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Middle East

Top Features

Strategic Reset

A new four-point strategy for Iraq and the Middle East from Brian Katulis, Lawrence J. Korb, and Peter Juul.

Contain and Engage

Joseph Cirincione and Andrew Grotto outline five options and an effective strategy for resolving the nuclear crisis with Iran.

Other Middle East Features

November 20, 2009

Iran's Crisis of Resistance

Facing heavy domestic criticism, the Iranian regime could seek to recoup lost credibility by causing more trouble in the region, writes Matthew Duss in The American Prospect. By Matthew Duss
October 2, 2009

Wexler Talks Middle East Policy at CAP

Congressman Robert Wexler spoke on a comprehensive peace in the Middle East and dealing with Iran at a CAP event.
August 17, 2009

Withdrawing from Iraq: Schedules, Risks, and Mitigating Strategies

Since the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement last year, which committed the United States to an unconditional withdrawal of U.S. forces on a three-year timeline, the withdrawal issue has receded from the American public debate about Iraq. By Brian Katulis
August 11, 2009

The Narrowing Window in the Middle East

Brian Katulis debates Israel and Palestine with Daniel Levy of The Century Foundation on BloggingHeads.tv. By Brian Katulis
July 17, 2009

The Iranian Conundrum

Peter Juul takes a look ahead at relations among the United States, Iraq, and Iran as both Middle Eastern countries struggle with internal political turbulence. By Peter Juul
July 15, 2009

Window of Opportunity for a Two-State Solution

Brian Katulis, Marc Lynch, and Robert C. Adler provide policy recommendations to the Obama administration on the Israeli-Palestinian front . By Brian Katulis, Marc Lynch, Robert C. Adler
July 13, 2009

Ask the Expert: Mitchell Goes Back to Israel and Palestine

Brian Katulis discusses Envoy Mitchell's trip to Israel and Palestine this week, and the Obama administration's Middle East strategies. By Brian Katulis
July 13, 2009

Yemen Threatens Regional Stability

Yemen is caught in a trap of instability that marginalizes the country and brings further instability; neighboring countries and the international community can no longer afford to ignore it. By Jeff Reger
June 30, 2009

After Redeployment from Iraqi Cities

Today marks a step forward in rebalancing U.S. national security priorities, but the Obama administration still has work to do in Iraq, write Brian Katulis and Emily Hogin. By Brian Katulis, Emily Hogin
June 29, 2009

Middle East Conflict and Israel’s Neighborhood

Brian Katulis provides another photo essay from the Middle East that highlights the close borders in Israel. By Brian Katulis
June 25, 2009

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Difficult and Changing Landscape

Brian Katulis shares photographs and insights about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from his current trip to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. By Brian Katulis
June 23, 2009

Ask the Expert: President Obama's Approach to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Moran Banai discusses President Obama's strategy for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, how it differs from the Bush administration, and whether Netanyahu's speech changes anything. By Moran Banai
June 17, 2009

Improving U.S. Credibility in the Middle East

A CAP event examines the Obama administration’s steps to close Guantánamo and other ways the administration can repair the U.S. image in the Middle East.
June 5, 2009

Jerusalem’s Role in the Middle East Peace Process

Panelists discuss the importance of Jerusalem within a larger resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how the challenge of the Old City can be resolved.
June 3, 2009

Obama in Egypt: A Vision for Democracy Promotion

President Barack Obama's historic address to the Muslim world in Cairo tomorrow offers a prime opportunity to outline a new U.S. vision for democracy and human rights in the region. To accomplish this goal, Obama must firmly reject the notion that safeguarding America's strategic interests in the Middle East somehow runs counter to the goal of advancing political reform. Instead he must craft a balanced message that recognizes that reform is synonymous with U.S. interests in the region. By Michael Cohen, Brian Katulis
May 19, 2009

Lawrence Korb on Why Iran Is Not Hitler's Germany

I met Lawrence Korb in Tel Aviv last week, as we were both on the same panel in the BESA-ADL conference on U.S.-Israel relations. Korb is a Senior Fellow at American Progress and a senior advisor to the Center for Defense Information. Mr. Korb was also a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Studies Program at the Brookings Institution, and dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. He served as assistant secretary of defense (manpower, reserve affairs, installations, and logistics) from 1981 through 1985. In that position, he administered about 70 percent of the defense budget. For his service in that position, he was awarded the Department of Defense's medal for Distinguished Public Service. More about his very impressive bio here. By Shmuel Rosner
April 15, 2009

