RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, July/August 2008, The National Interest
Think that state sponsors of terror are pulling all the strings? Think again. Daniel Byman details how countries like Iran and Syria may play a big role in the terrorism underworld, but they’re quickly losing control over rogues that bite the hands that once fed them. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Navtej Dhillon, Jad Chaaban and Tarik Yousef, June 26, 2008, The Brookings Institution
According to a recent study by the Middle East Youth Initiative, the region loses $25 billion a year due to youth unemployment. Navtej Dhillon, MEYI Director/Fellow, Jad Chaaban, Assistant Professor at American University of Beirut, and Tarik Yousef, Brookings Senior Fellow and Dean of the Dubai School of Government, discuss country statistics and regional policy implications. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, May 2008, Saban Center Analysis Paper
The current United States approach to state sponsorship of terrorism is flawed, writes Daniel Byman. He suggests that instead of simply managing a list of state sponsors, Washington needs to recognize the complexity of sponsorship, monitor states using a broad definition of what constitutes state sponsorship, and use diplomatic pressure as well as political and economic penalties when needed. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy hosted a policy luncheon on May 28, 2008, launching a Saban Center analysis paper of the same name. The paper’s author, Daniel Byman, presented a summary of the paper’s findings. Bruce Hoffman, Senior Fellow at the U.S. Military Academy and Professor at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, provided comments. Bruce Riedel moderated the discussion. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
David B. Sandalow, May 22, 2008, House Committee on Foreign Affairs
As gasoline prices continue to set new records, David Sandalow recently testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the national security threats posed by rising oil prices. Drawing from his book Freedom from Oil, Sandalow emphasized the potential for plug-in electric vehicles to help solve the problem.” Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, May 15, 2008
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Doha, Qatar
On May 15, 2008, The Brookings Doha Center (BDC), a project of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, hosted Shibley Telhami for the first in-house BDC policy luncheon. The discussion focused on Dr. Telhami’s latest academic polling on public attitudes in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Tamara Cofman Wittes and Isobel Coleman, April 2008, The Brookings Institution
Tamara Cofman Wittes and Isobel Coleman met with business leaders, academics, journalists, and civic activists in Saudi Arabia. Among their key findings are that many Saudis welcomed the emergence of a more open atmosphere, pointing to King Abdullah’s ascension to the throne, dynamism in neighboring Gulf states, and a new “post-post-9/11” environment as key catalysts for the change. Yet, there was frustration at the unpredictability and arbitrariness of the newly expanded social and political space. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, March 13, 2008
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy hosted a luncheon roundtable discussion with Visiting Fellow Dr. Mai Yamani, of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Yamani presented a draft of her forthcoming Middle East Memo entitled “Reform in Saudi Arabia.” Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel and Bilal Y. Saab, Spring 2008, The Washington Quarterly
Bruce Riedel and Bilal Saab believe the war in Saudi Arabia is being waged over the biggest stakes of all: control over Islam's holy cities and oil wealth. Yet, having withdrawn most of its forces from Saudi Arabia in August 2003 after al Qaeda began its war, the United States remains on the margins. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Navtej Dhillon, February 22, 2008, The Brookings Institution
While the United States concentrates its Middle Eastern policy efforts on democracy and the war on terrorism, 60% of the region’s population is facing a crisis of their own – a fight for decent education, employment and housing. Brookings Fellow Navtej Dhillon says that the United States and the international community must refocus their efforts on building a future for the Middle Eastern majority; from using hard power to boosting smart power. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mai Yamani, February 2008, Survival
The Saudi Arabian regime, aided by oil money and custodianship of Islam’s holiest sites, has in recent years emerged as one of the most active and creative diplomatic players in the Middle East. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, January 28, 2008, Middle East Progress
With the exception of India, no country in the world is more concerned about Pakistan’s political crisis than Saudi Arabia. However, Bruce Riedel writes that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s relationship will survive the former’s current political tensions given the strength of the two countries economic ties. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
12:00 AM to
Washington, DC
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy held a luncheon with Mai Yamani, a research fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. Yamani shared her insights concerning the diversity of Saudi society and the implications of this diversity for the future of the Al-Saud dynasty and the Kingdom's place in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin S. Indyk, April 29, 2007, The Washington Post
Article by Martin S. Indyk, The Washington Post (4/29/07) Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, February 08, 2007, Salon.com
Opinion by Daniel L. Byman, Salon (2/8/07) Read More