Featured commentary & analysis


Counterterrorism Study Group

The Counterterrorism Study Group is a forum for former counterterrorism officials to review the latest threats, to understand emerging trends and future predictions, and to explore creative new proposals for improving the effectiveness of current policies and operations.


Podcast series

Listen to the latest episode of the China-MENA podcast, featuring conversations with academics, government leaders, and the policy community on China’s role in the Middle East.


Gulf Security Task Force

The Gulf Security Task Force is revisiting the question of how to best protect US interests in this sensitive, always relevant region. Our goal is to provide US decision-makers with an updated, fact-based strategy for protecting US interests in the air and maritime domain from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, and ensuring Gulf partners’ ability to assume this responsibility, with the assistance and leadership of the United States.

Content

MENASource

Apr 18, 2014

The Jordan-Morocco Solution for GCC Defense Masks Bigger Issues

By Richard LeBaron

The US-based publication Defense News confidently reported on April 14 that the “GCC Seeks to Form Military Bloc with Jordan, Morocco.” The story relied on an unnamed Jordanian who advised that the invitation was tendered in late March.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Apr 16, 2014

Saab on Prince Bandar’s Resignation

By Bilal Y. Saab

Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Bilal Saab is quoted by The National on the resignation of Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar:

Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Apr 14, 2014

YemenSource | New Model for Yemen’s Interior Ministry

By MENASource

Yemen’s interior ministry, in an attempt to fill leadership roles, is experimenting with a new way of vetting and promoting officers to senior posts, one not prone to cronyism or other forms of corruption. An evaluation committee has been formed to assess applications. As part of the process, applicants are required to submit an autobiography […]

Yemen

Event Recap

Apr 8, 2014

Yemen: How to Implement National Dialogue Gains as Transition Proceeds?

Two months after Yemen’s National Dialogue Conferences concluded, many questions remain about how the next steps in the transition and the guarantees produced by the Dialogue will be implemented. In a country where half of the population lives below the poverty line, economic issues are of particular concern. On April 8, the Rafik Hariri Center […]

Yemen

MENASource

Apr 7, 2014

What Yemen’s Youth Got Out of the National Dialogue Conference

By Rafat Al-Akhali

After ten months of extensive negotiations and discussions, Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference (NDC) concluded on the January 21, 2014. It is critical to analyze the NDC outcomes and assess whether it addresses the calls for change that Yemeni youth initiated in 2011.

Yemen

In the News

Apr 1, 2014

Pham: Was Obama’s Award Acceptance Unconstitutional?

By J. Peter Pham

Politifact.com quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on the rumor that President Obama’s acceptance of the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit from Saudia Arabia in 2009 violates the US Constitution:

Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Apr 1, 2014

YemenSource | Despite Arbitration and Ceasefire Extension, Houthis Continue To Provoke Fears

By YemenSource

The presidential commission dispatched to Amran province has announced a fifteen day ceasefire agreement between Houthi militants and the government.

Yemen

MENASource

Mar 31, 2014

Marib Youth and Political Transition in Yemen

By Nadwa Al-Dawsari

Over the past few years, Marib, a tribal area 120km northeast of Sana’a, has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. It has allegedly been a staging ground for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operations targeting security and military personnel as well as oil pipelines.

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Mar 28, 2014

A Dangerous Lapse: US, EU Lose Focus on Arab Democracy

By New Atlanticist

The crisis over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominated this week’s EU-US Summit in Brussels, followed by the topics that had been intended as top priorities for the meeting: negotiations for a broad transatlantic trade partnership and Europe’s anger at how pervasively it has been spied upon by the US National Security Agency. Missing from the […]

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Mar 27, 2014

LeBaron on Obama’s Saudi Arabia Trip

By Richard LeBaron

The National quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Richard LeBaron on President Obama’s trip to Saudi Arabia:

Saudi Arabia

Experts