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Women in Saudi Arabia

Timely Articles, November 19, 2010

This week five Arab women were given awards in Dubai for their contributions to science in ...
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Implications of America Withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan

Mark N. Katz, November 18, 2010

Whatever the strengths and weaknesses of the Obama strategy toward the “War on Terror,” one aspect of it is now ...
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Jordan's Parliamentary Elections and the Muslim Brotherhood

Timely Articles, November 12, 2010

On November 9, Jordanians went to the voting booths to elect 120 members of the country's lower house. The ...
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Assessing the Obama Strategy toward the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, November 11, 2010

When he was running for president in 2008, Barack Obama argued that the manner in which the Bush administration had ...
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The Geopolitical Context of the “War on Terror”

Mark N. Katz, November 4, 2010

The “War on Terror” is not taking place in a void. Other geopolitical developments affecting international relations on a ...
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Status of U.S.-Iran Relations

Middle East Policy Council, November 3, 2010

Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas Mattair, author of Global Security Watch: Iran – a Reference Handbook, ...
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Saudi Offer to Broker Iraq Talks Gets Mixed Reviews

Timely Articles, November 2, 2010

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia recently offered to host a meeting of Iraqi leaders in an attempt to end ...
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Democratization and the Legacy of History In the Muslim World

Mark N. Katz, October 27, 2010

However well-intentioned the Bush administration’s efforts to democratize Afghanistan and Iraq after occupying them may have been, the pre-existing ethnic ...
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The Middle East reacts to Wikileaks

Timely Articles , October 26, 2010

The release of 400,000 classified U.S. military Iraq logs by the whistleblower website Wikileaks has been met ...
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Bahrain’s Sectarian Challenge

Ian Siperco, October 22, 2010

Eight years and two general elections since reinventing itself as a constitutional monarchy, Bahrain’s ruling house of Khalifa has reversed ...
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The U.S. and Democratization in Afghanistan

Mark N. Katz, October 21, 2010

As in Iraq, the United States and its allies did achieve some important successes in Afghanistan. Not only was ...
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America's Misadventures in the Middle East

Middle East Policy Council, October 20, 2010

Chas W. Freeman, Jr., esteemed iconoclast and president emeritus of the Middle East Policy Council, has just brought forth ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on Iraq

Al Jazeera Television, October 19, 2010

Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas Mattair was recently interviewed by Al Jazeera on the topic of Iraq.

Note: ...
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Lebanon on the Brink…Again?

Timely Articles, October 19, 2010

Five years since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, sectarian and political peace in Lebanon ...
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How Education Transformed Oman

Middle East Policy Council, October 15, 2010

In this timely New York Times op-ed, Nicholas Krisof suggests that education is one of the best bulwarks against extremism ...
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The U.S. and Democratization in Iraq

Mark N. Katz, October 14, 2010

Although the United States intervened in Iraq after it began its intervention in Afghanistan, it is withdrawing from Iraq first. ...
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Assessing the Bush Strategy for Winning the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, October 7, 2010

Absent the 9/11 attacks and the George W. Bush administration’s reaction to them, the War on Terror may not have ...
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Egyptian Parliamentary Elections

Timely Articles, October 6, 2010

In November, Egypt will hold parliamentary elections to determine the political balance in the lower house, the 8th ...
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What Exactly Is the "War on Terror?"

Mark N. Katz, September 30, 2010

The phrase "War on Terror" was popularized by President George W. Bush and his administration in the aftermath of 9/11. ...
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Sectarian Tensions in the Gulf

Timely Articles, September 29, 2010

At the beginning of September, the Bahraini government arrested 23 Shia opposition politicians on charges of inciting acts ...
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Russia’s Policy toward the Middle East

Russian Analytical Digest, September 29, 2010

Mark N. Katz, visiting senior fellow at the Middle East Policy Council, discusses Russia's foreign-policy stance and objectives in the ...
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The “War on Terror”: Not Going Well, But Does That Mean It Is Lost?

