MEC - Gulf

The Fight for Mosul: Learning From the Past

Renad Mansour — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 21:33:01 +0000

The Islamic State will only be ousted from Iraq’s second largest city if Sunni tribal forces join the fight. That will require rebuilding their trust in Baghdad.

A Dead Hostage is More Valuable to ISIL

Mario Abou Zeid — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:02:59 +0000

The value of hostages to the Islamic State depends on the potential for their execution to be exploited.

ISIS Claims American Hostage Killed in Airstrikes

Lina Khatib, Andrew Liepman, Borzou Daragahi, Jeremy Herb — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 10:17:18 +0000

The Islamic State says that a female American hostage in Syria has been killed during a Jordanian airstrike.

Radicalism in the Arab World

Marwan Muasher — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 16:35:34 +0000

Building stability and prosperity is going to take a lot more work than military strikes.

Why ISIS Did Not Entirely Lose in Kobane

Lina Khatib — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 12:58:55 +0000

The Kurdish town of Kobane has been declared free of the Islamic State. But despite failing in its endeavor to control Kobane, the Islamic State is not a clear loser in this battle.

Sarah Chayes’ Extended Interview With Jon Stewart

Sarah Chayes — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 17:53:45 +0000

From the Islamic State in Iraq to Boko Haram in Nigeria, corruption lies at the root of many of today’s international crises.

Simmering Unrest and Succession Challenges in Oman

Marc Valeri — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 13:27:41 +0000

The uncertain health of the sultan of Oman has heightened concern about the future of the country. Amid mounting popular frustration, criticism of Qaboos bin Said Al Said has emerged. There are several measures the regime can undertake to avoid further unrest.

ISIS Hostage Crisis: Jordan’s Fear of Internal Strife is Behind Decision to Release of Bomber Sajida al-Rishawi

Lina Khatib — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 09:26:29 +0000

Members of the Jordanian pilot’s tribe have protested in Amman, pressuring the government to agree to an exchange.

French Relations with Saudi Arabia

Joseph Bahout — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:44:34 +0000

France and Saudi Arabia have agreements on a number of issues, such as Iran’s nuclear program, but France has several concerns about the way Saudi Arabia is positioning itself toward the Arab Spring.

Sarah Chayes on Thieves Of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security

Sarah Chayes — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:58:55 +0000

Corruption acts as a thread tying recent frightening international security crises together.

Thinking Only About Security Is Not a Long-Term Solution

Richard Youngs — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 14:30:53 +0000

Without a stable political environment, democracy will not take root in the Middle East and North Africa. But thinking only about security is not a long-term solution either.

This Is America’s Best Shot To Fix the Relationship With Saudi Arabia and Fight Terrorism

Sarah Chayes — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:26:31 +0000

U.S. officials, military and civilian, should ensure that issues of substantive political reform stay high on the agenda in interactions with their Saudi counterparts. Not in spite of the extremist menace, but because of it.

An Analysis of the Saudi Succession

Lina Khatib — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 09:58:18 +0000

The succession in Saudi Arabia comes at a time when Saudi foreign policy seems to be collapsing all around the Kingdom.

A Vacuum of Leadership in the Middle East

Marwan Muasher — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 21:59:30 +0000

The Arab world is facing a vacuum of leadership. It is a new era, one that still has unknown repercussions.

The Regional Impact of Saudi Succession

Lina Khatib — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 14:20:08 +0000

The current Saudi succession from King Abdullah to his half-brother Salman is not the most crucial—the one to follow is. Things might change once deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef gets closer to the top position in the Kingdom.

Why ISIS Keeps Expanding

Lina Khatib — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 10:39:56 +0000

More than four months after the start of an international airstrikes campaign against the Islamic State, the organization continues to expand—going beyond the geographical areas of Syria and Iraq.

Middle East Detour on China’s New Silk Road?

Wang Tao — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:53:15 +0000

The Middle East is vital to China’s present and future energy interests, but the region’s thorny geopolitics make Chinese state-owned firms hesitant to make large investments there.

The Saudi Regime May Seek Distance From ISIS, But Their Justice Systems Are Not Dissimilar

Lina Khatib — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:58:41 +0000

The public flogging of Raif Badawi has come at a critical time for the Kingdom, with many drawing parallels between the Islamic State’s brutality and law enforcement practices in Saudi Arabia.

Militaries, Civilians, and the Crisis of the Arab State

Yezid Sayigh — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 08:21:09 +0000

The civil-military relationship has proven central to the politics of many Arab countries, both those that underwent transition in 2011 and those that did not.

Everyday Sectarianism: The Paradox of an Anti-Islamic State Ally

Frederic Wehrey — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 17:49:16 +0000

Saudi Arabia has institutionalized sectarianism in virtually every aspect of political, social, and economic life.

The Saudi Thermidor

Frederic Wehrey — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:38:19 +0000

Dissatisfied with Washington, Riyadh has undertaken an activist strategy for restoring regional order—but its forceful interventions abroad mask a deep domestic malaise.

Yemen's Houthis Proxy, Not Ally for Iran

Farea Al-Muslimi — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 10:19:19 +0000

Despite all the similarities that emerge at first glance, there are deep structural, political, and social differences between Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen.

Development Plan Needed for Peace in Yemen

Farea Al-Muslimi — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 20:31:52 +0000

The Gulf Initiative has failed to bring peace to Yemen, prompting the need for a new initiative that is more realistic and includes a long-term economic and development plan.

The Ultimate Fatal Attraction: 5 Reasons People Join ISIS

Maha Yahya — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 08:54:14 +0000

Five distinct trends—not including theology or technology—explain the fatal attraction to the Islamic State. Understanding these trends is vital for winning the war against extremist ideologies.

Iraq’s Existential Crisis: Sectarianism Is Just Part of the Problem

Maha Yahya — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:17:49 +0000

The current conflict has renewed interest in splitting Iraq along religious and ethnic lines. But other steps are needed for the country’s long-term recovery.