Commentary

The State of Sunni-Shiite Relations in Saudi Arabia and Why it Matters

Reza Zia-Ebrahimi — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:17:04 -0400

The ‘Shiite crescent’ has become a popular intellectual shortcut in media and policy circles to explain Muslim affairs. Yet, it is a flawed theory that ignores the complexity of religious, national, local and tribal allegiances that include, exclude or overlap each other in the Middle East. It does not account for a number of factors including the occasional inter-Shiite fighting in Iraq.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and the US

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 12:10:00 -0400

Saudi Arabia has been a strategic ally of the United States for more than 60 years. Despite occasional differences, Riyadh was a firm – and generous – partner of American policy in the Cold War and in distant conflicts from Afghanistan to Nicaragua. President Bush and King Abudullah reaffirmed the two countries’ ties during Bush’s two visits to the Kingdom this year.

But the Saudis are putting a good deal of distance between themselves and the United States in one of the most important arenas of American Middle East policy – Iran.

Shia Iran Versus Different Shades of Sunnism

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 16:49:34 -0400

Shia Iran is publicly unwavering in its commitment to forge unity among Muslim states. Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is again reaching out to Arab Salafists and Wahhabists and has declared the present Iranian year as the Year of National Unity and Islamic Solidarity. Sunni Saudi Arabia is also emphasizing dialogue. Two recent pan-Islamic conferences have been held in Tehran (May) and Mecca (June) to lessen intra-Muslim differences. However, neither conference produced concrete steps toward achieving this goal.

US and Iran: Drifting Toward Conflict?

Wayne White — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:57:58 -0400

The U.S. once again is stepping up its rhetoric aimed at Iran. Renewed charges of nefarious Iranian activities related to Iraq have been surfacing ever since the hearings featuring General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker earlier this month. Diplomacy is stalled on both Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Iraq. It is unclear whether the U.S. and Iran will succeed in avoiding a military confrontation of one sort or another.

Iran: The American Threat

Reza Zia-Ebrahimi — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:04:57 -0400

Iranian foreign policy is shaped by two factors: an acute sense of insecurity and a thirst for international recognition. Insecurity is largely the result of the country’s immediate geostrategic situation. Indeed Iran’s natural habitat – characterized by an abnormally high level of interstate tensions and transnational violence – poses major security challenges to the country’s policymakers.

The Scorpion's Sting and the Python's Grip

Dr. John Calabrese — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 11:54:07 -0400

A New Regional Leadership

Thomas W. Lippman — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:00:00 -0400

http://66.223.107.101/articles/doc636.html

This Perspective first appeared online in the April 26, 2007 edition of Bitter-Lemons International.

King ‘Abdullah of Saudi Arabia caused a lot of heartburn in official Washington with his speech at last month's Arab summit in Riyadh, where he referred to the "illegitimate foreign occupation" of Iraq.

Iran: Best to Avoid Another Gulf Crisis

Wayne White — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Already bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, it would be sheer folly for the US to take military action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Such a move could trigger a protracted conflict and have myriad adverse consequences, from destabilizing the Persian Gulf and Iraq to a sizeable spike in world oil prices.

Neutralizing Palestine to Better Focus on Iran

Clayton Swisher — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0500

http://66.223.107.101/articles/doc611.html

UAE Warnings for a Friend

William A. Rugh — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:00:00 -0500

http://66.223.107.101/articles/doc607.html

There are changes underway in the United Arab Emirates, but most go unnoticed abroad. First, I was struck by the high number of American visitors in town during my recent visit there, when I went to speak at a forum celebrating the second anniversary of Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayid’s accession to the presidency.