U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

Designing Win-Win Economic Policies in Washington and Baghdad

To pressure Iran without cornering Iraq, U.S. officials should set a program of activities with achievable timeframes, supported by public diplomacy.

Jan 3, 2019

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Katherine Bauer
Michael Knights
Bilal Wahab

Brief Analysis

How the United States Can Still Keep Faith With Its Best Allies in Syria

Despite the heavy risks created by recent policy reversals, a well-managed transition can help preserve the major gains against the Islamic State while protecting America’s local partners.

Jan 3, 2019

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David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

Mission Unaccomplished: The Tweet That Upended Trump’s Counterterrorism and Iran Policies

If the Syria withdrawal proves inevitable, officials should push to phase the departure, keep U.S. forces at Tanf, maintain the air campaign, forge a counterterror agreement with Turkey, and take other fallback measures.

Dec 25, 2018

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Matthew Levitt
Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

Protests Underscore West Bank Instability

The international community can help avert future chaos through measures to stem political, economic, and security deterioration, and Washington can reinstate funding for Palestinian development projects.

Dec 21, 2018

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Ghaith al-Omari
Madison Rinder

Brief Analysis

As Washington Prepares to Withdraw from Syria, Turkey Is Set to Invade

The combination of premature steps would further damage U.S. credibility while giving Iranian proxies and Islamic State remnants free rein in east Syria.

Dec 19, 2018

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Dana Stroul
Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

The Big, the Small, and the Needless: Rebalancing Three UN Peacekeeping Missions

A former Israeli general explains why rethinking the missions is crucial to containing Iran’s proxies and reducing waste in international security expenditures.

Dec 14, 2018

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Assaf Orion

Brief Analysis

Saudi Arabia’s ‘Black Swan’ Policymaking

Riyadh’s allies need to adjust more to the kingdom’s dynamic decisionmaking, once noted for being slow and cautious.

Dec 12, 2018

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Assaf Orion
Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

The United States, Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East in the Post-Khashoggi Era

In addition to imperiling U.S. public support for regional relationships, neglecting human rights issues can blind policymakers to the brittleness of certain partner states.

Dec 10, 2018

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Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

Dennis Ross Reflects on George H. W. Bush

Looking back at the late president’s ability to navigate watershed moments in geopolitical history with remarkable diplomatic skill, empathy, and civility.

Dec 6, 2018

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

There’s No Reason Congress and Trump Can’t Achieve Their Goals for Saudi Arabia

The two branches have several means of imposing consequences and altering objectionable Saudi policies without demolishing the entire strategic relationship.

Nov 29, 2018

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

CIA’s Report Complicates U.S. Response to Khashoggi Murder

The resultant congressional furor could throw a wrench in arms sales and other important bilateral policy matters.

Nov 19, 2018

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Simon Henderson

Video

Former CIA Directors Michael Hayden and George Tenet Address The Washington Institute

Watch the full conversation between Institute counselor Dennis Ross and 2018 Scholar-Statesman Award honorees Michael Hayden and George Tenet, former directors of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Nov 15, 2018

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Dennis Ross
Michael Hayden
George Tenet

Video

Brief Analysis

Do U.S. Actions Affect Iranian Policy?

A veteran U.S. policymaker and two notable Iranian expatriates look back at forty years of fraught relations, discussing ways to advance American interests and reduce bilateral antagonism without letting human rights issues lapse.

Nov 15, 2018

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Stuart Eizenstat
Mehrangiz Kar
Mehdi Khalaji

Multimedia

Brief Analysis

Tehran's International Targets: Assessing Iranian Terror Sponsorship

The State Department's top counterterrorism official discusses the Trump administration's latest actions against those who facilitate Iranian terrorist activity.

Nov 13, 2018

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Nathan Sales

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

Video

Brief Analysis

New Data on Iraqi Political Trends:

Parsing the Regional Implications

Watch an in-depth conversation with Iraqi experts who share and assess surprising new polling results about Iraqi public opinion.

Nov 8, 2018

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Munqith Dagher
Ahmed Ali
David Pollock

Video

Brief Analysis

Egypt and Washington: Challenges in the Sisi Era

Two experts discuss how Washington can balance its sometimes conflicting interests in Egyptian security and human rights.

Nov 7, 2018

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Barak Barfi
Michele Dunne

Articles & Testimony

Is a Ceasefire Possible in Yemen?

Washington is launching a seemingly determined effort to end the war, but are Iran and its Houthi allies ready to compromise with their enemies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE?

Nov 6, 2018

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Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

New Governments in Iraq and Kurdistan: A Trip Report

Four experts who recently returned from Baghdad and Erbil report on the results of the government formation process.

Nov 6, 2018

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Kenneth Pollack
Nussaibah Younis
Michael Knights
Bilal Wahab

Brief Analysis

U.S.-Saudi Security Cooperation (Part 2): Restricting Operational Support in Yemen

The United States should keep training and advising Saudi forces if they meet certain conditions, but it should end refueling support to Saudi aircraft operating near Yemen.

Nov 6, 2018

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Michael Knights
August Pfluger

Brief Analysis

U.S.-Saudi Security Cooperation (Part 1): Conditioning Arms Sales to Build Leverage

Washington should continue its selective approach to restricting the delivery of certain offensive weapons, yet leave defensive procurement on track.

Nov 5, 2018

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Michael Knights

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 the 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

Featured experts

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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Featured experts