Kurds May Lead the Way for the Arab Spring: Meghan L. O’Sullivan
As change sweeps the Middle East, euphoria has slowly given way to anxiety that the tumult will benefit extremist religious groups with anti-Western or
View ArticleTo Exit Afghanistan, We Should Say We’ll Stay: Meghan O’Sullivan
Even last week’s swearing in of Ryan Crocker -- one of the most talented U.S. diplomats -- as ambassador to Kabul seems unable to stanch the perception that U
View ArticleTiny Qatar’s Big Plans May Change Mideast: Meghan L. O’Sullivan
Qatar, a country of fewer than 2 million people set on a peninsula smaller than Connecticut, seems an unlikely candidate to become a regional power. Yet with
View ArticleTroops Are Gone but Iraq War Is Not ‘Over’: Meghan L. O’Sullivan
While Americans have been welcoming the “end” of the war in Iraq over the past few days, a political crisis of serious proportions has been unfolding in
View ArticleSanctions Alone Won’t Topple Syria’s Assad: Meghan L. O’Sullivan
On Feb. 24, the U.S., European nations, members of the Arab League and other sympathetic countries making up the newly established “Friends of Syria” group
View ArticleIraq Can Move Arab States to New Economic Focus
The 23rd Arab League Summit is now under way in Baghdad. Unlike the 22 non-emergency summits that preceded it, this one will be worth watching, and for two
View ArticleIsrael’s Undersea Gas Bonanza May Spur Mideastern Strife
Egypt’s decision last month to stop selling natural gas to Israel could be a harbinger of increasingly confrontational Egyptian-Israeli relations, an
View ArticleMexican Oil Reforms Are Vital on Both Sides of the Border
In recent days a coalition of Mexican advocacy groups has been protesting in front of Televisa, the country’s largest TV network, to contest the legitimacy of
View ArticleMuslim Anger Could Spur Economic Growth
As the violent anti-American protests in the Muslim world subside, those in the region and in the U.S. are wondering whether the upheaval will have a permanent
View ArticleEgypt’s Constitution Needs an Expiration Date
Egyptians living abroad began voting Dec. 12 on whether to accept the nation’s proposed new constitution. Yet, even as they took to the polls and those in the
View Article’Energy Independence’ Alone Won’t Boost U.S. Power
“We are finally poised to control our own energy future,” said President Barack Obama in his State of the Union message, noting the drastic increase in
View ArticleWas the Iraq War Worth Its Cost to the U.S.?
Ten years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Americans, Iraqis and others are asking whether the past decade of U.S. involvement in Iraq was worth it.
View ArticleU.S. Action in Syria Could Sway Iran on Nukes
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad must be pleased at how, within a week, the conversation has shifted from his regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons to an
View ArticleWhat Egypt Can Learn From Iraq, and Vice Versa
While arguing over the merits of continuing U.S. aid to Egypt, commentators and analysts tend to agree on two main points. First, there is a general consensus
View Article40 Years After Embargo, OPEC Is Over a Barrel
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries embargo against the U.S. and states that supported Israel after Egypt
View ArticleAnother Iraq War? Here’s How to Avoid It
Many Americans are surprised to see Fallujah back on the front pages of newspapers. How did things get so bad that the Iraqi government was compelled to call
View ArticleA Better Energy Weapon to Stop Putin
If the goal is to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, a more considered proposal might be to lift the ban on the export of U.S. crude oil.
View ArticlePutin Sees China as a Gas-Hungry Ally
To outsiders, the energy marriage of the one of the world’s largest producers to one of the world’s largest consumers seems obvious and inevitable.
View ArticleFuture of Oil Hangs on Iraqi Politics
Even under the best scenario, Iraqi oil production gains are going to be much smaller than previously projected.
View ArticleCan Obama Rise to the Moment in Iraq?
To many, President Barack Obama’s authorization of airstrikes in Iraq -- and their commencement a few hours ago -- appears to be a major shift in U.S. posture.
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