Brookings Institution
Shadi Hamid is a senior fellow with the Project on US Relations at the Brookings Institution and former director of research at the Brookings Doha Center. He is the author of Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East and Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle over Islam Is Reshaping the World.
Whatever happened to 'America First?' Before his election, Donald Trump accused Saudi Arabia of complicity in the 911 attacks. In Riyadh, the President called it a “magnificent” and “sacred land.” The Saudis were glad to see the last of Barack Obama, and happy about a multi-billion-dollar weapons deal without any lectures about human rights. Mr. Trump denounced Islamic terrorists,” and said defeating them will be up to Muslim countries. Today he’s in Israel before moving on to the Vatican and a meeting of NATO. Will his foreign trip help ease international fears about the chaos in Washington?
After Paris: Seeking a Strategy Almost 200 raids without search warrants have been conducted amid reports that there were advance warnings of Friday’s attacks — and more are predicted. There’s new urgency to the debate about the fight against ISIS. President François Hollande says, "France is at War." Airstrikes have increased, and there are calls for "boots on the ground" — as well as warnings that military escalation by western countries is just what ISIS is hoping for.
Growing Turmoil in Egypt Violence has erupted again in Egypt, where supporters of former President Mohammed Morsi are demonstrating against the government that ousted him in July. The government has designated the Muslim Brotherhood, which backed Egypt's first democratically elected leader, a terrorist organization and is responding to dissent, which comes ahead of an upcoming constitutional referendum, with increasing force and arrests. Will this further radicalize Islamists in Egypt? Will the violence spill over into the rest of the region? What role should the United States play in a Middle East marked by the rise of al Qaeda-linked insurgencies?
Tensions Rise as U.S. Cuts Military Assistance to Egypt After Israel, Egypt gets more assistance from the US than any other country. But two things have complicated the relationship: the military ouster of elected President Mohammed Morsi and the subsequent bloody crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. Last week, Egypt’s foreign minister said relations with the US are in “turmoil” because the US has canceled some military assistance.
Egypt at a Crossroads…Once Again NOTE: This discussion was recorded while events in Egypt were developing — and just before President Morsi's ouster from office. Egypt is bracing for increased violence between massive crowds for and against Mohamed Morsi, elected just one year ago. The President has refused to step down, tanks are in the streets of Cairo, and Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood claims there has been a military coup. Was it "invited" by the millions who are protesting his rule? Has the US given its tacit approval? What are the potential consequences for democracy in Egypt and, more broadly, in the rest of the Middle East?
Egyptians Vote in Historic Election For the first time in Egyptian history, voters are choosing a national leader, even though a constitution that spells out the powers of the office has yet to be enacted. We look at the candidates and the role of religion, the military -- and the prospects for real democracy.
Democracy in the Land of the Pharaohs For the first time in Egyptian history, voters are choosing a national leader, even though a constitution that spells out the powers of the office has yet to be enacted. The military says the election will be "free and fair," but will it cede power to the revolutionaries who overthrew Hosni Mubarak just 15 months ago? With conservative and moderate Muslims on the ballot, what will be the role of religion? Are most Egyptians concerned with who can put food on the table? As the voting continues today and tomorrow, we look at the candidates and what the first election in any Arab country could mean for the outcome of the so-called "Arab Spring."
Is It Time to Intervene in Syria? Syria's Bashar al-Assad has called for elections, even as his army continues to bombard residential neighborhoods the Assad government calls "havens for terrorists" inspired by foreign enemies. Army defectors and others are fighting back as best they can. Some 25,000 civilians have managed to flee to destinations including Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. We hear the stories of refugees, get reports on anti-government forces and update international calls for humanitarian intervention.
Syria's Civil War Syria's civilian death toll is now estimated at 6000 people, as tanks and machine guns continue to bombard residential neighborhoods the Assad government calls "havens for terrorists" inspired by foreign enemies. Army defectors and others are fighting back as best they can. Some 25,000 civilians have managed to flee to destinations including Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. Refugees say they're bribing soldiers to help them get out of cities where food, water and medical care are in short supply. Meantime, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has announced a referendum in ten days to amend the constitution, limit his term in office and set up elections. France wants the UN to protect "corridors" for humanitarian relief, but Russia says that might "legitimize regime change."
