الديمقراطية والإصلاح

Policy Analysis on الديمقراطية والإصلاح

Interview: Dennis Ross on Iran, Peace Process, Egypt

On Tuesday 12 June, Ambassador Dennis Ross was interviewed by BICOM senior research fellow Professor Alan Johnson. The interview covered key policy issues facing Britain, Israel and the United States. The following is a transcript of their discussion.

١٣‏/٠٦‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Beware of Egyptian Political Shocks

Technically, Egypt's political transition is on schedule. The first round of the presidential election was held May 23-24, the second round is set to occur June 16-17, a winner will be announced by June 21, and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which has ruled the country since

٠٨‏/٠٦‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Eric Trager

Articles & Testimony

Why a Syrian Civil War Would Be a Disaster For U.S. National Security

Speaking Thursday before the U.N. General Assembly, just one day after the latest massacre of civilians by government-affiliated forces, Kofi Annan warned that the crisis in Syria was on a disastrous course. “If things do not change, the future is likely to be one of brutal repression, massacres, sectarian violence

٠٨‏/٠٦‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

Why Neither of Egypt's Presidential Choices Represents Democracy

The results of the first round of voting in Egypt's presidential elections has yielded a choice in the second round between two starkly different men -- former Mubarak-era prime minister and air force general Ahmed Shafik, and Muslim Brotherhood official Mohammad Morsi. For Washington, less important than which man wins

٠٦‏/٠٦‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Michael Singh

Brief Analysis

The Effort to Unseat Maliki: Lessons for U.S. Policy

With U.S. encouragement, broad-based national dialogue could increase the chance that Maliki handles Iraq's next political crisis by compromising with domestic partners rather than reaching out to Tehran, a player with no real commitment to Iraq's interests.

٠٥‏/٠٦‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

America, Israel, and the Strategic Implications of the Arab Uprisings

The upheavals of the last 18 months have transformed an already difficult regional landscape into perhaps the most inhospitable strategic environment in modern history.

٠٤‏/٠٦‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Robert Satloff

Brief Analysis

U.S. Policy and Egypt's Presidential Runoff: Projecting Clarity, Not Disinterest

To bolster the integrity of Egypt's democratic process and preserve America's own national interests, Washington should make clear how the outcome of the presidential runoff could affect U.S.-Egyptian relations.

٠١‏/٠٦‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

What Does the Syrian Opposition Believe?

There are increasing calls for international intervention in Syria after this weekend's massacre in Houla, where Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces murdered more than 100 civilians. Obstacles to intervention remain, however, especially concern that the opposition to Assad's regime is dominated by religious fundamentalists. Until recently, for example, the Syrian

٣٠‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

Cut Off Assad's Lifelines

Last week's massacre in the Syrian village of al-Houla, in which more than 100 civilians lost their lives, has called into question the conventional wisdom in Washington that intervention would make things worse on the ground. President Bashar al-Assad's disregard for the U.N. deadlines in early April to withdraw forces

٣٠‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Andrew J. Tabler

Brief Analysis

Assad's Response to the Annan Plan: Violence as Usual

In light of the Houla tragedy and other indicators of growing violence, the UN observer mission in Syria will likely be withdrawn, spurring the regime to escalate its offensive operations even further.

٢٩‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Jeffrey White

Articles & Testimony

Reports of the Muslim Brotherhood's Demise Were Greatly Exaggerated

In the run-up to the first round of Egypt's presidential elections, which concluded on Thursday, the Muslim Brotherhood's downfall was widely anticipated. Only four months after winning a 47-percent plurality in the parliamentary elections, the Washington Post reported that the Brotherhood's stock was "plunging," while the Wall Street Journal insisted

٢٨‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Eric Trager

In-Depth Reports

Finding a Balance:

U.S. Security Interests and the Arab Awakening

The Arab Awakening—in which local youths accomplished through weeks of nonviolent action what al-Qaeda had failed to do through years of terrorism and bloodshed—has created significant opportunities to counter radical Islamist propaganda and leverage financial tools against violently repressive regimes. Yet it has also strained the intelligence community's resources, forcing

٢٣‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Presidential Elections Will Not End Egyptian Instability

Washington has little ability to influence the outcome of this week's election, in which most leading candidates appear disinclined to maintain strong relations with the United States. But it can encourage the Egyptian military to minimize the likelihood of another uprising.

٢٢‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Eric Trager

Brief Analysis

Egyptian Elections: Beyond Winning

The legitimacy of Egypt’s next president will depend on the credibility of tomorrow’s elections, yet credibility may not be enough for many Egyptians.

٢٢‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

David Schenker

Brief Analysis

Syria's Crisis Reaches Beirut

The latest clashes in Beirut show that as long as the Syrian conflict persists, Lebanon's internal security will be increasingly at risk.

٢١‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Andrew Engel

Articles & Testimony

Arab Spring Heats Up Kurdish Issue

Middle Eastern states have shifted alliances over the Kurdish question in the wake of the Arab Spring and the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq.

٢١‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

Syrian Opposition Targets the Regime Online

Syrian activists have stepped up their social media efforts and cyber attacks against the Assad regime, and Washington should take more steps to support them.

١٨‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

Brief Analysis

Syrian Jihadis: Real and Exaggerated

Damascus may be exaggerating the strength of the Syrian jihadi group Jabhat al-Nusra.

١٧‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Aaron Y. Zelin
Andrew J. Tabler

Articles & Testimony

Winter or Spring: Islamists, the Military, and Post-Revolution Politics in Egypt

The following is an excerpt from an article that appeared in Middle East Insights (vol. 3, no. 3). To read the full article, download the PDF. The so-called "Arab Spring" has forever changed the face of the Middle East, and it's not finished. While the revolts that toppled longtime autocrats

١١‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

David Schenker

Video

Brief Analysis

Egypt in Transition: What Happened to the Liberal Youths of Tahrir Square?

On May 9, Mahmoud Salem addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Mr. Salem, a renowned Egyptian blogger better known as "Sandmonkey," is a longtime analyst of Egyptian political affairs and advocate for free speech and democracy. He ran as a parliamentary candidate last year on the ticket of the Free Egyptians Party. The following is a rapporteur's summary of his remarks.

٠٩‏/٠٥‏/٢٠١٢

◆

Mahmoud Salem

Supported by the

Project Fikra: Defeating Extremism through the Power of Ideas

Fikra n. [Arabic] "Idea"

The Washington Institute's Project Fikra is a multiyear program of research, publication, and network-building designed to generate policy ideas for promoting positive change and countering the spread of extremism in the Middle East.

Never miss a breaking event on U.S. policy interests in the Middle East. Customize your subscription to our expert analysis, op-eds, live events, and special reports.