A Plague of Black Swans in the Middle East

by Gary Sick In the parlance of political risk assessment, a Black Swan is an event regarded as highly improbable or even impossible before it happens. A Black Swan is not only surprising but has the capacity to disrupt or… Continue Reading →

Arab Mayhem and Tyranny: How to Break the Cycle

by Emile Nakhleh In a little over five years since the outbreak of protests in Tunisia at the end of 2010, most of the Arab world has descended into mayhem and tyranny. Many Arab leaders are repressing the opposition with more… Continue Reading →

Zarif in Brussels: Redefining the EU-Iran Relationship

by Eldar Mamedov When Iran’s then-foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki visited the European Parliament in 2010, his speech in the foreign affairs committee soon degenerated into a shouting match with the MPs. They accused his government of repressing dissent and grievous… Continue Reading →

Pentagon Proposes $50 Million Program To Help Tajikistan Fight Terrorists

by Joshua Kucera The United States plans to give Central Asia an additional $50 million in military aid under a new program, with the bulk of the aid focused on Tajikistan, budget documents released by the White House show.