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Soccer and Politics in Egypt

Middle East In Focus, February 7, 2012

Last Wednesday in Port Said, 74 Egyptians were killed in a riot that began on the soccer pitch — ...

What Options for Iran?

Middle East In Focus, February 3, 2012

Questions about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program continue to occupy the pages of the regional dailies. Not ...

Is Libya's Future at Risk?

Middle East In Focus, February 1, 2012

Recent events in Libya have raised serious doubts about the stability and future of the nation. The ruling ...

Israeli-Palestinian Talks at an Impasse

Middle East In Focus, January 27, 2012

The current Palestinian-Israeli talks hosted by Jordan’s King Abdullah were meant to offer a venue where the two sides ...

Turkey and France at Odds Over Armenian 'Genocide' Bill

Middle East In Focus, January 25, 2012

The French Senate this week passed a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian “genocide” in the dying days ...

Thomas Mattair Interviewed by VOA (Dari Language)

Voice of America Afghanistan Service, January 25, 2012

Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair has been interviewed by Voice of America's Afghanistan Service on political ...

Adelsons Double Down on Gingrich

Peter H. Stone, January 23, 2012

The following article by Peter H. Stone appeared on the Center for Public Integrity iWatch News site on Monday ...

Egypt's Revolution Turns One Year Old

Middle East In Focus, January 20, 2012

Next week, the Egyptian revolution turns one year old. Much has transpired in one year, but unrest continues to ...

Iraq Risks Further Disintegration

Middle East In Focus, January 17, 2012

Over the last two weeks, Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities have suffered a barrage of suicide bombings ...

Israel's Ultra-Orthodox Problem

Middle East In Focus, January 9, 2012

Recent events in Israel have once again raised questions about the ability of Israeli society to peacefully integrate ...

Bar Low for Israeli-Palestinian Talks

Middle East In Focus, January 6, 2012

A new year has brought with it yet another attempt at bridging the gap between the Israelis and the ...

Al Jazeera Interviews Thomas Mattair on Iran (Arabic)

Al Jazeera, January 6, 2012

Al Jazeera recently interviewed Middle East Policy Council executive director Dr. Thomas R. Mattair on the topic of U.S. sanctions ...

Israel in a Changing Arab World

Robert Malley, January 5, 2012

Analysts at the Middle East Policy Council's 67^th Capitol Hill Conference titled "Israel, Turkey & Iran in a Changing ...

Turkey in a Changing Arab World

Ömer Taşpınar, January 5, 2012

Analysts at the Middle East Policy Council’s 67th Capitol Hill Conference titled “Israel, Turkey & Iran in a Changing Arab ...

Iran in a Changing Arab World

Karim Sadjadpour, January 5, 2012

Analysts at the Middle East Policy Council’s 67th Capitol Hill Conference titled “Israel, Turkey & Iran in a Changing Arab ...

Should Iranian Threats Be Taken Seriously?

Middle East In Focus, January 3, 2012

After the tumultuous events of 2011, the ratcheting up of rhetoric over a possible conflict in the straits of ...

Hamas and Fatah Contemplate Closer Cooperation

Middle East In Focus, December 27, 2011

In the latest attempt aimed at bridging the differences between Fatah and Hamas (as well as other Palestinian factions), ...

Lebanon Continues to be Rocked by Instability

Middle East In Focus, December 22, 2011

Nearly a year since the fall of the Hariri government, the situation in Lebanon continues to remain tense. ...

Gingrich's Lie Reveals His Bigotry

John E. Sununu, December 16, 2011

The following op-ed by John E. Sununu appeared in the Boston Globe on Friday December 16, 2011.

The article is ...

Iraq after the U.S. Troop Withdrawal

Middle East In Focus, December 15, 2011

On December 15, U.S. troops in Baghdad lowered their flag, signaling the end of the American military mission in ...

Iran's Horrible Year

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, December 15, 2011

Earlier this year, Ayatollah Khamenei claimed that the unrest seizing the Arab world was inspired by the Iranian ...

U.S. Presidential Politics and the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict

Middle East In Focus, December 12, 2011

With the Republican presidential primaries weeks away it is perhaps inevitable that some of the statements of the GOP ...

U.S. Actions in Pakistan Draw Criticism

Middle East In Focus, December 1, 2011

This week’s errant airstrike by ISAF forces — which killed 25 Pakistani soldiers — has raised the ire of ...

What Does Saleh's Departure Mean for Yemen?

Middle East In Focus, November 28, 2011

Last week, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh finally signed off on a Gulf Cooperation Council-backed plan which transitions ...

Flurry of Controversial Legislation in Israel

Middle East In Focus, November 23, 2011

Over the last several weeks, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has been considering a series of controversial measures that ...

