Middle East/Southwest Asia

Program News

• Mona Yacoubian comments on cease-fire violations in Syria in the Washington Post

  Mona Yacoubian is quoted in the Washington Post regarding Syrian cease-fire violations and the chances for removing the country's repressive leadership in the near term. Click here to

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian writes for Al Monitor on the Annan Plan in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian authored an article in Al Monitor on the Syria and the UN-backed "Annan Plan," which "represents the last, best chance for avoiding widespread conflict in Syria."

  Click

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian leads a conversation on Syria for a CFR Conference Call series

  Mona Yacoubian leads a conversation on the situation in Syria, including analysis of the religious divide, the role the United States and other international actors should play, and

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson quoted in Reuters on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

  Ellen Laipson was quoted by Reuter's Tabassum Zakaria, analyzing Supreme Leader Khamenei's effect on the talks between Iran and P5+1 today.

  Click here to read the article.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald on crisis in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian is quoted in a Sydney Morning Herald article by Ruth Pollard published on April 7, 2012, about different facets of the crisis in Syria. Click here to read. 

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted by AOL Defense on arming Syrian rebels in Syrian uprisings

  Mona Yacoubian is quoted in "Syria Rebels 'Rebound;' Will Arming Them Spark Civil Slaughter?," an April 11, 2012, piece written by Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. for AOL Defense. Click here

  … Read More »
• Asia Foundation interviews Ellen Laipson on the Arab Spring, women’s status, and models for change

  "In Asia," the blog that offers weekly insight and analysis from the Asia Foundation, recently interviewed Ellen Laipson for this Q&A on the Arab Spring, women’s status, and models

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted by Voice of America on role of Syrian Kurds in Syrian uprisings

  Mona Yacoubian is quoted in "Syrian Kurds Could Tip Scales of Syrian Conflict," a March 29, 2012, piece written by JulieAnn McKellogg for Voice of America. Click here to read.

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson quoted in Christian Science Monitor on India trading with Iran

  Ellen Laipson was quoted in Christian Science Monitor's Rebecca Byerly's report on India expanding trade with Iran. 

  Click here to read the article.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian publishes piece in the New York Times on Russia’s role in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian publishes a piece in the New York Times' Room for Debate Forum highlighting the implications of Russia's evolving role in the crisis in Syria. Click here to read. 

  … Read More »
• Ploughshares Fund interviewed Barry Blechman on his latest report, “Iran in Perspective”

  Ploughshares Fund interviewed grantee Barry Blechman on his latest report, "Iran in Perspective," which examines tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Iran's nuclear program and

  … Read More »
• Barry Blechman and Ellen Laipson co-authored an op-ed in “Al Monitor” for engaging with Iran

  The drumbeat for war over Iran's nuclear activities has grown fainter in recent weeks. This easing of tensions, while perhaps temporary, could provide a rare opportunity to imagine

  … Read More »
• InterPress Service reviewed two new publications on ways the US can engage with Iran

  InterPress Service attended the March 15 launch of "Engaging Iran on Afghanistan," by Stimson president Ellen Laipson, and "Iran in Perspective," by Stimson co-founder Barry

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson is interviewed by GVH on US lessons learned in Iraq

  Ellen Laipson, Stimson president and director of the Middle East/Southwest Asia program, speaks to Global Voice Hall on "Lessons for US Foreign Policy," as it relates to US engagement

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted in Brisbane Times about humanitarian crisis in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian is quoted in a Brisbane Times article by Ruth Pollard published on March 3, 2012, discussing the humanitarian situation in Homs. Click here to read.

   

   

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian publishes piece in Foreign Policy on Russia’s role in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian publishes piece in Foreign Policy's Middle East Channel highlighting various ways Russia may engage and influence Syria going forward. Click here to read.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian joins expert panel at Center for National Policy to discuss Syrian unrest

  Mona Yacoubian participates in expert panel moderated by Bloomberg News correspondent Indira Lakshmanan, discussing potential international responses to Syrian unrest. Click here to

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted in the USA Today about Al Qaeda in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian is quoted in a USA Today article by Jim Michaels published on February 20, 2012, exploring Al Qaeda's prospects for expanding its influence in Syria. Click here to read

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian appears on Radio France International to analyze US policy options in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian appears on Radio France International on February 15, 2012, to discuss US policy options in Syria. Click here to listen.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian discusses the prospects for US intervention in Syria in the Daily Beast

  Having returned recently from a trip to North Africa and the Middle East, Mona Yacoubian comments on the likelihood of U.S. intervention in Syria, in a February 9 piece in the Daily

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted in Reuters article on Obama administration’s policy options in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Andrew Quinn's article, "In growing Syria crisis, Obama has few options," published by Reuters on February 15, 2012. Click here to read more.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted in Sydney Morning Herald on Arab League decision to suspend Syria mission

  Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Ruth Pollard's article in the Sydney Morning Herald, "Arab League Goes to UN as Blood Flows in Syria," on January 30, 2012. Click here to read.

