An Uncomfortable Alliance: The United States and Bahrain

by Thomas W. Lippman Every year in late winter or early spring, the commander of all U.S. military forces in the Middle East and Central and South Asia delivers an extensive report to Congress about operations, strategy, planning, and training… 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

Bahrain and “Iranian-Backed Terrorism”

by Emile Nakhleh In a recent article, Matthew Levitt and Michael Knights of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) highlighted Iranian support of “terrorism” in Bahrain and suggested a future path for the country “balancing security and human… Continue Reading

Tales of Russian Ascendancy in the Middle East Are Overblown

by Perry Cammack and Richard Sokolsky The Syrian ceasefire that began on December 29 is the latest diplomatic coup for Russian President Vladimir Putin. It remains to be seen whether this initiative, which builds on the momentum of earlier talks… Continue Reading

Bahrain: Anchors Aweigh?

by Richard Sokolsky The government of Bahrain’s unremitting repression and human rights abuses against its political opposition are leading the country down a road that over the coming years promises instability and a significant escalation of domestic conflict. The United… Continue Reading