Has Egypt's Revolution been Hijacked?

Middle East In Focus, November 21, 2011

As suggested last week, the first Egyptian parliamentary elections since the ouster of Mubarak always held ...

Syria in Crisis

Middle East Policy Council, November 17, 2011

Pressure continues to mount on the Assad regime from external parties and opposition tactics appear to be increasingly brazen, ...

Change and Succession in Saudi Arabia

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, November 15, 2011

In the three weeks since Saudi Crown Prince Sultan passed away, many Western pundits have speculated about succession, given ...

The Arab League Takes on Syria: Part 2

Middle East In Focus, November 14, 2011

In a dramatic turn of events, and following weeks of frustrating diplomacy, the Arab League decided last week ...

Is Egypt's Revolution at Risk?

Middle East In Focus, November 10, 2011

Following the rather successful conclusion of parliamentary elections in Tunisia, attention has now turned to elections in Egypt. ...

How real is Israel's Threat against Iran?

Middle East In Focus, November 7, 2011

Last week, Israeli newspapers broke the news that their government was considering a plan to take out Iranian ...

Regional Reaction to Palestine's UNESCO Bid

Middle East In Focus, November 3, 2011

Following the success of Palestine’s UNESCO bid, it was only a matter of time before the United States ...

Thomas Mattair Interviewed by RTV Arabic on Syrian Uprising

RTV Arabic, October 31, 2011

Dr. Thomas R. Mattair, executive director of the Middle East Policy Council, has been interviewed by RTV Arabic regarding the ...

Islamist Party Wins in Tunisia

Middle East In Focus, October 31, 2011

Last week, Tunisia, the forerunner of the Arab Spring, held its first free elections since the toppling of ...

Thomas Mattair Discusses Bahrain

NCUSAR 2011 Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, October 28, 2011

Middle East Policy Council Executive Director Thomas Mattair made the following comments regarding Bahrain at the 2011 Arab-U.S. Policymakers ...

The Arab League Calls for Dialogue in Syria

Middle East In Focus, October 24, 2011

The Arab League met last week in an emergency meeting to discuss the ongoing instability in Syria and allegations ...

The End of Qaddafism and the Future of Libya

Karim Mezran, October 24, 2011

Qaddafi’s death and Abd el-Jalil’s declaration on Sunday to apply Sharia in the new Libyan state have raised doubts ...

Libya and the Region after the Death of Gaddafi

Middle East In Focus, October 21, 2011

As news of Muammar Gaddafi’s death spread yesterday, many stopped to consider his legacy as well as what his demise ...

Libyan Exports Fail to Confirm Production Claims

Nathaniel Kern, Matthew M. Reed, October 18, 2011

Libya is restoring oil production faster than many analysts initially expected but probably not as fast as some ...

Regional Perspectives on the Alleged Iranian Plot

Middle East In Focus, October 17, 2011

Following revelations of an alleged plot by Iranian operatives against the Saudi ambassador to the United States, reaction ...

Israel and Hamas Agree on Prisoner Swap

Middle East In Focus, October 13, 2011

The news of a breakthrough in the case of Gilad Shalit — an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas ...

Afghanistan Ten Years Later

Middle East In Focus, October 12, 2011

The tenth anniversary of the beginning of US military action in Afghanistan has provided an opportunity for looking ...

Saudi Arabia - Iran Relations

Middle East Policy Council, October 11, 2011

The Middle East Policy Council published the following press release containing a summary of our 66th Capitol Hill Conference ...

The Road Ahead for Yemen

Middle East In Focus, October 6, 2011

The situation in Yemen continues to remain deadlocked, despite months of anti-government rallies. Though opposition forces have been ...

Military Government in Egypt Announces Parliamentary Elections

Middle East In Focus, October 4, 2011

The announcement of new parliamentary elections in Egypt, together with new provisionary laws governing them, has triggered an ...

A Step Forward for Women in Saudi Arabia

Middle East In Focus, September 30, 2011

This week’s announcement by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia that women would now have a greater role in ...

Unhappiness at President Obama's UN Speech

Middle East In Focus, September 26, 2011

In his speech at the United Nations last week, President Barack Obama made clear what everyone in his ...

Thomas Mattair Interviewed on Rick Perry's Critique of Obama's Mideast Policy

McClatchy Newspapers, September 26, 2011

Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair has been interviewed by McClatchy Newspapers on Texas Governor Rick Perry's ...

Reactions to the Palestinian UN Statehood Bid

Middle East In Focus, September 21, 2011

As discussions at the UN about the future status of the Palestinian Occupied Territories heat up, observers from ...

