Home › Projects › Middle East
Syndicate content
 

Middle East

Despite the drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, and desires to “rebalance” to Asia, the Middle East continues to dominate the U.S. national security agenda. CNAS conducts cutting-edge research on the most pressing issues in this turbulent region, including responses to the challenges posed by Iranian nuclearization, the Arab Spring, Syria and Iraq.

 

 

 

 

 

Related Content

  • U.S. Weighs Dire Scenarios To Secure Syria's WMD
    Type: News Item
    Source: Agence France-Presse (Reprinted in the Daily Star)

    August 24, 2012 — In an interview with Agence France-Presse, Visiting Fellow Melissa Dalton analyzes Syria's chemical weapons arsenal movements.

    | more |
  • Ex-Obama Official Warns: Take Israel Iran Threat 'Very Seriously'
    Type: News Item
    Source: Al-Monitor

    August 14, 2012 — CNAS Senior Fellow Dr. Colin Kahl discusses the likelihood of an Israeli strike against Iran this fall, in an interview with Al-Monitor.

    | more |
  • Can U.S. help Gulf shield itself against Iran?
    Type: News Item
    Source: CNN.com

    August 14, 2012 — In an op-ed for CNN.com, Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program Dr. Patrick Cronin discusses recent efforts by Gulf nations to collaborate on a theater-wide missile defense system and assesses the likelihood of success. 

    | more |
  • Betting Against a Drone Arms Race
    Type: News Item
    Source: Time

    August 13, 2012 — In an op-ed for TIME.com's Battleland blog, CNAS Researcher Joseph Singh argues that predictions of a drones arms race ignore fundamental principles of military deterrence. 

    | more |
  • Plots Are Tied to Shadow War of Israel and Iran
    Type: News Item
    Source: The New York Times

    August 9, 2012 — In The New York Times, Senior Fellow Dr. Andrew Exum analyzes the recent string of terrorist plots targetting Israel and its allies abroad and how they signal an evolving shadow war between Israel, Iran and Hezbollah. 

    | more |
  • Syria military launches assault on key district in Aleppo
    Type: News Item
    Source: Los Angeles Times

    August 8, 2012 — In the Los Angeles Times, Senior Fellow Dr. Andrew Exum discusses the Syrian military's recent assault on rebels in Aleppo, highlighting the strategic importance of the northern city to the regime. 

    | more |
  • Andrew Exum Discusses War on Terror on France 24
    Type: News Item
    Source: France 24

    August 1, 2012 — Senior Fellow Dr. Andrew Exum discusses U.S. military interventions over the last decade and explains the war on terror from the frontline on France 24. 

    | more |
  • Renewed Violence in Iraq
    Type: News Item
    Source: C-SPAN

    July 30, 2012 — On C-SPAN, Deputy Director of Studies Dr. Nora Bensahel dissects the recent string of bombings that have taken place in Iraq, dicussing who may be behind the increase in violence and what this means for political stability in the country.

    | more |
  • White House says Assad 'losing control’ but holds line against arming rebels
    Type: News Item
    Source: DEFCON Hill: The Hill's Defense Blog

    July 19, 2012 — Senior Fellow Dr. Nora Bensahel discusses what the recent bombing deaths of senior officials in the Assad regime say about opposition momentum in Syria, on The Hill's DEFCON blog.

    | more |
  • 5 big questions for U.S. strategy
    Type: News Item
    Source: CNN.com

    July 17, 2012 — In an op-ed for CNN.com, CNAS President Richard Fontaine and Executive Vice President Kristin Lord argue that in a transformed domestic and international environment, both presidential candidates must confront five key questions about U.S. national security policy when articulating their visions of U.S. grand strategy.

    | more |
  • Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, USA
    National Security Leaders' Forum with General Raymond T. Odiernio, USA
    April 5, 2013 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a discussion featuring current Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno on Friday, April 5, 2013. GEN Odierno discussed how the Army is restructuring itself to meet today's security environment while facing the challenges associated with budget cuts and drawdown from two overseas wars.

    | more |
  • A Conversation with the Honorable Leon Panetta
    A Conversation with the Honorable Leon Panetta
    November 20, 2012 - 6:45pm - 7:30pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security hosted "A Conversation with the Honorable Leon Panetta, U.S. Secretary of Defense" on November 20, 2012. Secretary Panetta discussed U.S. national security and defense priorities. The event featured an introduction by The Honorable Michele Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and member of the CNAS Board of Directors.

