Arab Publics Prefer Light U.S. Footprint, Even in Syria

by Jim Lobe In contrast to some of their leaders, people across the Arab world prefer President Barack Obama’s efforts to reduce Washington’s military footprint in the Middle East to the approach favored by neoconservatives and other U.S. hawks, according… Continue Reading →

What’s Going On In Saudi Arabia?

by Thomas W. Lippman An Arabic-speaking friend who has been doing business in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf for decades and seems to know everyone there invited me to lunch the other day.  He wanted to know if I could… Continue Reading →

The Biggest Mideast Crisis You Probably Don’t Know Enough About

by Tom Lippman The Middle East’s seemingly endless conflicts are diverting attention and resources from a graver long-term threat that threatens the whole region, the growing scarcity of water, and the situation will get worse before it gets better —… Continue Reading →

Why Russia Hasn’t Played Spoiler to the Iran Nuclear Talks

by Mark N. Katz U.S.-Russian relations have sharply deteriorated, to put it mildly, over Ukraine in recent months. There has been widespread talk about the re-emergence of a new Cold War between Washington and Moscow. Indeed, some have even argued that… Continue Reading →

A Saudi-Iranian Rapprochement?

by Jim Lobe Paul Pillar has a blog up at the National Interest on the possibility that Saudi Arabia and Iran are moving toward some form of rapprochement. The latest development, as Paul points out, is the long-awaited invitation this week by… Continue Reading →