U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

Fighting Jihadists By, With, and Through U.S. Partners:

Special forces have succeeded especially in such missions, but any BWT effort requires some U.S. ground presence to achieve its goals.

Oct 20, 2022

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Ido Levy

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

China's Security Presence in the Middle East:

Redlines and Guidelines for the United States

A more assertive Beijing means that Washington must work harder to protect its traditional partnerships and secure sensitive information.

Oct 18, 2022

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Grant Rumley

Articles & Testimony

Ten Years After Benghazi: Getting Past Groundhog Day

Of all the conflict-riven countries in the Middle East, Libya still has the greatest potential for resolution in a way that could benefit the wider region, Europe, and the United States.

October-November 2022

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Ben Fishman

Baquer Namazi, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen who had been imprisoned in Iran, shakes hands with an Omani official in Muscat - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

The Latest Chapter in Iran’s Hostage Diplomacy

U.S. policymakers should be careful about concluding that Tehran’s decision to relax restrictions on two detained American citizens has anything to do with the nuclear talks.

Oct 6, 2022

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Henry Rome

President Joe Biden meets Palestinian Authority President Abbas in July 2022

Fikra Forum

Reactions of Palestinian Media and Political Leaders to Biden’s Visit to the Region

Palestinians felt that Biden’s visit did little to aid the Palestinian cause, despite attempts by the Palestinian Authority to portray the trip as a success.

Sep 26, 2022

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Jalal Selmi

Articles & Testimony

Letting Iran Go Nuclear

Tehran's program continues to gallop ahead, and the United States is doing very little about it.

Sep 23, 2022

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

Regional Security Cooperation Partnerships in the Middle East

The Abraham Accords have substantially increased the region’s options for countering Iranian threats, but the past performance of Arab coalitions should make policymakers cautious about expecting too much from new alliances.

Sep 21, 2022

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David Schenker

Fikra Forum

Despite Airstrikes, Iran Continues to Permeate Western Syria

Efforts to counter Iran in Syria are solely focused on Iran’s military presence in the country, and have ignored the soft-power, cultural spheres of influence being developed by Iran as a long-term strategy.

Sep 14, 2022

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Omar Abu Layla

Fair-Observer-Arab-NATO-Middle-East-politics-Iran-news-GCC-news

Fikra Forum

The Middle East NATO: From Fiction to Fact

In light of increased regional tensions, the idea of a Middle East NATO is becoming more and more realistic, this time with the possibility of Israeli-Arab cooperation.

Sep 14, 2022

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Mohamed Chtatou

Articles & Testimony

A New Iran Deal Won’t Prevent an Iranian Bomb

Tehran’s program is far more advanced than in 2015, so only a credible threat of force will stop the regime from crossing the nuclear weapons threshold.

Sep 9, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Fikra Forum

In New Poll, Most Egyptians Split on Relations with Foreign Powers, Pessimistic About Domestic Economy

Egyptians expressed skepticism about the economy, reliance on the United States, and the Abraham Accords with Israel.

Sep 9, 2022

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Mohamed Abdelaziz

Fikra Forum

Bahrain Opinion Poll Confirms Sectarian Split on Iran, but not on U.S. or Israel

The Bahraini public provided their perspectives on ties with international partners, moderate Islam, and the country’s economic situation.

Sep 9, 2022

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David Pollock

U.S. Capitol rioters, Taliban forces, last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan

In-Depth Reports

U.S. Counterterrorism Reimagined:

Tracking the Biden Administration's Effort to Reform How America Addresses Violent Extremism

This collection reveals the growing prevalence of nonkinetic tools while exploring the balance authorities must strike between preventing attacks and protecting civil rights.

Sep 7, 2022

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Matthew Levitt

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

Chinese and Israeli flags on a table at a diplomatic conference - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

No, Israel Isn’t Falling Into China’s Orbit

Much has been made about their growing ties, but an in-depth look at their actual activity in various sectors shows that alarmism is unwarranted.

Sep 6, 2022

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Assaf Orion

Fikra Forum

Women’s Rights—Why the West Shouldn’t Abandon the Middle East

A Reaction to Biden’s trip to the Middle East through the lens of women’s rights.

Aug 31, 2022

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Jemima Shelley

Fikra Forum

July/August 2022 UAE Survey Shows U.S. Leads Iran, but Lags Russia and China

Emiratis share their views on global players, regional dynamics, and economic conditions.

Aug 30, 2022

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David Pollock

Fikra Forum

New Saudi Poll Shows Biden's Visit Barely Budged Skepticism

The Saudi public gave mixed reviews on issues such as normalization and ties with the United States, but remained mostly united regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine and relations with Iran.

Aug 26, 2022

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David Pollock

U.S. Central Command graphic, Aug 15, 2022 drone attack on Al Tanf

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Kataib Hezbollah's Role in the August 15 al-Tanf Attack

The Syria strike was launched from the militia's bastion in Iraq and used Iranian-provided KAS-04 explosive drones.

Aug 25, 2022

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Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight

Articles & Testimony

Biden’s Indifference Has Given Iran the Upper Hand in Iraq

In light of Tehran’s concerted efforts to reverse last year’s electoral setback, it has become too risky to let Baghdad’s nascent democracy simply fend for itself.

Aug 24, 2022

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David Schenker

Fikra Forum

The Killing of al-Zawahiri: Repercussions for the Taliban

Following the drone strike against al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, many variables are up in the air that could significantly alter the stability of a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as well as the future of the al-Qaeda framework.

Aug 16, 2022

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Mohamed Mokhtar Qandil

Supported by the

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

The Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East focuses on the region as a setting for heightened competition between the United States and other world powers, such as China and Russia.

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Featured experts

Robert Satloff

Robert Satloff is Segal Executive Director of The Washington Institute, a post he assumed in January 1993.

Dennis Ross

Dennis Ross, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama, is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Michael Singh

Michael Singh is the Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute.

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U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

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Regions & Countries

Issues

U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

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