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Biden’s Options in Afghanistan
  • Commentary
  • Biden’s Options in Afghanistan

    The United States and Pakistan must work together to secure the country’s future.

    March 17, 2021

    After last year’s crisis, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia pursue a reset
    Photo by Bandar Algaloud/Saudi Kingdom Council /Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
  • Analysis
  • After last year’s crisis, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia pursue a reset

    After last year’s much-publicized spat between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia — culminating with Riyadh’s demand for early repayment of $3 billion in loans meant to shore up Islamabad’s foreign exchange reserves — tensions between the two countries have since cooled. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia appear to be in the midst of a reset of relations.

    March 11, 2021

    The Biden Administration and the Middle East: Policy Recommendations for a Sustainable Way Forward
    Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images
  • Analysis
  • The Biden Administration and the Middle East: Policy Recommendations for a Sustainable Way Forward

    In a new policy briefing book, entitled The Biden Administration and the Middle East: Policy Recommendations for a Sustainable Way Forward, MEI scholars tackle a large number of country-specific and region-wide issue areas, laying out both the abiding U.S. interests and specific recommendations for Biden administration policies that can further U.S. interests amid a region in turmoil.

    March 10, 2021

    It’s time to reappraise the United States’ Afghanistan policy
    Photo by Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
  • Analysis
  • It’s time to reappraise the United States’ Afghanistan policy

    In his book Obama’s Wars, Bob Woodward describes a meeting about Afghanistan in the White House. He writes how Gen. David Petraeus said, “I understand the [Afghan] government is a criminal syndicate,” to which then-Vice President Joe Biden asked, “If the [Afghan] government is a criminal syndicate, a year from now, how will troops make a difference?” Mr. Biden’s question remains unanswered.
    Biden, of course, is now the president. I wonder if he remembers his unanswered question from all those years ago. Despite the many years of tragic, seemingly endless war in Afghanistan, Mr. Biden’s question remains relevant today. I’ll take a shot at answering it: No number of troops could make a difference. The root of the problem is Washington’s willingness to partner with thieves and warlords.

    March 8, 2021

    The Arab Spring 10 years on
    Middle East Institute
  • Podcast
  • The Arab Spring 10 years on

    Sahar Khamis, Sabina Henneberg, Karam Shaar, and Ibrahim Jalal join host Alistair Taylor to examine the legacy and impact of the Arab Spring in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Syria ten years after the uprisings began.

    March 1, 2021

    The role of US special forces in the war in Afghanistan
    Middle East Institute
  • Podcast
  • The role of US special forces in the war in Afghanistan

    Jessica Donati, foreign affairs reporter for the Wall Street Journal, joins host Alistair Taylor to discuss her new book, Eagle Down: The Last Special Forces Fighting the Forever War.

    February 19, 2021

    Geo-technology trends to watch in MENA in the 2020s
    Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images
  • Analysis
  • Geo-technology trends to watch in MENA in the 2020s

    Ongoing conflicts in Syria, Libya, and Yemen are expected to continue to destabilize the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in 2021. However, technology will likely add another layer of complexity to these conflicts and reshape the region throughout the 2020s. When the Arab Spring began a decade ago, the biggest challenge facing long-standing Arab autocrats was grappling with the power of social media and the rise of online political opposition by tech-savvy millennial activists. In the 2020s, however, regional governments are now facing a new set of emerging technologies that will shape not only domestic politics but also regional geopolitical dynamics. These advancing technologies include: drone, cyber, and space technologies.