Middle East

Syria: Is Iraq the Wrong Lesson?

By Frederic C. Hof

Cautionary tales related to the US invasion and occupation of Iraq are often cited to justify the Obama administration’s reluctance to intervene militarily in Syria, even in ways falling far short of boots on the ground.

Iranian Economic System Bending, not Breaking Under Sanctions

On March 26, 2013, the South Asia Center hosted a briefing with Bijan Khajehpour, cofounder and managing partner at Atieh Internationa; Reza Marashi, research director, National Iranian American Council; and Trita Parsi, founder and president, National Iranian American Council on “The Impact of Sanctions on Tehran’s Nuclear Calculations.”

The United States, Europe, and the Case of Syria*

By Frederic C. Hof

How can Europe and the United States effectively work together to try to end Syria’s nightmare, bringing about a comprehensive political transition from corrupt and incompetent family rule to a modern, representative, and nonsectarian government? 

A Thawing of Libyan Politics?

By Karim Mezran and Eric Knecht

Recent developments in Libya suggest an opening in the country’s otherwise deadlocked political process, increasing the likelihood of resolving several key issues holding back the country’s transition. The Muslim Brotherhood, led by Mohamed Sawan, and the National Forces Alliance (NFA), led by Mahmoud Jibril, met on March 14 for what appears to be the start […]

Overcoming the Pitfalls of Yemen’s National Dialogue

By Danya Greenfield

Among the urban elite and diplomatic community in Sanaa, all eyes will turn to the launch of the long-awaited National Dialogue Conference today, a key component of the transition plan agreed upon in November 2011 that ushered out former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in exchange for full immunity. The good news about the internationally-backed agreement […]

Experts Project Bleak Picture of Human Rights and Rule of Law in Egypt’s Young Democracy

By Jason Harmala

 For several months, Egypt has struggled with civil unrest, deteriorating security, and claims of abuse by security officials. The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East discussed these important developments on March 18 during an event featuring Heba Morayef, Egypt director of Human Rights Watch, and well-known blogger and Egyptian political activist, Mahmoud Salem, with […]

Syria: A Slippery Slope?

By Frederic C. Hof

President Barack Obama succeeded in extricating US forces from Iraq and is trying to do the same in Afghanistan. His domestic agenda is ambitious: he sees the rebuilding of the US economy as the foundation for the exercise of American power and influence abroad. He would very much like to devote the priority of his […]