SPOTLIGHT: Iran
Reuters/Dominic Favre - Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili attends a meeting on nuclear power on Iran in Geneva.
Kenneth M. Pollack, October 02, 2009
Kenneth Pollack says recent discussions between the P5-plus-one and Iran were not earth-shaking, with several questions remaining unanswered in the aftermath. However, Pollack does find it interesting that the Iranians demonstrated some willingness to compromise on small interests and there was no attempt to grandstand at the meeting.
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Iran, Nuclear Weapons, Nonproliferation, Diplomacy
SPOTLIGHT: Iran
Reuters - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.
Suzanne Maloney, September 25, 2009
Suzanne Maloney writes that Friday’s announcement by President Barack Obama and his French and British counterparts about Iran’s covert nuclear activities had all the ingredients of a blockbuster. Maloney explores the likelihood that the announcement will force Iran's hand and outlines the potential impact on the stances of Russia and China.
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Iran, Nuclear Weapons, Nonproliferation, International Relations
SPOTLIGHT: Afghanistan
Reuters/Finbarr O'Reilly - Canadian soldiers watch as U.S. Blackhawk helicopters land during an operation in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province.
Bruce Riedel and Michael E. O'Hanlon, September 24, 2009
As questions about future military deployments to Afghanistan grow more numerous, Michael O'Hanlon and Bruce Riedel dissect the argument that the United States can again narrow the mission to only address counterterrorism. O'Hanlon and Riedel conclude the correct path remains the one outlined by President Obama in March, even though it may require more time and resources.
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Afghanistan, U.S. Military, Foreign Policy, Terrorism, Development
SPOTLIGHT: Iraq
Reuters/Saad Shalash - A U.S. soldier secures the area after a truck bomb attack targeting the Iraqi Finance Ministry in Baghdad.
Kenneth M. Pollack, August 25, 2009
With renewed violence striking Iraq, Ken Pollack writes that the United States is still all that stands between the war-torn country and anarchy. Pollack argues that the United States should use its power and influence within Iraq to ensure that the country does not slide back into civil war.
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Iraq, Foreign Policy, Middle East, U.S. Military, Civil War
SPOTLIGHT: Egypt
Reuters/Kevin Lamarque - Hillary Clinton meets with Hosni Mubarak in Washington.
Tamara Cofman Wittes and Michele Dunne, August 17, 2009
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak recently visited Washington for the first time since 2004. Tamara Cofman Wittes and Michele Dunne examine how he and President Obama can achieve shared goals for the Middle East. Wittes and Dunn analyze areas in which the relationship could be improved and offer suggestions for strengthening the partnership with both the citizens and government of Egypt.
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Egypt, International Relations, Human Rights, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid
SPOTLIGHT: Iran
Reuters - Iranian protesters shout slogans during Friday prayers at a university in Tehran.
Suzanne Maloney, July 30, 2009
Suzanne Maloney testified before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on recent developments in Iran and the possibility of new sanctions. Maloney noted that while sanctions may be the only effective means of persuading Iran to cooperate, the willingness of the international community is limited and Iran is somewhat insulated because of its already poor economy and extensive petroleum exports.
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Iran, Middle East, Sanctions, Nuclear Weapons, International Relations
Past Event
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
to
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Washington, DC
On July 14-15, the Saban Center at Brookings and the United States Central Command partnered for the first time to convene a joint conference. Over one-hundred-and-fifty participants came together to analyze developments in Iran, including Iran’s support of terrorist groups, Iran’s foreign policy, and the Iranian nuclear program.
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Research and Commentary
Kenneth M. Pollack, Daniel L. Byman, Martin S. Indyk, Suzanne Maloney, Michael E. O'Hanlon, Bruce Riedel, June 30, 2009
In a new Saban Analysis Paper, six Brookings experts analyze the main policy approaches toward Iran. In examining the benefits and drawbacks of the nine options—including engagement, persuasion, airstrikes, and containment—the authors refrain from recommending one policy over the other. Rather, they present the details of the policies in a manner that allows readers to understand the complexity of the challenge that is Iran and decide for themselves which group of policies is best.
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Research and Commentary
Bruce Riedel, July 23, 2009
Bruce Riedel warns not to be fooled by some of the positive news from Pakistan, because the Taliban and their allies have gained significant power there recently. Riedel says we face the potential of a nuclear-armed state run by Islamic extremists, shows the devastating consequences of such and offers ideas to keep it from occurring.
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Research and Commentary
Daniel L. Byman, July 14, 2009
CIA Director Leon Panetta has cancelled a secret CIA plan to train anti-terrorist assassins, but Daniel Byman notes that strikes by U.S. military drones have had mixed success as a tactic for combating al Qaeda in Pakistan. Given the humanitarian and political risks, each strike needs to be carefully weighed. But equally important is the risk of not striking—and inadvertently allowing al Qaeda leaders free reign to plot terrorist mayhem.
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