Lessons from Iraq: Using Aid Effectively in Afghanistan and Pakistan

CAP explores the lessons from Iraq and the challenges in Afghanistan with the special inspector generals who are leading reconstruction efforts in both countries.
March 23, 2009

Prospects for A Two-State Solution

Israeli Brigadier General Ilan Paz and Ghaith al-Omari, former advisor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, join CAP to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
March 19, 2009

Gulf States Essential for an Integrated Regional Strategy

Brian Katulis in Middle East Progress: "[T]he Arab Gulf countries have an important role in helping address one of the thorniest global security challenges today—Iran’s nuclear program." By Brian Katulis
March 19, 2009

Lessons from Six Years in Iraq

Six years after the start of the Iraq war, Lawrence Korb, Sean Duggan, and Laura Conley reflect on its consequences at home and abroad. By Lawrence J. Korb, Sean Duggan, Laura Conley
March 17, 2009

Exiting Iraq Responsibly

An international effort is needed to address enduring economic and political challenges ahead, write Katie White and Steve Bowden. By Katie White, Steve Bowden
March 16, 2009

Blogging a Trip to the Arab Gulf

Brian Katulis blogs about his trip to the Arab Gulf at Foreign Policy magazine. By Brian Katulis
March 16, 2009

Analysis from a Trip to the Arab Gulf

I'm currently on a short visit to the Arab Gulf, organized by the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It's the sort of study tour that DC think tank analysts, national newspaper columnists, and media pundits of all sorts engage in on a regular basis By Brian Katulis
February 20, 2009

Israel’s Likely New Leader

Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu hopes to form a broad government in Israel, but his path is littered with challenges, writes Moran Banai. By Moran Banai
February 18, 2009

Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and the Obama Administration

Brian Katulis discusses the challenges facing the Obama administration in the Middle East in this report for The Century Foundation. By Brian Katulis
February 13, 2009

A Two-State Solution Is Still Essential

Moran Banai explains that despite support for right-wing candidates in Tuesday’s Israeli election, a political solution is still possible for Israelis and Palestinians. By Moran Banai
February 10, 2009

Developing Innovative Economic Tools

Several economic projects—a loan guarantee facility, political risk insurance and supply chain management efforts aimed at creating tangible economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza—help provide important economic steps that link up with the other tracks to move the peace process forward. By Ian Bomberg
February 9, 2009

Obama's Approach to Iran: How Should He Proceed?

When President Obama begins to implement his campaign promise to engage Iran diplomatically on all the issues dividing us, he needs to keep in mind certain events that have shaped Iran’s perception of the United States, as well as the problems that his predecessors faced when undertaking diplomatic initiatives toward “evil” regimes. And, he needs to consider that a big player in getting Iran to modify its behavior is going to be Russia. By Lawrence J. Korb
February 5, 2009

Managing the Transition in U.S. Policy

The results of Iraq’s provincial elections are not yet final, but some analysts have already drawn conclusions about their meaning. By Brian Katulis
January 28, 2009

The Fractured Shia of Iraq

Report from Matthew Duss and Peter Juul delivers analysis of the tensions within Iraq's majority party By Matthew Duss, Peter Juul
January 28, 2009

Background Brief: Shia Islam

A companion to the report from Matthew Duss and Peter Juul, "The Fractured Shia of Iraq: Understanding the Tensions within Iraq’s Majority."
January 28, 2009

Background Brief: Major Shia political groups

A companion to the report from Matthew Duss and Peter Juul, "The Fractured Shia of Iraq: Understanding the Tensions within Iraq’s Majority."
January 12, 2009

Operation Safe Haven Iraq 2009

New report from Natalie Ondiak and Brian Katulis presents an action plan for airlifting endangered Iraqis linked to the United States. By Natalie Ondiak, Brian Katulis
November 22, 2008

Out of Iraq in 10 Months or Less

The Bush administration is to be commended for signing a status-of-forces agreement with the Iraqi government that would require all U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Iraq by 2011 [news story, Nov. 18]. However, there is still significant disagreement and confusion about how long a withdrawal would take. On Monday, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that removing the 150,000 U.S. troops and equipment from Iraq would take "two to three years." This is not the case. By Sean Duggan
November 6, 2008