Iran Frees U.S. Hikers via Oman

BBC News, September 21, 2011

American hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, captured on the Iran-Iraq border in 2009, have been released by Tehran. ...

Palestinian Statehood

Middle East Policy Council, September 20, 2011

On September 23, the Palestinian Authority is going to ask the UN Security Council to admit the state ...

Instability in Northern Iraq

Middle East In Focus, September 19, 2011

Lost amidst the Arab Spring turmoil and recent events in Libya and Syria, the news coming out of Iraq ...

Presbyterians Move Closer to Divestment

Middle East Policy Council, September 19, 2011

The Committee on Mission Responsibility through Investment, an important part of the hierarchy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has ...

Prince Turki to United States: Veto a State, Lose an Ally

New York Times Editorial, September 13, 2011

Prince Turki al-Faisal, former director of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence service, former ambassador to the United States and current ...

Israeli Embassy Attack Raises Questions

Middle East In Focus, September 12, 2011

Last Friday, hundreds of Egyptian youths stormed the Israeli embassy in Cairo and set it on fire, triggering ...

Middle Eastern Perspectives on 9/11

Middle East In Focus, September 9, 2011

Ten years since that fateful day in September, commentators and editorials have begun reflecting on the significance of ...

The Syrian Crisis

Moran Stern, September 8, 2011

The salvation of the Syrian people may not be achieved by initiatives of the West or international organizations, ...

Another Blow to the Israeli-Turkish Alliance

Middle East In Focus, September 7, 2011

Following the release of the UN “Palmer” report on last year’s raid by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound ...

Eid Messages from the Region

Middle East In Focus, September 1, 2011

Tuesday marked the first day of Eid Al Fitr. Leaders and simple citizens alike have taken the opportunity on this ...

Revisiting the Camp David Peace Treaty

Middle East In Focus, August 29, 2011

Ever since the collapse of the Mubarak regime earlier this year, Israeli government officials have expressed concerns about ...

The International Role in Post-Qadhafi Libya? Withdraw.

Wolfram Lacher, August 29, 2011

Planning is ongoing in Western capitals for a prominent international role in the state-building process that is to ...

Libya: Commentary from the Region

Timely Articles, August 25, 2011

It has been only a few days since the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) forces stormed the Libyan ...

Post-Qaddafi Libya

Frank Anderson and Thomas R. Mattair, August 24, 2011

There are many things that could go wrong in a post-Qaddafi Libya. The 20th century does not provide too ...

Can Jallud Play a Positive Role in Libya's Future?

Karim Mezran, August 23, 2011

This weekend has been a decisive one for Libya. Having recently made substanial progress by capturing important cities ...

Egypt-Israel Relations Increasingly Tenuous

Timely Articles, August 23, 2011

Relations between Israel and Egypt have taken a turn for a worse since the fall of ...

Syria Under Pressure... Again

Timely Articles, August 16, 2011

As the Syrian government continued its policy of military confrontation against domestic opposition forces, erstwhile allies of the ...

The Sinai Bedouin: Political and Economic Discontent Turns Increasingly Violent

Dona Stewart, August 12, 2011

Against the backdrop of the Arab Spring and the removal of Hosni Mubarak, the long-simmering but low-level conflict ...

The Middle East Debates the London Riots

Timely Articles, August 12, 2011

England has been rocked for the last few days by rioting and looting in a number of its ...

Israel's Own Version of the Arab Spring?

Timely Articles, August 8, 2011

For the last two weeks, Israel has been rocked by large street demonstrations protesting regarding recent changes in ...

Regional Perspectives on Mubarak's Trial

Timely Articles, August 5, 2011

As the trial of Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, began this week, many were incredulous at the events ...

Turkey at a Crossroads

Timely Articles, August 2, 2011

In an unprecedented act, all four chiefs of the Turkish General Staff have requested early retirement. The move ...

Some Reflections on the Arab Spring

Timely Articles, July 29, 2011

Ever since December’s Tunisian revolution and the subsequent upheavals throughout the region, pundits and commentators have been asking, ...

The Region Reacts to the Norway Massacre

Timely Articles, July 26, 2011

In the aftermath of the worst attack on Norway’s soil since World War II, editorials and commentary from ...

Moment of Truth for Syria's Bashar Al-Assad

Timely Articles, July 22, 2011

As the Syrian government struggles to contain what is turning out to be a resilient opposition movement, many ...

Palestinians Continue their Quest for a State

Timely Articles, July 20, 2011

Last week, the Arab League released a statement in support of the Palestinian plan to call on UN ...

Reaction to the New Israeli Boycott Ban Law

Middle East in Focus, July 15, 2011

This week, the Knesset passed a law banning boycotts. The new measure has met with fierce opposition not only from ...

