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In-Depth Coverage

Original Commentaries

11/20/08
Pakistan: Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq  —Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Original Commentary for Middle East Bulletin.
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.

Setting the Record Straight

Keeping Focus on Long-Term Objectives

“[W]hile we do need to have a cooperative approach that involves many of our friends and allies in meeting with the Pakistanis, … as we work out with them a rough division of labor, the U.S., I believe, ought to be taking the lead in addressing the issues in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. And given the difficulty of doing so, I suspect that we will not have a great deal of difficulty in convincing them to allow us to take the lead there. But as we all know, there is a real tension between our short-term tactical aims in trying to capture or kill terrorists across the border and militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and our longer- term counterinsurgency pacification goals. We very much need to be focusing on the end state. What is it that we want this area to look like? ... In that context we need to have a common agenda with the Pakistani government and very much to include the military on counterinsurgency in that area. There needs to be, therefore, a focus on combining military efforts with economic, development and political development in those areas.”
—Robert L. Grenier, managing director and chairman for Global Security Consulting, Kroll, event, “Partnership for Progress: Advancing a New Strategy for Prosperity and Stability in Pakistan and the Region,” Center for American Progress, November 17, 2008

Middle East Analysis

Mission

Middle East Progress highlights practical approaches to make Americans safer by improving U.S., Israeli and regional security and strengthening America’s global standing.

  • Publishing the Middle East Bulletin — Importing the robust debate that occurs in the region to the United States and the world. The Middle East Bulletin, produced twice a week, includes a news digest from journalists covering the region, analyses from Middle East experts and organizations, original commentary and a rapid response to misleading or incomplete statements about U.S. interests;
  • Promoting Public-Private Partnerships — Developing and strengthening those invested in achieving stable and sustainable political outcomes throughout the Middle East, through bolstering the efforts of individuals, organizations and activities involved in practical, innovative, economic private-public partnerships. Our efforts include working with:
    • Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) task force we lead, to create Palestinian Political Risk Insurance (PPRI), a political risk insurance product to meet the needs of the Palestinian business community, encourage investment, and sustain and create jobs;
    • Middle East Investment Initiative, (MEII), formed to help revitalize the economy in the Palestinian territories and elsewhere in the region by developing specialized financial products to stimulate economic activity, create jobs and expand home ownership.
  • Encouraging New Ideas and Strategies — Bringing together, from around the world and across the country, those who can most effectively shape the policy dynamic on security and economic issues, by hosting meetings, panels and conferences, to discuss ideas, create new approaches and strategize on how best to implement them within and across borders. Read more >>