    Click Here to View Event Photos

    Click Here to View Event Video

    Click Here to Read the Event Transcript

    Click Here to Listen to the Event Audio

    Click Here to View Video Highlights from the Event

    | more |
  • Election 2012 - The Global Challenge for the Next President
    Election 2012 - Informing the National Security Agenda Event Series
    October 10, 2012 - 1:00pm - 2:30pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security, the American Enterprise Institute and the New America Foundation are pleased to introduce Election 2012: Informing the National Security Agenda to this presidential campaign season. The most recent event in the series took place in Washington, DC on October 10.

    | more |
  • CNAS 2012 Annual Conference
    CNAS 2012 Annual Conference
    June 13, 2012 - 8:45am - 6:00pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security's 2012 annual conference, "Rethinking U.S. Security: Navigating a World in Transition," took place in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

    | more |
  • The Arab Uprising, Marc Lynch, Center for a New American Security
    The Arab Uprising: The Unfinished Revolutions of the New Middle East
    March 27, 2012 - 5:30pm - 8:30pm
    The W Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On March 27, 2012, the Center for a New American Security hosted the book launch for The Arab Uprising: The Unfinished Revolutions of the New Middle East by Dr. Marc Lynch, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at CNAS and Director of the Institute for Middle East Studies at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

    | more |
  • responsible defense, david barno, defense budget, cnas, senate, testimony
    Perspectives on the President’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Defense
    March 6, 2012 - 10:00am - 12:00pm
    608 Dirksen Senate Office Building
    Washington, District of Columbia

    CNAS Senior Advisor and Senior Fellow LTG David Barno, USA (Ret.) testifies before the Senate Budget Committee in an open hearing on President Obama's FY 2013 budget request for the U.S. Department of Defense.

    | more |
  • colin kahl, center for a new american security, cnas, iran, wmd, israel
    The Iranian Nuclear Dilemma: Risk of an Iraq Sequel?
    February 21, 2012 - 10:45am - 12:00pm
    Rayburn House Office Building
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On February 21, CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl participated in a panel discussion hosted by the National Iranian American Council on the status of the Iranian nuclear program. Dr. Kahl indicated that there are a number of differences between the current situation in Iran and the lead-up to the war in Iraq, and addressed the possibility of an Israeli airstrike on Iranian facilities.

    | more |
  • Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro
    Roundtable Discussion with Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro
    September 27, 2011 - 4:00pm - 5:30pm
    Center for a New American Security
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On September 27th, the Center for a New American Security hosted a roundtable conversation with Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro to discuss the future of United States security assistance efforts, the lessons learned from recent events, and the case for establishing the new Fund.

    | more |
  • Dr. Kemal Kerkuki, Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament
    Roundtable Discussion with Dr. Kemal Kerkuki, Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament
    September 20, 2011 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
    Center for a New American Security
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On September 20, the Center for a New American Security hosted a roundtable discussion with Dr. Kemal Kerkuki and a number of his colleagues on critical issues in the U.S.-Iraqi relationship, along with the Kurdistan regional government’s relationship with the wider world.

    | more |
  • Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic
    Roundtable Discussion with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic
    September 16, 2011 - 2:30pm - 3:30pm
    Center for a New American Security
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On September 16, the Center for a New American Security hosted a roundtable discussion with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on the key themes that will shape NATO's spring 2012 summit.