Israel and Turkey on the Mend

Middle East In Focus, July 13, 2011

While the Israeli-Turkish relationship had been on the decline for some time, the killing by the Israeli Defense Forces of ...

The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt: A Victim of its Own Success?

Timely Articles, July 5, 2011

Almost six months after mass protests toppled the Mubarak regime, it is still unclear what the future holds ...

Hezbollah Members Indicted by International Criminal Tribunal

Timely Articles, July 1, 2011

Lebanon is once again in the news as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued indictments for four individuals ...

Siding with McCain and Kerry on Libya, but for Different Reasons

Karim Mezran, June 30, 2011

In the past few weeks, Senators McCain and Kerry have emerged among the strongest supporters of the idea that ...

The Religious Right in Israel and the Transformation of the IDF

Timely Articles, June 29, 2011

The arrest of Kiryat Arba-Hebron Chief Rabbi Dov Lior this week for endorsing extremist views has all sides ...

A New Iran for a New Middle East

Pejman Abdolmohammadi and Karim Mezran, June 27, 2011

The Arab Spring is giving a new strategic role to Iran in the region. In this process of ...

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Reaction to Announcement of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Timely Articles, June 27, 2011

President Barack Obama announced last week the withdrawal of 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year ...
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Unemployment in Gaza and EU Diplomatic Forays

Timely Articles, June 16, 2011

The deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories, particularly in the Gaza strip, has once again captured the headlines this ...
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Iraq: Renewed Internal Tensions

Timely Articles, June 13, 2011

Hundreds of protesters gathered this week in Iraq to protest the failure of the Maliki government to fulfill its ...
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What's Next for Syria?

Timely Articles, June 9, 2011

After weeks of protests resulting in a government clampdown, the situation in Syria seems to be reaching a ...
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Debating Turkey's Upcoming Elections

Timely Articles, June 7, 2011

This coming Sunday, Turkey will hold its parliamentary elections. Turkey’s two main political parties, the ruling Justice and ...
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Saudi Arabia Debates Right of Women to Drive

Timely Articles, June 2, 2011

In Saudi Arabia, an old debate on whether women should be allowed to drive or not has resurfaced after ...
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Egypt Opens Its Border with Gaza

Timely Articles, May 31, 2011

Last week, the interim Egyptian government decided to permanently open the Rafah crossing at the border between Egypt ...
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Pakistan in Disarray: Introspection and Finger-Pointing

Timely Articles, May 27, 2011

Last Sunday, Islamic terrorists in Pakistan made good on their threats following Osama Bin Laden’s death by launching ...
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Yemen's Saleh: Should He Stay or Should He Go?

Timely Articles, May 23, 2011

After triggering the collapse of the Ben-Ali and Mubarak regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, the forward momentum of ...
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Comments on President Obama’s May 19, 2011 Speech

Dr. Thomas R. Mattair, May 20, 2011

In his speech yesterday, the president committed his administration to supporting reform and transitions to democracy across the region, opposing ...
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Al Jazeera interviews Thomas Mattair on U.S. Sanctions on Bashar al-Asad

Al Jazeera (Arabic), May 20, 2011

Al Jazeera interviews Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas Mattair on U.S. Sanctions on Bashar al-Asad and his associates. ...
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Obama's Speech Gets Mixed Reviews from Israeli and Arab Press

Timely Articles, May 20, 2011

President Barack Obama gave his second major speech on the Middle East yesterday, in which he outlined the U.S. ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair about the discussion between President Obama and Jordan's King Abdullah II

RT Arabic, May 18, 2011

Click here to watch an RT Arabic interview with Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair ...
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Amid Turmoil, GCC Extends Invitation to Jordan and Morocco

Timely Articles, May 16, 2011

In the course of last week’s meeting in Saudi Arabia, the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ...
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Internal Divisions in Iran

Timely Articles, May 13, 2011

In Iran, tensions between the camps of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been ...
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A New Foreign Policy in Egypt

Timely Articles, May 9, 2011

Following Egypt’s successful efforts to broker a reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah, against the opposition ...
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What the Fatah/Hamas Reconciliation Means for the Region

Timely Articles, May 6, 2011

Last week Fatah and Hamas reached an agreement, mediated by Egypt. According to various news reports, it marks ...
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The Region Reacts to News of Bin Laden's Death

Timely Articles, May 2, 2011

In the age of instant communication, news of Osama Bin Laden's death spread quickly. Almost as instantaneous was the ...
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Reaction to the Syrian Crackdown

