Middle East

Syria: Keeping One’s Eye on the Ball

By Frederic C. Hof

The swirling controversy over chemical weapons, red lines, and leaks that the administration is reconsidering giving lethal aid to the Syrian opposition threatens to blur that which should be clear: American objectives in Syria and how to achieve them. While the controversy du jour may well focus the thinking of the US interagency in a […]

An Insider’s Perspective of Yemen Political Dialogue

By Jason Harmala

Yemen’s National Dialogue, which began on March 18, has been criticized for its lack of inclusiveness but has also received praise for successfully bringing together Yemenis to work through a number of issues. In order to examine the differing perspectives on the Dialogue, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted a roundtable luncheon […]

What Was Obama Thinking?

By Barry Pavel

What was President Obama thinking in August 2012 when he declared that Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons in Syria would alter his calculus and cross a red line, triggering U.S. intervention?

The Promise and Perils of Gulf Aid

By Faysal Itani

In a hostile and unstable region, the Gulf Arab states have had to compensate for their limited capacity and appetite for military action. Using immense oil wealth and tight control of policymaking, the ruling families of the Gulf have refined aid and investment into sophisticated foreign policy tools. Gulf aid is likely to impact significantly […]

Rebel Commander Implores Obama to Protect the Syrian People, Take Action Against Assad

In a written appeal to US President Barack Obama, Syrian Supreme Military Council leader General Salim Idris calls for international support to protect the Syrian people and rid the world of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Download the PDF