Middle East Institute
Scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington and independent consultant; former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (1983-89); former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1981-1983) and Syria (1974-1978)
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. Is the League more important in the aftermath of the so-called "Arab Spring?" Can it reach a consensus on how to prevent more civilian bloodshed in Syria?
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. Prime Minister al-Maliki is hosting the meeting, distracting attention from human rights violations, talk of renewed civil war and even partition. But this week's 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. What are their options? What about the influence of Russia and China, Kofi Annan's latest proposal , Iran and the United States?
Pressure on Syria Increases as Bloodshed Continues Dissidents say more Syrians were killed today after 114 died yesterday, including more than 70 army defectors trying to leave the country. Also yesterday, the Assad regime agreed to admit observers from the Arab League, as the UN General Assembly condemned human rights violations. Will government brutality and sectarian differences lead to civil war? Is there a workable model for non-violent change? We talk with one of the few western reporters who’ve been inside the country about his visit to Homs, where he says a million people are living in fear.
Pressure on Syria Increases as Bloodshed Continues Dissidents say more Syrians were killed today after 114 died yesterday, including more than 70 army defectors trying to leave the country. Also yesterday, the Assad regime agreed to admit observers from the Arab League, as the UN General Assembly condemned human rights violations. Will government brutality and sectarian differences lead to civil war? Is there a workable model for non-violent change? We talk with one of the few western reporters who’ve been inside the country about his visit to Homs, where he says a million people are living in fear.
Middle East Democracy versus the 'Club of Kings' Over the weekend, Egypt opened the Rafah crossing on Gaza's southern border, a sign that the current military regime may be more responsive to its people than the Mubarak government was. The US is playing it down, but it's another sign of changing priorities in the Middle East. Last week's G-8 Summit promised $20- to $40 billion to help Egypt and Tunisia turn the so-called "Arab Spring" into peaceful democracy. At the same time, US ally Saudi Arabia is conducting a worldwide campaign to keep kingdoms and other autocracies just as they are. Segment image: A Yemeni soldier who joined sides with anti-regime protesters hold a rifle bearing the slogan "leave" during a demonstration calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa on May 27, 2011. Photo: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
Saudi Arabia and the 'Club of Kings' Over the weekend, Egypt opened the Rafah crossing on Gaza's southern border, a sign that the current military regime may be more responsive to its people than the Mubarak government was. The United States is playing it down, but it's another sign of changing priorities in the Middle East. Last week's G8 Summit promised $20- to $40 billion to help Egypt and Tunisia turn the "Arab Spring" into peaceful democracy. At the same time, US ally Saudi Arabia is doing its best to keep autocratic regimes in place in Bahrain, Yemen, Oman, and even Morocco and Jordan. Does the US agree that the "Arab Spring" has reached its limit or are US and Saudi interests diverging after decades of trading oil for protection? Are the Saudis more worried about Iran or an "Arab Spring" in their own country? What about Israel and the world's oil supply?
President Bush's Middle East Trip The President's trip to the Middle East was billed as fairly routine, a speech celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary and talks with Arab leaders on oil and peace talks with the Palestinians. His "appeasement" speech has focused more attention than expected. One Washington rumor explains yesterday's "appeasement" denunciation as preparation for attacks on military encampments inside Iran. Barack Obama today called the President's insinuation "appalling," adding that he has not advocated talks with Hamas in Gaza, but that John McCain has. Meantime, the President has left Israel for Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where he'll meet with several Middle East allies. We hear what Obama had to say and get several views of what the President has in mind.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?