Egypt Goes to the Polls with the Arab World in Flux In Egypt, the biggest, most influential country in the Arab world, voters turned out en masse for today's elections, which will have a major impact region wide. With 40 parties and thousands of candidates for the lower house of Parliament, the election itself was already a complex undertaking. Recent protests against the military regime have made the process more uncertain than ever. Meanwhile, Syria accused the Arab League of economic warfare. We look at changes -- for better or worse -- wrought by the "Arab Spring."
Progress Reports on the Arab Spring Egypt is the biggest, most influential country in the Arab world, and today's elections will have a major impact region wide. With 40 parties and thousands of candidates for the lower house of Parliament, the election itself was already a complex undertaking. Though turnout was massive for today's elections, protests continue and there's uncertainty about whether the vote will be "free and fair." A UN report accuses Syria of "crimes against humanity," and the Assad regime calls Arab League sanctions a declaration of "economic war." In Yemen, a protest leader has been appointed prime minister. Islamists have won in Morocco, and the government of Kuwait has resigned. We look at a region where decades of repression have given way to widespread instability.
The Death of Moammar Gadhafi The dictator who terrorized Libya for 42 years was killed today, shot while trying to escape rebel forces in his hometown of Sirte. Since rebel forces deposed Moammar Gadhafi two months ago, he’s been on the run. Today, al Jazeera TV aired gruesome footage of armed men dragging a wounded, bloody person said to be Gadhafi. A separate clip showed his half-naked corpse, apparently shot in the head. When the Transitional National Council confirmed that he was dead, Libyans danced in the streets. We hear reaction from Tripoli, Tunesia, Qattar and Washington, DC.
The Death of Moammar Gadhafi Since rebel forces deposed Moammar Gadhafi two months ago, he's been on the run. Today, al Jazeera TV aired gruesome footage of armed men dragging a wounded and bloody person said to be Gadhafi in his hometown of Sirte. Although much of the world has already recognized the Transitional National Council as Libya's new government, even with the death today of the mercurial leader, Libya is not a unified country. What's next for an oil-rich nation divided by tribal and sectarian rivalries, where the potential outcomes range from democracy to civil war?
Are Revolutions Transforming the Middle East? Since dictators were deposed by "people power" in Tunisia and Egypt, there's been talk of an "Arab Spring" that would finally bring an end to authoritarianism in the Middle East and even a flowering of democracy. But in Egypt today, street protests, strikes and sit-ins were criminalized by Hosni Mubarak's military successors. We hear more on the possible consequences of revolution there and elsewhere.
Are Revolutions Transforming the Middle East? Since the so-called "Arab Spring" began in Tunisia, there's been violence in that country. Today, Egypt's new military leaders formally criminalized protests. In Yemen, Bahrain, Syria and Libya, there's no telling what kinds of changes domestic upheaval will bring. Iran and Saudi Arabia may not see changes at all. What can be learned from Georgia, Ukraine and other countries that threw off the yoke of Communism? When is the old order vulnerable to a new generation of freedom-loving democrats? When are high expectations vulnerable to traditional realities?
Is There a Case for Military Intervention in Libya? As the international media focus on Libya's possible civil war, Moammar Gadhafi is secure in Tripoli. What has astonished one reporter is the perception of residents in the capital city, which she describes as "complete denial" that their leader's government is under any real threat at all. Vivienne Walt arrived for the latest of many visits to Tripoli this past weekend. We speak with Walt and others about the situation in Libya and the case for international military intervention.
The Kavanaugh Factor and the Midterm Elections Republicans have secured their long-term goal: a right-wing majority on the U.S. Supreme Court. There are conflicting expectations for rulings on abortion, immigration, voting rights--and the powers of both the White House and Congress. In this divided nation, public trust in the rule of law is also at stake. How will the bitter battle over Brett Kavanaugh impact next month’s midterm elections?
KCRW Selects: Don’t @ Me 2 KCRW’s Bob Carlson presents another peek into Don’t @ Me – a new show hosted by Dear White People’s Justin Simien.