  … Read More »
• “Iran and America: A Dialogue about Disability” Report Now Available in Farsi

  The Stimson Center project, Iran and America: A Dialogue about Disability, held in partnership with BlueLaw International LLP, the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, and

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian participates in panel discussion on Al Jazeera’s Inside Syria program

  Mona Yacoubian was invited to participate in an on-air panel discussion on a recent episode of Al Jazeera's Inside Syria show. They discuss if Syria's economic decline will act as a

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian publishes op-ed in the Hill’s Congress Blog on Marshall Plan for Arab Spring nations

  Mona Yacoubian publishes an op-ed in the Hill's Congress Blog on developing a new Marshall Plan for the countries impacted by the Arab Spring uprisings. Click here to read.

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson appears on the Diane Rehm show to discuss escalating tensions with Iran

  Ellen Laipson speaks about the escalating tensions between the West and Iran on the Diane Rehm Show (NPR affiliate WAMU 88.5 FM, Washington, DC), January 5, 2012. Click here to

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson interviewed on Canadian TV to discuss Iran and the international community

  Ellen Laipson appeared on Canadian TV News Channel to discuss the meaning behind recent signalling between Iran and the international community.

  Click here to view the interview.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian discusses the ongoing domestic turmoil in Syria on KPFK 90.7 FM (Los Angeles, Calif.)

  Mona Yacoubian speaks about Syria's ongoing political instability in an interview with KPFK 90.7 FM (Los Angeles, California), on December 23, 2011. Click here to listen.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald on evolution of the Arab Spring uprisings

  Mona Yacoubian was quoted by Sydney Morning Herald's Ruth Pollard on the challenges facing countries across North Africa and the Middle East that were roiled by popular protests in

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted in Sydney Morning Herald on increasing violence in Syria

  Mona Yacoubian was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald's Ruth Pollard on the Syrian government's violent crackdown on protestors in the city of Homs.

  Click here to read the article.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian authors article for Foreign Affairs on Hezbollah

  Mona Yacoubian recently authored an article for Foreign Affairs regarding Hezbollah. With Bashar al-Assad's regime on the brink of collapse, Hezbollah stands to lose a close ally.

  … Read More »
• Mona Yacoubian quoted in NPR report

  Mona Yacoubian was interviewed by Michele Kelemen of NPR on how the U.S. will approach dealing with new political parties formed after the Arab Spring.

  Click here to listen to the

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson on Saudi succession in Foreign Affairs

  Ellen Laipson authors an article for Foreign Affairs on the new crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Summary: Nayef's appointment as Saudi heir apparent doesn't mark the start of a

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson appears on NPR’s On Point

  Ellen Laipson was a guest on NPR's On Point, hosted by Tom Ashbrook, to speak about President Obama's recent decision to remove US troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.

  To listen to

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson talks with Esther Brimmer about multilateral diplomacy and US global leadership

  Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, held a conversation with Ellen Laipson, President and CEO of the Stimson Center, September 15 on

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson discusses recent violence and political unrest in the Middle East with James Zogby

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson discusses the protests in the Middle East and North Africa on C-SPAN

  Ellen Laipson discusses the geopolitical impact from the continuing anti-government protests in the Middle East and Northern Africa, and offers suggestion on how the U.S. should

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson and USIP’s Steven Heydemann on prospects for change in the middle east in the Hill

  After weeks of excitement and surprise, it is time to try to make meaning out of the momentous events in Tunisia and Egypt. 

  Are we on the brink of a democratic tsunami across the

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson advocates diplomacy over military action in Iran on VOA News

  Obama administration says that economic sanctions against Iran are having an impact, and the international community is cutting back on commercial ties with Iran.  However, another

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson Discusses WikiLeaks with James Zogby

  Ellen Laipson appeared on Viewpoint with James Zogby with Edward Walker and David Frum. Laipson stated that there seemed to be a system or specific rationale behind the time of the

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson discusses “The New Arms Race” on Al Jazeera

  Ellen Laipson joins Robert Kaplan, Joe Cirincione, and Ambassador Richard Butler on Al Jazeera's Empire to discuss the new arms race.

  The episode will air Thursday, October 28 at 2

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson contributes, “Reading Iran,” a chapter in the “The Iran Primer”

  Ellen Laipson contributes, "Reading Iran," a chapter in the "The Iran Primer," a joint product of the United States Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson discusses the renewed Arab-Israeli negotiations on Minnesota Public Radio

  Ellen Laipson discusses the renewed Arab-Israeli negotiations on Minnesota Public Radio »

  … Read More »
• Stimson releases new report on Nuclear Dangers, Nuclear Realities

  From a workshop held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: April 11-12, 2010

  July, 2010 

  In the future, 2009 and 2010 may emerge as a decisive time in the evolution of international nuclear

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson and Charles Dunne examine the future of Iraq as the US prepares to withdraw

  Ellen Laipson and Charles Dunne examine the future of Iraq as the US prepares to withdraw.  This article first appeared in The National »

  … Read More »
• Ellen Laipson contributes her thoughts about Iraq’s future challenges in “Iraq in Focus”

  Ellen Laipson contributes her thoughts about Iraq's future challenges in "Iraq in Focus," published by The Homeland Security Policy Institute. »

  … Read More »