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

Event Recap

Mar 28, 2013

Security Sector Reform in Yemen and Libya

By Jason Harmala

In the wake of the Arab Spring and transitions in Yemen and Libya, instability poses challenges for reforming the existing security apparatus. The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East debated ongoing developments in the security sector in both countries during an event on March 28 featuring Hafez al-Bukari, director of the Yemen Polling Center (YPC) and Fiona Mangan, program officer […]

Libya Yemen

Event Recap

Mar 26, 2013

US Efforts in Yemen Must Expand Beyond Counterterrorism

By Jason Harmala

Now is the right time to reevaluate US policies in Yemen as President Barack Obama begins his second term and while Yemen is at a critical juncture in its political transition. On March 26, the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) hosted an event […]

Yemen

Event Recap

Mar 26, 2013

Rethinking US Policy Toward Yemen

By Jason Harmala

Join the Atlantic Council and the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) on March 26 for a panel discussion looking at US policy towards Yemen.

Yemen

Resources

Mar 26, 2013

Foreign Policy Experts Urge President Obama to Rethink Yemen Policy

By Jason Harmala

In a letter to President Barack Obama, a distinguished group of former diplomats, analysts, and journalists call on the president and his national security team to move beyond the current counterterrorism approach and embrace a long-term strategy that prioritizes helping the Yemeni government address the very factors that allow extremist ideology to spread: the absence […]

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2013

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 […]

Yemen

MENASource

Mar 7, 2013

Yemen: A Glass Half-Full

By Danya Greenfield

Nearly every news article on Yemen begins with a detailed laundry-list of challenges the country faces on a daily basis (violent separatism in the South, humanitarian crises, unemployment); it is far more difficult to paint a positive picture of progress in a troubled land with deep political cleavages. However, in the world of glass half-empty […]

Yemen

MENASource

Feb 28, 2013

The Saudi Scholarship Program Eight Years In: We Need to Do Better

Through the King Abdullah scholarship program, young Saudi women are seizing new opportunities, Saudi family dynamics are changing, and there is potential for the emergence of a new cadre of leaders in Saudi society.

Saudi Arabia

Event Recap

Feb 7, 2013

The United States and the Gulf States: Uncertain Partners in a Changing Region

Given the continued congruence of interests between the Gulf states and the United States and the potential for some Gulf states to play an even greater regional and global role, now is the time to reexamine the partnership and de-conflict interests. On February 7, Hariri Center senior fellow and retired US career diplomat Richard LeBaron […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Feb 7, 2013

The US and the Gulf States: uncertain partners in a changing region

By Richard LeBaron

The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security are pleased to release a new issue brief, “The United States and the Gulf States: Uncertain Partners in a Changing Region.” Senior Fellow Richard LeBaron evaluates the relationship between the United States and the Gulf states as they face […]

The Gulf

Event Recap

Jan 30, 2013

Women and Yemen’s Transition: Overcoming Obstacles

As Yemen prepares for the start of its National Dialogue conference, the Rafik Hariri Center and the US Institute of Peace hosted a discussion with former Yemeni Minister of Human Rights Amat Al Alim Alsoswa on January 30 to discuss the role of Yemeni women as the country continues its transition process.

Yemen

Experts