Policy Analysis

August 7, 2015 During his one week visit to the United States in early May, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) president Masoud Barzani publicly and openly discussed the idea of independence for Kurdistan in Iraq. While President Barack Obama did not express support for this move, Barzani’s actions are still

July 16, 2015 When terrorists assassinated Prosecutor-General Hisham Barakat, this successful, high profile attack demonstrated that Egyptian terrorist activity could begin favoring political assassinations in densely populated cities. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has acknowledged this threat and increased security in Egypt, which helped Egyptian forces successfully defeat the recent terrorist

May 1, 2015 The recent decision to deliver F-16 fighter jets, Harpoon missiles, and spare parts for M1A1 Abrams tanks to Egypt puts to rest doubts concerning the Obama administration’s support for President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. Despite the deterioration in bilateral ties over the past two years, the strategic relationship

Islam offers both Christians and Jews a broad scope of religious freedoms and protections, and minority rights are also considered a religious and moral obligation.

Moderation would erode the occupation's raison d'etre by helping Palestinians and Israelis see their overlapping goals, and a good starting point would be mutual recognition.

February 5, 2015 The fourth anniversary of the January 25 revolution quickly turned bloody as security forces killed at least eighteen people across Egypt, including Cairo. Violence has spread across the country, especially following the Rabaa al-Adawiyya massacre in August 2013, and President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s government has cracked down

January 29, 2015 Despite the large number of high-profile Arab officials who marched in France’s unity rally to condemn the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, their participation was in fact more about politics than supporting freedom of expression. Many of these countries are themselves cracking down on citizens and placing

Despite the large number of high-profile Arab officials who marched in France’s unity rally to condemn the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, their participation was in fact more about politics than supporting freedom of expression. Many of these countries are themselves cracking down on citizens and placing severe limits on

Rather than remaining bystanders, moderate Muslims need to join forces in recognition that their religion and its central texts have been hijacked by a small minority for political ends.

The attack on Kobane, pitting ISIS against Kurdish forces, is a political as well as military battle given its presence on the border between Turkey and Syria.

October 8, 2014 What is in a name? Apparently a lot. Branding is as important for terrorist groups as it is for companies, if not more so. A brand – its style, symbols, and words – can assist in detracting enemies, recruiting fighters and supporters, attracting followers, inspiring loyalty, raising

In his speech on Wednesday, President Obama announced that the United States will increase training and arming for the moderate Syria rebels. Given the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), that is the correct move: Syria’s moderate rebels are as important as ever. Much like

The Iraqi parliamentary elections, scheduled for April 30, will take place in just a few weeks. Candidates and competing electoral blocs are campaigning fiercely against each other, despite the absence of political stability and general security. In recent months, there has been an increase in forced deportations and an ongoing

Allowing preconditions to scuttle the latest peace effort will only lead to more Palestinian regrets.

Recent clashes between Muslim Brotherhood and neighborhood youth highlight tension and the group’s desire to control the Egyptian state’s vital institutions.

The fact that it took Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly (CA) six months to draft the preamble to Tunisia’s new constitution is indicative of the document’s controversial nature; few debates have proven to be more divisive within the constitution’s drafting committee than the preamble’s references to Tunisia’s “Arab-Islamic identity.” As the first

As Egyptian women’s styles have shifted from mid-century to today, the adoption of the hijab is one clearly rising trend on the streets of Cairo.

As Egypt prepares to go to the polls this weekend, official Washington is scrambling to sort out what it thinks about them. Two weeks ago Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit and Director of Defense Intelligence, Omar Soliman. According to the press conference afterwards