MEI Podcast number 10, 21 March, 2012, Iran and the West at a Crossroad: Will Recent Elections Make or Break a Deal on Iran’s Nuclear Program?
MEI Podcast number 10, 21 March, 2012, Iran and the West at a Crossroad: Will Recent Elections Make or Break a Deal on Iran’s Nuclear Program?
Russia's relations with Syria – even under the Assad regime – have been more troubled than current press accounts of Moscow-Damascus ties indicate. But despite the internal and external opposition to the Assad regime that has risen up over the past year, the Russian government has defended it staunchly via its Security Council veto and other means. In his talk, Mark Katz will discuss why Moscow supports the Assad regime so strongly as well as why it is willing to incur the costs of doing so.
Are Iran’s leaders rational actors? This question matters when justifying any decision by Israel to preempt Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons. An Iranian regime seen as driven to destroy the Jewish state has to be dealt with differently than one whose objectives are mediated by calculations of costs and benefits. Deterrents that would be normally expected to restrain a state would not work with an irrational Iran.
Why Does Russia Support the Assad Regime? podcast, 15 March, 2012
Why Does Russia Support the Assad Regime? podcast, 15 March, 2012
Why Does Russia Support the Assad Regime? podcast, 15 March, 2012
Why Does Russia Support the Assad Regime? podcast, 15 March, 2012
Why Does Russia Support the Assad Regime? podcast, 15 March, 2012
Originally posted September 2011
On August 21, 2011, rebel forces in Libya rolled into the capital Tripoli, seemingly finishing off months of armed combat and foreign intervention and bringing down yet another Arab head of state. At the same time, sporadic but violent repression of protests in Syria continues, while other states remain calm or have seen their protest movements fizzle. We open this second volume of our series, Revolution and Political Transformation¸ at a time of uncertainty and transition for the region.
In his article for NPR.com, Middle East Institute scholar Greg Myre examines the new dynamics of war reporting. As the nature of warfare shifts from traditional army-to-army combat to more assymetrical government vs. non-state opposition warfare, journalists are having to embed – alone – with rebels groups in order to get the story. In the wake of multiple journalist deaths in Syria, Myre looks at the increasing risk faced by war correspondents in covering the front lines of conflict.
Following last week's Russian-Chinese veto of an Arab-backed U.N. resolution, the international community is struggling to find ways to stem the ongoing violence and bloodshed. European states are considering a fresh round of sanctions, while Turkey says it's preparing a new initiative to address the crisis. Nerguizian, Slim and Yacoubian will discuss the international community's options, as well as examine the status of the Syrian opposition and the role of regional players.
This Opinion first appeared in ForeignPolicy.com on February 23, 2012
Originally posted July 2010
In the past, there was no need for learning a foreign language. Today, however, learning foreign languages should be included in school curricula … Today is not like yesterday, when our voice could not reach beyond the national boundary. Today, we can stay in Iran but publicize [our ideology] and export our revolution to other parts of the world in different languages.
Ayatollah Khomeini, 1980[1]
Audio recording from The Arab Spring: Implications for US Policy and Interests