Timely Articles, April 29, 2011

Following last week's decision by Syrian President Bashir Al Assad to lift the emergency law, in place for over ...
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Palestinian Factionalism and the Murders of Juliano Mer-Khamis and Vittorio Arrigoni

Timely Articles, April 26, 2011

Twice this month, members of extreme Palestinian factions murdered pro-Palestinian activists in Gaza. The tragedy has once again ...
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Uncertainty in Syria after Assad's Speech

Timely Articles, April 21, 2011

Following protests in various parts of Syria, President Bashar al-Assad promised in two recent speeches to move forward with ...
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France Bans Wearing of the Full Veil in Public

Timely Articles, April 18, 2011

Last week, the French government prohibited the wearing of the full veil in public spaces. Some see in the ...
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Riz Khan Interviews Thomas Mattair on Saudi Arabia's views on Regional Unrest

Al Jazeera, April 15, 2011

Click here to watch Al Jazeera's Riz Khan interview Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. ...
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Arab Protests, Islam and the West

Timely Articles, April 14, 2011

As people in the MENA countries begin to assess the changes and achievements of the last four months, questions ...
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Knesset Passes Nakba Law Targeted at its Arab Citizens

Timely Articles, April 12, 2011

Preoccupied by the dilemma over what to do in Libya and more immediate concerns about a possible U.S. government ...
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Middle East Reacts to the Goldstone Retraction

Timely Articles, April 8, 2011

Following Judge Richard Goldstone's turn-around last week regarding the findings of the UN sponsored “Goldstone Report,” Israeli officials ...
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Israelis React to the Goldstone Retraction

Timely Articles, April 7, 2011

In an opinion piece in The Washington Post on April 1, Judge Richard Goldstone wrote that in light of ...
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Iran and Saudi Arabia Spar over GCC Troops in Bahrain

Timely Articles, April 5, 2011

Following the intervention of Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council troops in Bahrain, Iranian leaders have made a series of charges ...
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Will the Taliban Rise Again?

Mark N. Katz, April 1, 2011

Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989; the Marxist regime Moscow had been supporting fell in 1992. The ...
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Statement by H.E. Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Alkhalifa

H.E. Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Alkhalifa, March 31, 2011

The following was presented at the Middle East Policy Council's round table discussion, "Governance, Human Rights and ...
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The Israeli Peace Initiative (IPI)

Various signatories, March 31, 2011

The following proposal, endorsed by various signatories including former Mossad Chief Danny Yatom, former IDF Chief Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, General (Res) ...
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The Constitutional Monarchy Option in Morocco and Bahrain

Stephen Juan King, March 31, 2011

The following was presented at the Middle East Policy Council's round table discussion, "Governance, Human Rights and American Interests ...
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Frank Anderson discusses U.S. Options in Libya on NPR

NPR, March 31, 2011

Middle East Policy Council president Frank Anderson brings his experience in Afghanistan to bear in this NPR story ...
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The Failed Revolution

Kristin Smith Diwan, March 31, 2011

The following was presented at the Middle East Policy Council's round table discussion, "Governance, Human Rights and ...
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Governance, Human Rights and American Interests in Bahrain

Middle East Policy Council, March 31, 2011

Remarks by H.E. Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Alkhalifa, international media advisor, Information Affairs Authority for the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. ...
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Interview with Frank Anderson about Arming the Rebels in Libya

CNN, March 30, 2011

Click here to watch a CNN interview with Middle East Policy Council president Frank Anderson discussing the possibilities ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair about the Unrest in Bahrain

Defense News, March 28, 2011

Click here to watch a Defense News interview with Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas R. Mattair discussing ...
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Amid Chaos, Palestinians Call for Unity

Timely Articles, March 25, 2011

Following the widespread protests in the Middle East, Palestinian youth took to the streets last week calling for ...
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The UN Resolution on Libya: A Conflicted Middle East

Timely Articles, March 21, 2011

The Arab world and other countries in the MENA region are deeply conflicted about the UN Security Council resolution ...
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MEPC - Interactive Media Award Winner

Staff, March 21, 2011

The Council's website was recognized for a prestigious Interactive Media Award, naming us Best in Class for non-profit organizations. ...
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Women and Revolution in the Middle East

Timely Articles, March 11, 2011

On the occasion of International Women's Day, many commentators and activists voiced their opinions on the status of ...
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Lessons of the Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Mark N. Katz, March 9, 2011

After Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 1988-89, the regime it was defending there fell. This experience contributes to ...
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Council President Frank Anderson interviewed about Libya

NBC, March 7, 2011

Click here to read a NBC interview with Middle East Policy Council president Frank Anderson discussing the Libyan government's ...
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J Street holds annual conference amid controversy

Timely Articles, March 7, 2011

J Street, the dovish Jewish lobby, held its second annual national conference in Washington, DC, February 26-28. ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on U.S. Policy toward Libya

RT Arabic, March 4, 2011

Click here for an interview with MEPC Executive Director Thomas Mattair discussing U.S. policy toward Libya and ...
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Who Will Lead Egypt?

