Gulf States

On February 21, 1996, two days before the killing of Iraqi defector Hussein Kamel, H.E. Sheikh Saud Nasir al-Sabah, Kuwaiti Minister of Information, addressed The Washington Institute's Policy Forum. He spoke about Kuwait, the Gulf, and U.S. policy on the fifth anniversary of the Gulf War. The following is a

This week's announcement of the cancellation of Iran's participation in the Azerbaijan oil consortium -- partly as a result of U.S. pressure on both Azerbaijan and U.S. oil companies -- is the latest result of U.S. efforts to strengthen the "containment" of Iran's Islamic regime. So far, Iran has responded

Secretary of Defense Perry's statements in Bahrain today highlighting the "potential threat" of Iran's deployment of "8,000 military personnel . . . anti-ship missiles, air-defense missiles and chemical weapons" on disputed Persian Gulf islands will renew debate over imposing comprehensive economic sanctions on Iran. A key element of that debate

On February 8, 1995, David Litt, country director for Northern Gulf Affairs at the State Department, addressed a session of The Washington Institute's Policy Forum concerning the situation in northern Iraq and the prospects for peace and cooperation among the Kurdish factions there. The following is a rapporteur's summary of

President Clinton's visit to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia tomorrow provides an opportunity to reflect upon the impact of Saddam Hussein's decision to deploy some 70,000 troops to the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border. Two results among several stand out: Strong, forceful U.S. action will deter the Iraqi dictator. The stronger, more forceful and

The ruling family of Saudi Arabia, one of the United States' most important allies in the Middle East, is heading for a crisis of leadership. Despite its modern infrastructure, paid for by huge revenues from oil exports, the kingdom's political system remains rooted in tribal structures that have scarcely evolved

The capture last week of the port city of Aden by forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen marked the end of the short-lived rebellion by secessionist supporters of Vice President Ali Salem al-Beidh. The outcome is a shock to the balance of power in the Arabian peninsula

In 1989, following a costly eight-year war with Iraq, Iran initiated a major military buildup intended to transform it into a regional power and rebuild its ravaged armed forces. Iran's buildup, coupled with indications of increased activism in its foreign policy -- including efforts to undermine the Arab-Israeli peace process

Tariq Aziz's efforts this week to persuade the UN to quicken the pace of weapons-monitoring procedures come amid a reassessment of Iraqi strategy in response to the international sanctions regime. In the three years since the end of the Gulf War, Iraq has managed to rebuild most of its damaged