In-Depth Coverage

Original Commentaries

11/13/08: The View from Gaza —Taghreed El-Khodary, New York Times journalist in Gaza and Harvard University Nieman Fellow (2005-2006). Interviewed by Middle East Bulletin.
11/04/08: Getting on the Right Track —Dalia Rabin, chairperson, Rabin Center, and daughter of the late Yitzhak Rabin. Interview with Middle East Bulletin.
10/23/08: Bottom-Up Meets Top-Down for Progress —Robert Danin, Head of Mission, Office of Quartet Representative Tony Blair and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs. Interview with Middle East Bulletin.

Setting the Record Straight

U.S. Policy Strengthens Iran

"Simply put, without permanent bases in Iraq, a nuclear capable Islamic Republic cannot be contained."
—Michael Rubin, resident scholar, American Enterprise Institute, "Can a Nuclear Iran Be Contained or Deterred?" Middle Eastern Outlook, November 5, 2008

“[B]y attacking Iraq, we automatically made Iran a regional power. We took out their major adversary in Iraq, and we neutralized, if only temporarily, the Taliban, on the other side. And so now we see not only that they are regional powers, but clearly indications of aspirations to be perhaps a hegemon in the area, their role in Iraq, their role in Syria, in Lebanon as well. And I can tell you, and I think you’ve heard it already, that there is real fear among the GCC countries about where all of this is going. All of them have minorities, in one case it’s not a minority, it’s a majority of Shias, and as the Sheika correctly pointed out, they can’t exchange Iran for some place else.”
—General Joseph P. Hoar (USMC, Ret.), former commander of U.S. Central Command (1991-94), National Council On U.S.-Arab Relations, 17th Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, October 30, 2008

Middle East Analysis

Iranian Strategy in Iraq: Politics and ‘Other Means’ —Joseph Felter, national security affairs fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; former director, Combating Terrorism Center at West Point (CTC) & Brian Fishman, director of research, CTC
In Iraq’s Diyala Province, U.S. Forces Anticipate Exit —Scott Peterson (The Christian Science Monitor)
Oil for Soil: Toward a Grand Bargain on Iraq and the Kurds —International Crisis Group, Middle East Report N°80

Egypt’s Recent Efforts as Regional Mediator and Host

August 8, 2007

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)

July 2007: With the help of Egyptian mediation, Israel and Hamas renew negotiations for captured Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit.
June 2007: Saudi Arabia and Egypt announce they are willing to resume mediation of inter-Palestinian dialogue following Hamas takeover of Gaza strip.
July 2006: Egypt becomes key negotiator for release of Gilad Shalit.
February 2006: Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman urges newly elected Hamas government to renounce violence and recognize Israel.
February 2005: At regional summit, co-hosted by Egypt and Jordan in Sharm el-Sheikh, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and Palestinian Chairman Abbas declare an official end to the Al Aqsa intifada.
August 2005: Palestinian factions meet with Omar Suleiman in Gaza following the Israeli withdrawal. Faction leaders pledge their support for a ceasefire with Israel.
July 2004: Israeli delegation led by the Israeli Defense ministry political security chief, Amos Gilad, travels to Cairo for talks regarding Egypt’s security role in the Israeli disengagement from Gaza.
December 2003: Egypt mediates cease-fire talks between Palestinian factions, but is unsuccessful at reaching a settlement.