Trump’s Alignment with Sunni Autocrats Masks Shallow Understanding of Region

by Emile Nakhleh President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia has engendered endless press reporting and analysis. Two key points stand out in the media coverage. First, the trip was mostly show than action. Second, the Saudis played up to Trump’s… Continue Reading

Bahrain Arms Sales Belie US Commitment to Human Rights

by Emile Nakhleh The New York Times reported last Thursday that the US State Department has decided to lift human rights as a condition for the sale of F-16 fighter jets and other weapons to Bahrain, a small, Sunni, family-ruled… Continue Reading

Designating the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization Is Bad for America

by Emile Nakhleh Much has been written recently about the Trump administration’s possible plans to designate the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) a terrorist organization. Such thinking reflects ignorance of the organization and its history, ideology, and deep roots in the Muslim… Continue Reading

Trump’s Travel Ban Signals a Dystopian Vision of America

by Emile Nakhleh President Trump’s executive order suspending visas to nationals of seven Middle Eastern countries has created much confusion abroad, dissension at home, and a flurry of legal cases challenging the constitutionality of the order. Since all the seven… Continue Reading