Middle East Policy Council
Richard Schmierer is a member of the Board at the Middle East Policy Council.
Schmierer served as director of Iraqi Affairs at the US State Department from 2007-2009, when he was appointed as US ambassador to Oman. He served in that capacity until 2012.
Military escalation… without diplomacy President Trump wants the Pentagon to "fight to win," and battlefield commanders now make decisions that used to come from the Obama White House. There's been increased action in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and a dramatic rise in civilian casualties — providing fodder for Islamic State propaganda. What's missing is diplomacy and political planning for what to do when the wars are over. But even Trump's critics say Obama didn't have any "endgames" either. We hear about America's increased involvement in murky wars where victory might be possible… but not sustainable.
US Blames Iran for Escalating Violence in Iraq Iran has suspended talks with the US on Iraqi security, denouncing US attacks on Shiite militias in Baghdad. The US accuses Iran of supplying the militias with weapons. Charges and counter-charges fly amid increasing violence in a complex political labyrinth. Does support for the Maliki government mean taking sides in a Shiite civil war? Is the US fighting a proxy war with Iran? We update conditions on the ground and the prospects for stability in Iraq before both US and Iraqi elections.
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.