Timely Articles, February 28, 2011

Earlier this week, the Egyptian military leadership approved a draft for constitutional amendments aimed at satisfying the demands ...
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What Should the West Do about Libya?

Timely Articles, February 25, 2011

Libya’s strongman Muammar Qadhafi appears willing to fight on against Libya’s own citizens, prolonging the battle between government ...
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Reaction to U.S. Veto of UNSC Resolution on Israeli Settlements

Timely Articles, February 23, 2011

Over the weekend, the United States vetoed a resolution before the UN Security Council condemning Israeli settlements in the ...
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Israel in a post-Mubarak Middle East

Timely Articles, February 17, 2011

Following the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, experts and pundits began commenting on the significance of his ...
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Middle East Turmoil: Saudi Arabia Apart From the Rest?

Timely Articles, February 16, 2011

With Tunisia and Egypt roiled by mass protests, Al Jazeera reports that Middle East rulers have been ...
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Bush and Obama: Parallels with the Past

Mark N. Katz, February 15, 2011

As noted earlier, there are several parallels that can be drawn between America’s involvement in Indochina ...
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Russia and the Arab Uprisings of 2011

Mark N. Katz, February 15, 2011

The official Russian response to recent popular demonstrations against governments in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle ...
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Elections in Palestine and a Hezbollah-led Government in Lebanon

Timely Articles, February 14, 2011

Lost in the news barrage on Egypt are two important developments elsewhere in the region: the scheduling of ...
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Winter Update

MEPC Staff, February 14, 2011

This year started with a series of significant political developments in the Middle East. The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, ...
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The Arab Uprisings of 2011 and the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, February 10, 2011

The extraordinary uprisings in the Arab world that began in early 2011 have already achieved extraordinary results: the ...
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The U.S. Role in the Middle East Takes a Hit

Timely Articles, February 8, 2011

President Barack Obama’s electoral promises of change in foreign policy have come under fire these last few weeks. ...
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The "War on Terror:" (How) Will It End?

Mark N. Katz, February 7, 2011

Having stated in the last article that the “War on Terror” seems certain to continue for years ...
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Ripple Effects of the Turmoil in Egypt

Timely Articles, February 2, 2011

With the protests in Egypt showing no signs of abating, many regional governments are taking measures to head off ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on Egypt

RT Arabic, February 2, 2011

Click here for an interview with MEPC Executive Director Thomas Mattair discussing the political situation in Egypt.
...
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The "Palestine Papers" Leak: A Game Changer?

Timely Articles, January 28, 2011

Last week, Al Jazeera and The Guardian began the release of what many are now calling the “Palestine Papers.” Continue Reading

The "War on Terror:" Future Directions

Mark N. Katz, January 25, 2011

One prediction about the “War on Terror” can be made with great confidence: It is not going to end ...
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What the Jasmine Revolution Means for the MENA Countries

Timely Articles, January 21, 2011

Following a revolt in Tunisia sparked by the suicide of a university graduate prevented by police from selling fruit ...
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American Foreign Policy and Regional and Local Conflicts in the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, January 18, 2011

There are many regional and local conflicts that are linked to the “War on Terror.” As argued in the ...
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Pakistan and the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, January 13, 2011

Pakistan’s relationship to the “War on Terror” has been highly ambivalent. On the one hand, Pakistan played a key ...
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Al-Sadr Returns to Iraq

Timely Articles, January 13, 2011

The Iraqi firebrand Moqtada Al-Sadr has returned to Iraq almost four years after his last public appearance in ...
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Yemen and the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, January 11, 2011

Yemen has witnessed many conflicts since the early 1960s. Currently, there is conflict taking place between the Saleh regime ...
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The Mideast Peace Process: Running Out of Time?

