RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Carlos Pascual, April 03, 2008, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Carlos Pascual addressed the vulnerability that Iraq’s ongoing crisis presents for U.S. troops, key elements for a revised diplomatic strategy, and critical issues in need of debate. Read More
PAST EVENT
Friday, April 04, 2008
Washington, DC
On April 8 and 9, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will give a status report on the Iraq mission before Senate and House panels. In a press roundtable prior to the hearings, Saban Center Director Martin Indyk, Saban Center Director of Research Kenneth Pollack, and Foreign Policy Senior Fellow Ivo Daalder give their assessment of current Iraq policy. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Peter W. Singer, May 12, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Peter Singer writes that the Pentagon is now seeking to hire contractors that will train and advise Iraq's army. He believes this task, determined as "essential to our successful war effort," should not be outsourced and that the military should learn from contracting mistakes of the past. Read More
VIDEO
Martin S. Indyk and Martha Raddatz, May 07, 2008
In this interview with ABC News senior White House correspondent Martha Raddatz, Martin Indyk discusses the state of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations toward a peace settlement; the rising influence of Iran in the region; and the consequences of a U.S. pullout from Iraq.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, May 04, 2008, The Washington Times
Michael O'Hanlon explores how well the U.S. military is holding up under the weight of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While statistics do not point to a "broken force or a military on the verge of collapse," O'Hanlon argues that continued strain on personnel needs to be addressed as part of future policy considerations. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kenneth M. Pollack, May 04, 2008, The New York Times
While the surge and new U.S. strategies in Iraq have improved the situation throughout northern portions of the country, Kenneth Pollack warns that progress remains fragile. He argues that because the coalition has so far been unable to provide security in the south, it has become a battleground that may undermine gains made elsewhere. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin S. Indyk, April 24, 2008, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
In congressional testimony, Martin Indyk argued that the current policy of isolating Syria has had mixed results. He believes that the next U.S. president should consider a different approach that could foster a more productive relationship allowing mutual goals to be realized in the troubled region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Peter W. Rodman, April 24, 2008, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Testifying before the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Peter Rodman argued "the conditions do not exist for an improvement of relations with Syria as long as Syrian policies remain hostile to important interest of ours in the Middle East." He concluded that Syria must change course in relation to Iraq, Lebanon, and Arab-Israeli peace before the U.S. reaches out to the country. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, April 21, 2008, Kuwait Times
In his recent briefing to Congress on the current state of Iraq, General David Petraeus emphasized Iran's role in Iraq by mentioning the country and its newly found influence numerous times. Bruce Riedel notes that a "weak and malleable" Iraq places Iran in a position that leaders of the Islamic Republic could have only hoped for prior to the U.S. invasion. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, April 21, 2008, Washington Times
Michael O'Hanlon believes that "hawkish" diplomatic contact with Iran is needed, because it is likely to "set the U.S. up more effectively to galvanize the kind of growing international pressure on Iran that is probably our only long-term hope of producing better behavior from Teheran." Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin Neil Baily, April 20, 2008, The New York Times
Martin Baily says that while many voters view the war in Iraq and the poor state of the economy as a cause and effect relationship, they are, in fact, two very different messes. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon and Ann Gildroy, April 16, 2008, The Washington Post
Michael O'Hanlon and Ann Gildroy believe that "after a 75 percent reduction in the rate of violence ... and significant accomplishments by Iraqi leaders ... there is a reasonable prospect of achieving a sustainable stability there within the next few years." Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Ivo H. Daalder, April 09, 2008, The Diane Rehm Show
As General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker complete their testimony before Congress, Ivo Daalder joins Diane Rehm to discuss the status of Iraq. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin S. Indyk and Richard Haass, April 2008, The Brookings Institution
In February, Martin Indyk and Richard Haass engaged leading Gulf policymakers in detailed conversations about what they are looking for from a new American president. While all those with whom they spoke were fascinated by the American presidential primary elections and seem to be following the results closely, few have yet focused on the possibility that a significant change in U.S. foreign policy might result from a new administration in Washington. There was also a significant disconnect between leaders and publics: The leaders are focused on how the next administration will deal with complex regional security challenge posed by Iran, whereas the publics are hoping that a new president will resolve the Palestinian issue and press authoritarian governments to be more open, transparent and accountable. Read More
VIDEO
Peter W. Singer and Martha Raddatz, April 09, 2008
The U. S. mission in Iraq has reached the mid-decade mark, while U.S. troops continue to battle Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. Senior Fellow Peter W. Singer says our next president will need a thoughtful plan for improving America’s relationship with the Islamic world.