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Friday December 5, 2008

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book launch


Ralph Alswang - Martin Indyk (l), Richard Haass, Gary Samore and David Gregory at the Saban-CFR book launch event.

Save to My Portfolio Restoring the Balance: A Middle East Strategy for the Next President

Tuesday, December 02, 2008
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Washington, DC

On December 2, Brookings hosted the authors of Restoring the Balance: A Middle East Strategy for the Next President, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass; Brookings’ Saban Center for Middle East Policy Director and project co-director Martin Indyk; and Council on Foreign Relations Director of Studies and project co-director Gary Samore. The discussion was moderated by David Gregory, NBC News Chief White House Correspondent and Host of MSNBC’s “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.” Read More

Middle East, Arab-Israeli Relations, Iran, Iraq, Transnational Security Threats

Restoring the balance: The Final Report


Reuters/Jason Reed - The White House is pictured after sunrise in Washington.

Save to My Portfolio A Middle East Strategy for the Next President

Restoring the Balance: A Middle East Strategy for the Next President is the final product of an eighteen month Saban Center at Brookings-Council on Foreign Relations project. This effort involved fifteen senior Middle East experts who joined together for the first time to conduct in-depth research, travel to the region and hold interviews with its leaders in order to develop a series of policy recommendations for President-elect Barack Obama. Read More

SPOTLIGHT: Middle East


Reuters/Baz Ratner - UN peacekeepers stand guard along the Israel-Syria border, east of Kibbutz Merom Golan.

Save to My Portfolio A Time for Diplomatic Renewal: Toward a New U.S. Strategy in the Middle East

Richard N. Haass and Martin S. Indyk, December 2008

Martin Indyk and Richard Haass note that President-elect Obama will face a series of critical, complex, and interrelated challenges in the Middle East that will demand his immediate attention: an Iran apparently intent on approaching or crossing the nuclear threshold as quickly as possible; a fragile situation in Iraq that is straining the U.S. military; weak governments in Lebanon and Palestine under challenge from stronger Hezbollah and Hamas militant organizations; a faltering Israeli-Palestinian peace process; and American influence diluted by a severely damaged reputation. Read More

Middle East, Iran, Iraq, Arab-Israeli Relations, Transnational Security Threats

SPOTLIGHT: Iran


Reuters/Raheb Homavandi - Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks during a news conference in Tehran.

Save to My Portfolio Pathway to Coexistence: A New U.S. Policy toward Iran

Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh, December 2008

The Obama administration may be tempted to take the easy way out by offering merely new rhetoric and modest refinements to the carrot-and stick approach that has failed its five predecessors. Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh believe this would be a mistake. Today, to deal effectively with a rising Iran, the United States must embark on a far deeper reevaluation of its strategy and launch a comprehensive diplomatic initiative to attempt to engage its most enduring Middle Eastern foe. Read More

Iran, Diplomacy, Nuclear Weapons, Middle East, International Relations

Book

Save to My Portfolio Restoring the Balance

November 01, 2008

Experts propose a new, nonpartisan Middle East strategy drawing on the lessons of past failures to address both the short-term and long-term challenges to U.S. interests. Read More

Research and Commentary

Save to My Portfolio Terrorism in India and the Global Jihad

Bruce Riedel, November 30, 2008

The attacks on multiple targets in downtown Mumbai in late November is only the latest in a long series of horrific terrorist operations in India. Brookings senior fellow Bruce Riedel examines the complex phenomenon of terrorism in India and its connections to the global jihad. Read More

Past Event

Save to My Portfolio The Next U.S. President and the Middle East?

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

On October 15, 2008, the Brookings Doha Center, a Project of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, hosted Ambassador Martin Indyk, Director of the Saban Center, for its first policy discussion of the post-Ramadan season. The policy discussion entitled covered some of the most important challenges and responsibilities facing the next administration with regard to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Read More

Past Event

Save to My Portfolio Opportunities and Challenges in Pakistan’s Foreign Policy

Friday, July 11, 2008
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Washington, DC

As Pakistan emerges from tumultuous national elections and continues to address tensions on its western frontier, the nation faces several domestic and foreign policy challenges—and opportunities—in the months ahead.  On July 11, the Brookings Institution hosted Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the foreign minister of Pakistan, for a discussion of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Read More

About Us

The Saban Center conducts original research and develops innovative programs to promote a better understanding of the policy choices facing American decisionmakers in the Middle East.

