Geography Matters – Stimson’s Regional Security Programs
By Ellen Laipson and Michael Krepon: We are reflecting on our first quarter century in this series of essays; in this installment we explain the evolution of Stimson’s work on key strategic regions, and how that work relates to our broad and enduring themes of international peace and security. Our colleagues who focus on Northeast […]
Gulf Security Publications
The Future of US-Iraq Relations, May 14, 2010By Ellen Laipson and Elena McGovern Iraq’s New Reality: The Politics of Governance and Federalism, November 1, 2009By Elena McGovern Iraq’s New Reality: Ensuring Security and Setting the National Security Agenda, September 1, 2009By Elena McGovern Iraq’s New Reality Series (I-IV), 2009 At this critical juncture in Iraq’s […]
Iran’s Response To Drugs From Afghanistan
By Andrew Houk – Lying between Afghanistan and its major drug markets to the West, Iran has become a key player in global counternarcotics efforts. In the second in a series of spotlights on Iran-Afghanistan relations, we look at the impact of illicit drugs in Iran, and its efforts to contain their reach at home […]
Lebanon’s Political Crisis (NPR)
After weeks of political intrigue, Lebanon has a new Prime Minister. But the appointment of Najib Mikati– a billionaire backed by the militant group Hezbollah– has deepened a political crisis with profound implications for the entire Middle East. As a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, Mona Yacoubian examined the complex politics of Lebanon. Guests […]
The Arab World’s First Soft Revolution?
By Ellen Laipson – A spontaneous, massive uprising of discontent in the normally serene Mediterranean country of Tunisia could signal a turning point in the Arab world – the slow motion reform process in modernizing but undemocratic states may have reached its limits, at least in Tunisia. The United States should make a virtue of […]
How its Arab neighbours can help to build the new Iraq
The Obama administration has made Iraq’s reintegration into the region one of the cornerstones of its Iraq policy. It is naturally linked to US hopes for stability in Iraq – a country that has normal trade and political relations with its neighbours, and a friendly foreign policy in which no single external power dominates the […]
Oil Legislation in Iraq: A Step Towards Stability
By Ronan McGee – Oil is pivotal to the long-term stability and prosperity of Iraq. Its estimated 115 billion barrels are the world’s third largest proven oil reserves, and Iraq hopes to raise its present output of 2.5 million barrels per day to 6 million barrels per day. Such efforts will likely be accelerated as […]
Iraq’s New Reality: The Impact of Conflict on Minorities, Refugees, and the Internally Displaced
Several years of war, internal violence, and unrest have taken a severe toll on the Iraqi population. As US troops withdraw and Iraq begins the next chapter in its history, it is important to consider the status of the country’s most vulnerable populations and the challenges they face. This is the first report in a […]