US-Arab Relations

Who Speaks For Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:59:57 -0400

Marking the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Middle East Institute & Foundation for Middle East Peace are honored to present Dalia Mogahed to discuss her timely new book, co-authored with John L. Esposito, "Who Speaks For Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think," the result of six years of research and more than 50,000 interviews representing 1.3 billion Muslims who reside in more than 35 nations that are predominantly Muslim or have sizable Muslim populations.

Annual Conference Keynote Address

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 13:03:25 -0400

Mr. Clarke discussed the five myths he said are circulating around Washington regarding current US relations with the Middle East.

Panel I: Exiting Iraq

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 02:00:00 -0500

In the “Exiting Iraq” panel of the Middle East Institute’s 60th Annual Conference, Jay Garner, Brian Katulis, David Satterfield, Qubad Talabani and moderator Bing West discussed various ways to improve the situation in Iraq and to find a comprehensive and successful way out of the current quagmire for US forces.

Decision Time for the GCC

Dr. Hani Findakly — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:39:54 -0400

Tying the Persian Gulf countries to the dollar has bought decades of stability and prosperity. The time has come, however, to cut the tie.

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.

Iraq: Muqtada al-Sadr Still in the Game

Wayne White — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:02:32 -0400

Iraqi militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr remains a force to be reckoned with, regardless of his recent reverses. Unlike other militia leaders, he is more charismatic and has a large popular street following in locations extending from Baghdad through Iraq’s heavily populated Shi’a south. Ever since the surge, Sadr has been waiting out Washington, biding his time until the balance of political and street power is more to his liking.

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.

Recognizing Realities for Israel and Hamas

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:50:48 -0500

Knowing when to recognize unpleasant realities is perhaps the most significant hallmark of a statesman.

Israel’s leadership cannot ignore the growing citizen anger at the continuing Qassem rocket attacks on the southern town of Sderot. But it also has to decide how to deal with the Islamist organization Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

US Well-Served by Saudis

Wyche Fowler, Jr and Mark Weston — Mon, 7 Jan 2008 10:44:38 -0500

Of the six Arab nations President Bush is visiting this week, four are monarchies: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Three of the royal families control over 40 percent of the Earth's oil reserves: the al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, the al-Sabah of Kuwait and the al-Nahayan of Abu Dhabi in the UAE. We are fortunate that all three families are American allies.

It is natural for Americans to be suspicious of kings because our nation began by rebelling against one in 1776, but if the U.S. is to have any Arab friends at all, we cannot spurn the support of monarchies.

Annapolis Talks: Big Plans for Weak Leaders

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:07:14 -0500

Here’s the sad irony of the coming Israeli-Palestinian conclave: if Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were locked in a room and left to their own devices, they would be quite capable of real progress on some of the thorniest Middle East problems.