Upcoming Events

Save to My Portfolio The Doha Compact: New Directions for the United States and Muslim World

December 12, 2008

The Brookings Institution

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Recent Research and Commentary

Middle East Restoring the Balance in the Middle East

Richard Haass, Martin S. Indyk, December 02, 2008

Diplomacy Voices of America: U.S. Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century

Kristin M. Lord, November 2008

Lebanon Al-Qa`ida’s Presence and Influence in Lebanon

Bilal Y. Saab, November 2008

Syria Syria Seeks Change: On Its Own Terms

Bilal Y. Saab, November 17, 2008

More Recent Research and Commentary »

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Q&A with Martin Indyk

Israel, Hamas and the Challenge of Gaza

"I think the message of [Israel's] 60th anniversary is that time is not on the side of the Palestinians. Time is not on the side of peace. And, we really need, all who want  to see a  reconciliation, who want to see a Palestinian independent state living side-by-side with Israel, to redouble their efforts to try to achieve this before it’s too late."

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Spotlight

ExpertMartin S. Indyk

Ambassador to Israel and assistant secretary of state for near east affairs during the Clinton Administration, Martin Indyk directs the Saban Center for Middle East Policy. He currently focuses on the Clinton administration’s diplomacy and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

ExpertMauricio Cárdenas

Mauricio Cárdenas is a senior fellow and director of the Latin American Initiative. Formerly minister of Economic Development and Transportation, and director of National Planning of Colombia, his research focuses on international and development economics. He is also the president of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA).

Research ProjectThe Hamilton Project

The Hamilton Project produces research and policy proposals on how to create a growing economy that benefits more Americans. Their agenda also focuses on enhancing individual economic security and effective public investments. 

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  She is completing a project on the politics of advice and consent, and is at work on the politics of how Congress responds to financial crises.

ExpertJulia B. Isaacs

Julia Isaacs focuses on public investments in children and how children are affected by national budgetary policies. A former federal budget analyst, she also researches the economic mobility of children and families across the income spectrum.

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ExpertDarrell M. West

Darrell M. West is the vice president and director of Governance Studies at Brookings. His studies include campaigns and elections, political advertising, mass media, public opinion, technology policy and electronic government.

TopicMigration

Migration is an issue that bridges Brookings’s expertise in domestic and foreign policy. In the United States, reforming immigration policy remains a subject of intense political debate. Globally, the unprecedented movement of people across borders raises issues in both industrialized countries and the developing world.

ExpertCarlos Pascual

Carlos Pascual is a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. As vice president and director of Foreign Policy, he focuses on post-conflict stabilization and international security policy.

ExpertMark B. McClellan

A medical doctor and economist, Mark McClellan works on promoting high-quality, innovative and affordable health care. Once commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. McClellan now directs the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.

TOPICThe Presidential Transition

During the 77 days from the election to the Inauguration, Brookings experts will offer 12 "Memos to the President" on top policy priorities across the spectrum of domestic and global challenges, plus additional advice on transitioning from campaigning to governing.

ExpertRebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank is an expert on the interaction between the macroeconomy, government anti-poverty programs, and the behavior and well being of low-income families. She has just been named the Robert S. Kerr senior fellow at Brookings.

ExpertEswar Prasad

Eswar Prasad, the Tolani Senior Professor of Trade Policy at Cornell University, is a senior fellow in Global Economy and Development. He was previously head of the Financial Studies Division and the China Division at the IMF.

ExpertHugh B. Price

Former president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League, Hugh Price is an expert on education, civil rights, equal opportunity and criminal justice. His 40-year career spans journalism, philanthropy, the law, and social advocacy.