Foreign Policy Blogs

Tag Archives: Middle East

The Case for Regional AUMFs

The Case for Regional AUMFs

A “regional AUMF” would codify the long-standing practice of executive “doctrines” governing U.S. policy towards particular regions.

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Ramadan and the Leadership Crisis in the Middle East

Ramadan and the Leadership Crisis in the Middle East

This Ramadan comes at a time when the world is facing a catastrophic leadership deficiency, and nowhere is that catastrophe more evident than in the Middle East.

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Candid Discussions: Sadjadpour on Saudi-Iranian Dynamics

Candid Discussions: Sadjadpour on Saudi-Iranian Dynamics

Mr. Sadjadpour recently sat down with Reza Akhlaghi of the Foreign Policy Association to discuss Saudi-Iranian dynamics and the increasing sectarian rivalry between the two Middle Eastern heavyweights.

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Candid Discussions: Gissou Nia on Iran’s Human Rights in 2014

Candid Discussions: Gissou Nia on Iran’s Human Rights in 2014

Ms. Nia sat down with Reza Akhlaghi of the Foreign Policy Association to discuss Iran’s human rights record in 2014 and share her perspectives on the challenges the Iranian society faces in greater recognition of human rights.

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A Candid Discussion with Ambassador Christopher Hill

A Candid Discussion with Ambassador Christopher Hill

Ambassador Hill sat down with Reza Akhlaghi of the Foreign Policy Association to discuss his new book and share his views on U.S. foreign policy.

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A Comprehensive Analysis of the Islamic State (IS)

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Islamic State (IS)

Some describe it as the result of a disengaged American foreign policy; some look at it as a byproduct of an aggressive post-Saddam Iranian foreign policy in the region; then there are those who regard it as a creation of Sunni Arab states to undermine Assad and Iranian interests and contain Iran’s ambitious foreign policy in the region.

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Candid Discussions: Akin Ünver on Turkish Foreign Policy Challenges

Candid Discussions: Akin Ünver on Turkish Foreign Policy Challenges

Akın Ünver sits down with Reza Akhlaghi of the Foreign Policy Association to discuss Turkey’s current foreign policy challenges and the situation in Kobane.

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A Geopolitical Pawn Named ‘ISIS’

A Geopolitical Pawn Named ‘ISIS’

The mere mention of the name ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham) frightens Muslims and no-Muslims senseless, and there are plenty of reasons for that. But, who are they, and where does their campaign of terror lead to?

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Candid Discussions: Reza Marashi on U.S.-Iran Relations and Regional Dynamics

Candid Discussions: Reza Marashi on U.S.-Iran Relations and Regional Dynamics

  Reza Marashi is Research Director at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC).  Prior to NIAC, Mr. Marashi worked in the Office of Iranian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.  He was also a political analyst at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), covering China-Middle East issues, and previously a consultant at a Tehran-based […]

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Candid Discussions: Marc Schulman of the Times of Israel on Israel and Gaza

Candid Discussions: Marc Schulman of the Times of Israel on Israel and Gaza

    Marc Schulman is an app developer and contributing writer for the Times of Israel. His articles have most recently appeared in Newsweek. He is the editor of Historycentral.com and author a series of Multimedia History Apps and a biography of John F. Kennedy Jr.  He currently lives in Tel Aviv. Mr. Schulman spoke with Allison […]

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Bruce Stokes: “Americans Simply Don’t Care About Peace in the Middle East”

Bruce Stokes: “Americans Simply Don’t Care About Peace in the Middle East”

Bruce Stokes, Director of Global Public Attitudes at the Pew Research Center in Washington D.C., published an article titled, “Americans Simply Don’t Care About Peace in the Middle East” in Foreign Policy on May 9, which shows how Americans are skeptical about and uninterested in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. The following are some important excerpts from his article: […]

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Is the GCC a Toothless Organization?

Is the GCC a Toothless Organization?

The [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is comprised of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. According to the GCC’s Charter, what unites these countries are their “special relations, common characteristics and similar systems founded on the creed of Islam.” “Their […]

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Funding Security Through Radars, Drones and Missile Systems

Funding Security Through Radars, Drones and Missile Systems

The Economist released an interesting chart on global military spending this week showing the increased spending on military assets by countries that have been considered in the past to not be pro-Western or an ally of the United States or EU. The largest spending boom was made by China. China has openly shown the People’s […]

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Candid Discussions: Touraj Daryaee on Ancient Iranian Empires’ Approach to Foreign Affairs

Candid Discussions: Touraj Daryaee on Ancient Iranian Empires’ Approach to Foreign Affairs

Touraj Daryaee is the Howard C. Baskerville Professor in the History of Iran and the Persianate World and the Associate Director of the Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture at the University of California, Irvine. A leading Iranologist, Dr. Daryaee is the editor of the Name-ye Iran-e Bastan: The International Journal […]

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The End of the Road For Kerry and the Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations?

The End of the Road For Kerry and the Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations?

Starting with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s signing of 15 international conventions, the dramatic events over the past week indicate that Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have reached yet another impasse. Several officials on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s senior staff and inside the White House believe “it’s time to say enough.” According to them, […]

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