US Foreign Policy

"Your Government Failed You"

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 12:01:57 -0400

The Middle East Institute is honored to host Richard Clarke, new Member of the MEI Board of Governors, to present his new book, "Your Government Failed You: Breaking the Cycle of National Security Disasters."

The Situation in Iraq (Updated)

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:11:11 -0500

Middle East Institute is honored to host Ambassador David Satterfield to give an update on the situation in Iraq following the President and Secretary of State's trip to the Middle East region, including provincial and national leadership, and the diplomatic activities on a regional level.

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.

Pakistan-U.S. Relations and the War on Terrorism

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 13:03:52 -0400

Zamir Akram, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, delivered remarks at the Middle East Institute regarding relations between Pakistan and the United States on the War on Terror. His comments covered a brief history of the relations between the two countries, emphasizing a “trust deficit” that has developed over the past 30 years. According to Akram, the future of this relationship should lie in a more substance-based strategic relationship built on long-term interests.

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.

Pakistan Through the Lens of Iraq

Marvin G. Weinbaum and Edward P. Joseph — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:14:04 -0400

"There is no military solution in Iraq, only a political one." General David Petraeus's aphorism is about the only thing on which war proponents and opponents agree. The question is why so few American policy makers hold the same view about Pakistan.

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.

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.

Pakistan at a Crossroad

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:39:52 -0500

Over the next several years, Pakistan will either become the nation that the clear majority of its people want – a modern democracy based on constitutional law – or, it will implode under extreme pressures and fall under autocratic rule by Islamist extremists. The general elections on February 18 are an important but not the only step in determining that outcome.

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.