Mark N. Katz, September 24, 2010

The “War on Terror” was launched by President George W. Bush in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist ...
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Oman’s Low-Key Diplomatic Strength

Middle East Policy Council, September 20, 2010

Much has been made of the new diplomatic role of Turkey in the Middle East. However, the recent release ...
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Hamas' New Policy Direction

Middle East Policy Council, September 16, 2010

At a time when Israeli and Palestinian leaders are engaged in face-to-face talks, it might be wise to recall that ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair

Russian Television, September 10, 2010

Click here for an interview with Middle East Policy Council Executive Director Thomas Mattair discussing the Arab - Israeli ...
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In Memoriam: Peter Gubser

Middle East Policy Council, September 10, 2010

The officers and staff of the Middle East Policy Council extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Peter Gubser, ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on Iraq

Rzeczpospolita (The Republic), August 26, 2010

Are the Iraqi security forces ready to stand guard over the country?
They are neither in a position to control ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on Iran

Al-Jazeera Television, August 21, 2010

Middle East Policy Council Executive Director Thomas Mattair was interviewed by Al Jazeera. In this interview, he ...
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Direct Negotiations

Foreign Reports Inc., August 18, 2010

By most accounts, the Obama Administration is tantalizingly close to announcing the resumption of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair

Russian Television, July 18, 2010

Click here for an interview with Middle East Policy Council Executive Director Thomas Mattair discussing the Arab - Israeli ...
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Egypt's Undeclared Change Candidate: The Symbolic Appeal of Mohamed ElBaradei

Ian Siperco, July 17, 2010

In a likely indication of what to expect in the 2011 presidential elections, the results of Egypt's Shura Council mid-term ...
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U.S.- GCC Relations in the Post-War Era: An Enduring Partnership for Regional Stability?

Thomas Mattair, July 7, 2010

Dr. Mattair presented a paper at the Gulf Research Center's 1st Annual meeting at Cambridge University, held from July 7th ...
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Pursuit of the Shield: The Case for Israeli National Missile Defense

Ian Siperco, January 15, 2010

After two decades, several false starts, and many missed deadlines, Israeli efforts to develop an ambitious active missile defense (AMD) ...
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Brothers Divided: Illusory Reform in Egypt's Islamist Opposition

Ian Siperco, November 3, 2009

The strongest opposition movement in Egypt is facing an existential crisis. Long having posed the nation's most significant political threat ...
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Iraq's Overdue Census

Ian Siperco, October 13, 2009

October 2009 was meant to be a pivotal month for Iraq. Hard-won security gains appeared at last to have created ...
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Crisis of Complacency: The Criminalization of the Yemeni Stat

Ian Siperco, July 15, 2009

The window of opportunity for Yemen to shape its own future is narrowing. Already the poorest country in the Arab ...
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Revisited - Israel Shahak

Israel Shahak, July 12, 2009

Dr. Shahak predicted the catastrophe being played out today in Israel and the Occupied Territories. The following article "The Religious ...
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Iran: Shia Tide Rising

Ian Siperco, May 13, 2009

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Revisited - Iraq Analysts

Various Authors, April 9, 2009

Some organs of the major media, such as The New ...
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From Gaza to the West Bank

Dr. Sherifa Zuhur, June 28, 2005

The frenzied media coverage of the evacuation of Jewish settlers from Gaza did not present many perspectives from the Palestinian ...
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A Relationship in Transition - And Then 9/11

Chas W. Freeman, Jr., USFS (Ret.), September 4, 2003

Saudi-American Forum: Two years have passed since the terror of 9/11 changed the fundamental nature of the US-Saudi relationship. How ...
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Saudi Arabia and the Forces of Globalization

Chas W. Freeman, Jr., USFS (Ret.)^* , January 1, 1998

The dominant power on the Arabian Peninsula, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has long been one of the world’s least ...
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