Iran’s opportunity for negotiations
For the first time in many years, Iranian leaders are declaring that they are ready to make a deal with the United States on the nuclear issue, leading some skeptics to question whether Tehran is serious this time or merely orchestrating a publicity blitz for newly-elected President Hassan Rouhani. Although it is never wise to […]
A potential turning point for Syria
In the dizzying debate over U.S. military intervention in Syria, one key point of consensus stands out: Both the Obama administration and Congress recognize that the resolution to Syria’s conflict must come through a negotiated settlement. Key international actors share the same conclusion. But how do we get there? Russia’s recent proposal to put Syrian […]
Testing the Waters for Normalizing U.S.-Iran Relations
When Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took office at the beginning of August, hopes were cautiously raised that Iran and the United States could improve their dismal relationship of mistrust, denunciations and threats. So far, no concrete steps have been taken, but the nations might benefit if they literally tested the waters in the Persian Gulf […]
Syria’s Chemical Weapons And Terrorists
The potential marriage of some of the world’s most dangerous people to some of the world’s most dangerous weapons has been described by multiple successive presidents as the greatest national security threat facing the United States. That prospect seems to have left little doubt in the Obama administration that a military strike on Syria is […]
What an attack on Syria will mean for US-Iran relations
If President Barack Obama does indeed attack Syria, with or without congressional approval, he will forfeit an opportunity to make headway with Iran over its nuclear programme and risk allowing Tehran once again to reap the greatest benefit from Washington’s military excesses in the Middle East. The more reasonable minds among Iranian political elites, including […]
Mona Yacoubian in New York Times: A Catch 22 With Russia
The United States should lead an allied cruise missile attack against Syria if evidence of the Syrian government’s culpability is conclusive. The costs of inaction outweigh the significant risks of military intervention. Yet, U.S. policy makers should also expect that a military response likely will extinguish any hope for U.S.-Russian cooperation on Syria-at least in […]
Syria, Egypt and Arab Transitions Examined
Experts affiliated with the Stimson Center have helped inform policymakers and the public about the civil war in Syria, unrest in Egypt and Arab transitions over the past 12 months in many ways. These include participating in panel discussions at Stimson and elsewhere, briefing officials, testifying before Congress, giving interviews to the media and writing […]
Libyan Medical Tourism in Tunisia
By Bridget Joyce – When a bloody revolution erupted in Libya in February 2011, the crisis had a significant impact on Tunisia’s economy. Along with tackling short-term economic obstacles resulting from the interruption in trade with Libya and the conflict’s spillover across the border, Tunisia now has the opportunity to assist Libya’s transition and reap economic benefits. […]