Timely Articles, January 6, 2011

Following the most recent setback to U.S. diplomatic efforts to mediate a peace process between the Israeli government ...
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The Peace Process: A Look Back

Middle East Policy Council, January 5, 2011

In light of the serious setbacks to U.S. efforts to advance Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the Middle East Policy Council is highlighting ...
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Iran and the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, January 4, 2011

Hostility between Iran on the one hand and the United States, as well as several of its allies (especially Israel), ...
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The Israeli - Palestinian Conflict and the War on Terror

Mark N. Katz, December 20, 2010

While there are many other regional and local conflicts linked to the ...
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Iraq: Kurds Renew Demands for Self-Determination

Timely Articles , December 16, 2010

Just as Iraqi politicians seem to have finally put behind them a rather difficult political season, calls by the ...
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Regional and Local Conflicts in the War on Terror

Mark N. Katz, December 14, 2010

At the end of the ninth article in this series, I argued, “The emergence of…local opposition to ...
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The Middle East Reacts to WikiLeaks - Part 2

Timely Articles, December 9, 2010

With the release of yet more confidential documents from the WikiLeaks website — containing embarrassing and revealing conversations and ...
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Rifts among the Radicals

Mark N. Katz, December 7, 2010

If serious disputes arose between Islamic revolutionary actors, America and others might be able to exploit them. But will ...
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Why Iran Loves WikiLeaks

New York Times, December 5, 2010

Former president of the Middle East Policy Council Chas W. Freeman wrote an op-ed in the New York Times this ...
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The U.S. Offer to Israel: An Act of Desperation or Audacity?

Timely Articles, December 2, 2010

Faced with the prospects of a yet another failed Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Obama administration indicated last week ...
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Radical Repression

Mark N. Katz, November 30, 2010

Whatever popular support they may have enjoyed before coming to power or just afterward, radical Islamic revolutionaries have quickly proven ...
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Regional Opposition

Mark N. Katz, November 23, 2010

Many fear (and many others hope) that American withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan will lead to a takeover of these ...
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Women in Saudi Arabia

Timely Articles, November 19, 2010

This week five Arab women were given awards in Dubai for their contributions to science in ...
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Implications of America Withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan

Mark N. Katz, November 18, 2010

Whatever the strengths and weaknesses of the Obama strategy toward the “War on Terror,” one aspect of it is now ...
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Jordan's Parliamentary Elections and the Muslim Brotherhood

Timely Articles, November 12, 2010

On November 9, Jordanians went to the voting booths to elect 120 members of the country's lower house. The ...
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Assessing the Obama Strategy toward the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, November 11, 2010

When he was running for president in 2008, Barack Obama argued that the manner in which the Bush administration had ...
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The Geopolitical Context of the “War on Terror”

Mark N. Katz, November 4, 2010

The “War on Terror” is not taking place in a void. Other geopolitical developments affecting international relations on a ...
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Status of U.S.-Iran Relations

Middle East Policy Council, November 3, 2010

Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas Mattair, author of Global Security Watch: Iran – a Reference Handbook, ...
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Saudi Offer to Broker Iraq Talks Gets Mixed Reviews

Timely Articles, November 2, 2010

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia recently offered to host a meeting of Iraqi leaders in an attempt to end ...
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Democratization and the Legacy of History In the Muslim World

Mark N. Katz, October 27, 2010

However well-intentioned the Bush administration’s efforts to democratize Afghanistan and Iraq after occupying them may have been, the pre-existing ethnic ...
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The Middle East reacts to Wikileaks

Timely Articles , October 26, 2010

The release of 400,000 classified U.S. military Iraq logs by the whistleblower website Wikileaks has been met ...
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Bahrain’s Sectarian Challenge

Ian Siperco, October 22, 2010

Eight years and two general elections since reinventing itself as a constitutional monarchy, Bahrain’s ruling house of Khalifa has reversed ...
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The U.S. and Democratization in Afghanistan

Mark N. Katz, October 21, 2010

As in Iraq, the United States and its allies did achieve some important successes in Afghanistan. Not only was ...
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America's Misadventures in the Middle East

Middle East Policy Council, October 20, 2010

Chas W. Freeman, Jr., esteemed iconoclast and president emeritus of the Middle East Policy Council, has just brought forth ...
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Lebanon on the Brink…Again?

Timely Articles, October 19, 2010

Five years since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, sectarian and political peace in Lebanon ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on Iraq

Al Jazeera Television, October 19, 2010

Middle East Policy Council executive director Thomas Mattair was recently interviewed by Al Jazeera on the topic of Iraq.

Note: ...
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How Education Transformed Oman

Middle East Policy Council, October 15, 2010

In this timely New York Times op-ed, Nicholas Krisof suggests that education is one of the best bulwarks against extremism ...
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The U.S. and Democratization in Iraq

Mark N. Katz, October 14, 2010

Although the United States intervened in Iraq after it began its intervention in Afghanistan, it is withdrawing from Iraq first. ...
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Assessing the Bush Strategy for Winning the "War on Terror"

Mark N. Katz, October 7, 2010

Absent the 9/11 attacks and the George W. Bush administration’s reaction to them, the War on Terror may not have ...
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Egyptian Parliamentary Elections

Timely Articles, October 6, 2010

In November, Egypt will hold parliamentary elections to determine the political balance in the lower house, the 8th ...
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What Exactly Is the "War on Terror?"

