George Washington University
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University and Director of its Institute for Middle East Studies; author of The Arab Uprising: The Unfinished Revolutions of the New Middle East and The New Arab Wars: Uprisings and Anarchy in the Middle East; former editor of Foreign Policy magazine's Middle East Channel
Syria pushes US-Russia relations to new low Another airstrike today killed at least 15 people on the rebel-held side of Aleppo, a besieged city that hasn’t seen humanitarian assistance since last July. Talks between the US and Russia have failed to produce a ceasefire, despite pleas from Pope Francis, as accusations of war crimes are circulating at the United Nations.
Does the "Arab Spring" Have a Future After All? It's been five years since popular uprisings toppled dictators in Egypt and other Arab countries. Except in Tunisia, Democracy has not taken hold. Egypt's new military regime may be worse than the old one; Libya is in chaos; millions of Syrians are fleeing civil war.
Does the "Arab Spring" Have a Future After All? It's been five years since popular uprisings toppled dictators in Egypt and other Arab countries. Except in Tunisia, Democracy has not taken hold. Egypt's new military regime may be worse than the old one; Libya is in chaos; millions of Syrians are fleeing civil war.
New Diplomatic Opportunities for Syria and Iran President Obama's threat to bomb Syria for its use of chemical weapons was, in part, a warning to Iran about its nuclear program. It also helped reassure Israel about US willingness to use force in the Middle East. Now, just two weeks later and with the UN about to open a new session tomorrow, it's all about diplomacy.
Should the US Arm Syrian Rebels? After just three weeks as Secretary of State, John Kerry is trying to prevent Syria's "bloody stalemate" from disrupting the world's most volatile region. Russia, Hezbollah — and especially Iran — are aiding the Assad regime while America's refusal to arm opponents is seen as betrayal.
The Middle East: From Democracy to Chaos Two years ago, Tunisia led the so-called "Arab Spring" by replacing a dictatorship with a democracy. Egypt was not far behind. But elected, Islamist governments have provoked secular opposition, and the streets of both countries are full of protesters once again.
The Arab Spring Gets a New Look in Egypt After last year's revolution in Egypt, Generals from the ousted Mubarak regime disbanded the elected parliament and limited the powers of incoming President Mohammed Morsi. This weekend, Morsi struck back. He fired the top two generals and seized powers they had taken for themselves.
The Arab League, Iraq and Stopping Violence in Syria This week's Arab League Summit may not be a summit at all without a major figure from Saudi Arabia, and the League may not reach consensus on Syria, its most troubling issue. But it's a big moment for Baghdad, the first such meeting it's hosted since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait more than 20 years ago.
The Arab League Goes Back to Baghdad This week's Arab League Summit puts Iraq -- a country still torn by political and religious tensions and recent outbreaks of violence -- back in the news. It's a big moment for Baghdad, the first such meeting it's hosted since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait more than 20 years ago.
One year later, the threat of more mudslides still exists One year ago, torrential rain pelted the hillside community of Montecito, which was scorched a month earlier by the Thomas Fire. It unleashed a flow of mud and boulders the size of cars and killed 23 people.
Could agave become Santa Barbara’s next major crop? In many ways, growing agave in Santa Barbara makes a lot of sense. Not only does it use very little water and thrive on generally inhospitable land, but it can act as a fuel break for wildfires.
Who are the political players in the LA teachers strike? Thousands of LA public school teachers are going to be back out on the picket lines for a second day. They walked off the job Monday after failing to reach a contract agreement with the LA Unified School District, despite months of negotiations.
