Scholars, advocates, and activists seeking to make the U.S. a more responsible global partner.
War & Peace
Saudi Arabia: Rolling Back the Arab Spring

Saudi Arabia: Rolling Back the Arab Spring

by | Jun 29, 2011

The Saudi and Bahraini monarchies recently announced the engagement of a Saudi princess to a Bahraini prince. A substantial bridal party has preceded her, though. Starting March 14th, 4,000 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) troops, mostly from Saudi Arabia, have entered Bahrain to suppress its protest movement. Some 1,600 Saudi soldiers will remain in the country indefinitely to safeguard the regime there from further “disturbances,” i.e., pro-democracy protests.

read more
Recreating Baghdad’s Lost Literary Street

Recreating Baghdad’s Lost Literary Street

by | Jun 28, 2011

Named for a tenth-century poet and revolutionary who lived in what is now Iraq, Al-Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad was the center of the city’s intellectual and literary life. It was home to booksellers, stationery stores, antiquarian bookstores, and cafes as famous for the ideas that flowed freely as for their pungent coffee.

read more

U.S. Escalates War Against Al-Qaeda

by | Jun 23, 2011

“Every time civilians are killed, you almost always do more harm than good,” agreed Carnegie’s Boucek. “You turn off the Yemeni people from wanting to co-operate; you turn off the government, because it looks like they’re facilitating it. It breeds further radicalization and makes it appear that Americans only care about terrorism, which is a pretty small issue compared to the challenges that Yemen faces and that lead to state failure or collapse,” he added. 

read more
Afghanistan: Going through Withdrawal

Afghanistan: Going through Withdrawal

by | Jun 21, 2011

When Barack Obama ordered an additional 30,000 troops into Afghanistan in 2009, he further stipulated that a withdrawal begin in July 2011 and continue until completion by 2014. As promised, the first drawdown of the 100,000-strong force is scheduled to take place next month. This withdrawal comes at a peak of anti-war sentiment.

read more