Mark N. Katz, September 30, 2010

The phrase "War on Terror" was popularized by President George W. Bush and his administration in the aftermath of 9/11. ...
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Sectarian Tensions in the Gulf

Timely Articles, September 29, 2010

At the beginning of September, the Bahraini government arrested 23 Shia opposition politicians on charges of inciting acts ...
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Russia’s Policy toward the Middle East

Russian Analytical Digest, September 29, 2010

Mark N. Katz, visiting senior fellow at the Middle East Policy Council, discusses Russia's foreign-policy stance and objectives in the ...
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The “War on Terror”: Not Going Well, But Does That Mean It Is Lost?

Mark N. Katz, September 24, 2010

The “War on Terror” was launched by President George W. Bush in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist ...
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Oman’s Low-Key Diplomatic Strength

Middle East Policy Council, September 20, 2010

Much has been made of the new diplomatic role of Turkey in the Middle East. However, the recent release ...
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Hamas' New Policy Direction

Middle East Policy Council, September 16, 2010

At a time when Israeli and Palestinian leaders are engaged in face-to-face talks, it might be wise to recall that ...
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In Memoriam: Peter Gubser

Middle East Policy Council, September 10, 2010

The officers and staff of the Middle East Policy Council extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Peter Gubser, ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair

Russian Television, September 10, 2010

Click here for an interview with Middle East Policy Council Executive Director Thomas Mattair discussing the Arab - Israeli ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on Iraq

Rzeczpospolita (The Republic), August 26, 2010

Are the Iraqi security forces ready to stand guard over the country?
They are neither in a position to control ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair on Iran

Al-Jazeera Television, August 21, 2010

Middle East Policy Council Executive Director Thomas Mattair was interviewed by Al Jazeera. In this interview, he ...
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Direct Negotiations

Foreign Reports Inc., August 18, 2010

By most accounts, the Obama Administration is tantalizingly close to announcing the resumption of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, ...
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Interview with Thomas Mattair

Russian Television, July 18, 2010

Click here for an interview with Middle East Policy Council Executive Director Thomas Mattair discussing the Arab - Israeli ...
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Egypt's Undeclared Change Candidate: The Symbolic Appeal of Mohamed ElBaradei

Ian Siperco, July 17, 2010

In a likely indication of what to expect in the 2011 presidential elections, the results of Egypt's Shura Council mid-term ...
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U.S.- GCC Relations in the Post-War Era: An Enduring Partnership for Regional Stability?

Thomas Mattair, July 7, 2010

Dr. Mattair presented a paper at the Gulf Research Center's 1st Annual meeting at Cambridge University, held from July 7th ...
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Pursuit of the Shield: The Case for Israeli National Missile Defense

Ian Siperco, January 15, 2010

After two decades, several false starts, and many missed deadlines, Israeli efforts to develop an ambitious active missile defense (AMD) ...
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Brothers Divided: Illusory Reform in Egypt's Islamist Opposition

Ian Siperco, November 3, 2009

The strongest opposition movement in Egypt is facing an existential crisis. Long having posed the nation's most significant political threat ...
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Iraq's Overdue Census

Ian Siperco, October 13, 2009

October 2009 was meant to be a pivotal month for Iraq. Hard-won security gains appeared at last to have created ...
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Crisis of Complacency: The Criminalization of the Yemeni Stat

Ian Siperco, July 15, 2009

The window of opportunity for Yemen to shape its own future is narrowing. Already the poorest country in the Arab ...
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Revisited - Israel Shahak

Israel Shahak, July 12, 2009

Dr. Shahak predicted the catastrophe being played out today in Israel and the Occupied Territories. The following article "The Religious ...
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Iran: Shia Tide Rising

Ian Siperco, May 13, 2009

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Revisited - Iraq Analysts

Various Authors, April 9, 2009

Some organs of the major media, such as The New ...
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From Gaza to the West Bank

Dr. Sherifa Zuhur, June 28, 2005

The frenzied media coverage of the evacuation of Jewish settlers from Gaza did not present many perspectives from the Palestinian ...
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A Relationship in Transition - And Then 9/11

Chas W. Freeman, Jr., USFS (Ret.), September 4, 2003

Saudi-American Forum: Two years have passed since the terror of 9/11 changed the fundamental nature of the US-Saudi relationship. How ...
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Saudi Arabia and the Forces of Globalization

Chas W. Freeman, Jr., USFS (Ret.)^* , January 1, 1998

The dominant power on the Arabian Peninsula, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has long been one of the world’s least ...
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