Multitasking in the Middle East

The challenges from Iraq and Afghanistan to Israel and Iran are interconnected. Obama needs a comprehensive approach.
October 24, 2008

The contributions of Iran

FEW COUNTRIES were as helpful to the United States in its early involvement in Afghanistan as Iran. Yet after the fall of the Taliban, the US failed to capitalize on the possibilities of that strategic relationship. Now coalition and Afghan troops are losing ground against the same insurgents they confronted in 2001, in a war that the United States is unlikely to win unless it rethinks its relationship with Iran. By Lawrence J. Korb, Laura Conley
October 21, 2008

Dealing with Iraq

Brian Katulis and Peter Juul outline four reasons why Americans need to debate the proposed U.S.-Iraq security agreement. By Brian Katulis, Peter Juul
September 26, 2008

New Provincial Election Law Passes in Iraq

The law is one small step forward in Iraq’s political transition, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul, but there still many more ahead. By Brian Katulis, Peter Juul
August 14, 2008

Jordan Reaches Across the Divide

Iraq will need its neighbors’ support to achieve progress and stability; King Abdullah’s visit is a crucial first step.
July 29, 2008

Moving Beyond the Carter Doctrine: The U.S. Military Presence in the Persian Gulf

In the nearly three decades since the United States declared its vital interests required U.S. military forces to maintain security in the Persian Gulf, the American military footprint—and engagements—in this volatile region have multiplied. As military planners and political decision-makers look beyond the region’s current crises, what will America’s longer-term security posture be in the Gulf? Lawrence Korb, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former assistant secretary of Defense, makes recommendations in "Moving Beyond the Carter Doctrine: The U.S. Military Presence in the Persian Gulf," a new report for The Century Foundation. By Lawrence J. Korb
May 30, 2008

America’s Dangerous Blind Spot in the Middle East

Iraq’s evolving relationship with Iran reshapes the regional landscape in the Middle East, threatening U.S. interests, observes Brian Katulis. By Brian Katulis
May 28, 2008

A New Tack Toward Tehran

The IAEA confirms that Iran still won’t come clean on its nuclear activities. More action is needed, writes Andrew Grotto. By Andrew J. Grotto
May 13, 2008

An Unlikely Threat to Democracy

When Turkey's chief prosecutor brought a lawsuit this spring asking the country's Constitutional Court to close down its governing political party, he set in motion a dangerous chain of events that could undue years of political and economic progress in Turkey. By Spencer P. Boyer
May 13, 2008

Interactive Map: What Are You Paying for the War?

See how much taxpayers in each state could now be paying based on the president's new request to fund operations in Iraq through the end of the year.
May 5, 2008

The Perils of Unconditional Engagement

Whether or not to engage Hamas is a question of whether engagement would help moderate the organization or improve Hamas’ chances of dominating the Palestinian political scene.
April 30, 2008

Arab Unity: Now Is the Time for New Policies

The United States has a window of opportunity to show leadership in the Middle East, writes Amanda Rios. By Amanda Rios
April 30, 2008

The United States Can Do More for Iraqi Refugees

Iraq’s displaced population is the primary threat to the country’s future stability, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul. By Brian Katulis, Peter Juul
April 16, 2008

Fixated on Tactics: Iraq War Supporters Lack Strategies

Defending tactics for an open-ended military commitment in Iraq exposes proponents of “strategic patience” to the folly of their own arguments, writes Peter Juul. By Peter Juul
April 11, 2008

Strategic confusion

Misunderstanding Iran's role works to increase its influence in Iraq, write Brian Katulis and Matthew Duss. By Brian Katulis, Matthew Duss
April 11, 2008

Post-Annapolis: U.S. Needs a Comprehensive Strategy

Moran Banai and Mara Rudman outline next steps for the United States in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking six months after Annapolis. By Moran Banai, Mara Rudman

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Where We Stand on National Security

CAP’s national security approach embodies progressive traditions that have protected our nation and nurtured our democratic ideals and freedom at home and abroad. Our policy priorities secure our country from attack and protect our national security interests abroad by ensuring our military forces are capable and ready, and our democratic alliances are strong and enduring. We understand that integrated military, diplomatic, and economic power guided by progressive ideals makes us safer and more prosperous.