    | more |
  • marc lynch, npr, cnas, arab uprising, middle east, arab revolutions
    'Unfinished Revolutions' Churn In Middle East
    Date: 03/24/2012
    Media: Audio

    On NPR, CNAS Non-Resident Senior Fellow Marc Lynch says no one predicted the uprisings that began to spread across the Arab world in late 2010, but many people saw that the old order was crumbling.

    | more |
  • robert kagan, tom gjelten, richard fontaine, peter bergen, cnas, aei, naf
    Video: Election 2012 - The Global Challenge for the Next President
    Date: 03/15/2012
    Media: Video

    The American Enterprise Institute, the Center for a New American Security and the New America Foundation are pleased to introduce Election 2012: Informing the National Security Agenda to this presidential campaign season. On March 15, the three organizations launched a series of four campaign-season events aimed at illuminating the critical U.S. foreign and defense policy issues central to the 2012 presidential election. The first seminar on March 15 explored America's role in the world and what strategies this might suggest for the elected commander-in-chief. Watch C-SPAN's live coverage of the March 15 event here.

    | more |
  • Iran, Colin Kahl, Matthew Kroenig, Foreign Affairs, CNAS
    Foreign Affairs Live: Time to Attack Iran? A Debate
    Date: 03/02/2012
    Media: Video

    CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl participates in a debate with Matthew Kroenig for Foreign Affairs, discussing how the United States should respond to the threats posed by Iran.

    | more |
  • Will Iran Make Preemptive Strike?
    Date: 02/21/2012
    Media: Video

    CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl discusses the possible impact of an Israeli strike on Iran.

    | more |
  • Striking Iran’s Nuclear Program
    Date: 01/24/2012
    Media: Audio

    On NPR's "On Point"  with Tom Ashbrook, CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl discusses the threat of war with a nuclear-armed Iran.

    | more |
  • Military Suicides
    Date: 11/11/2011
    Media: Video

    On C-SPAN's Washington Journal, CNAS Senior Fellow and Director of the Joining Forces Initiative Margaret Harrell talks about military suicides and the availability of mental health programs for veterans.

    | more |
  • suicide, veterans, military, wellness, joining forces, iraq, cnas
    Transcript - Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide
    Date: 11/03/2011
    Media: Transcript

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held an event, Losing the Battle, on November 1, 2011, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., to discuss the issue of suicide in the U.S. military with a distinguished panel of experts, including the author of the CNAS report, Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide, Dr. Margaret Harrell, who is a Senior Fellow at CNAS and Director of the Joining Forces Initiative; General Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army; Juliette Kayyem, national security columnist for The Boston Globe and a lecturer in public policy at Harvard University; and Dr. Jan Kemp, National Mental Health Program Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    | more |
  • suicide, military, iraq, afghanistan, veterans, chiarelli, cnas, joining forces
    Video - Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide (Panel Discussion)
    Date: 11/01/2011
    Media: Video

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held an event, Losing the Battle, on November 1, 2011, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., to discuss the issue of suicide in the U.S. military with a distinguished panel of experts, including the author of the CNAS report, Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide, Dr. Margaret Harrell, who is a Senior Fellow at CNAS and Director of the Joining Forces Initiative; General Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army; Juliette Kayyem, national security columnist for The Boston Globe and a lecturer in public policy at Harvard University; and Dr. Jan Kemp, National Mental Health Program Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    | more |
  • suicide, military, iraq, afghanistan, veterans, chiarelli, cnas, joining forces
    Video - Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide (Q&A)
    Date: 11/01/2011
    Media: Video

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held an event, Losing the Battle, on November 1, 2011, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., to discuss the issue of suicide in the U.S. military with a distinguished panel of experts, including the author of the CNAS report, Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide, Dr. Margaret Harrell, who is a Senior Fellow at CNAS and Director of the Joining Forces Initiative; General Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army; Juliette Kayyem, national security columnist for The Boston Globe and a lecturer in public policy at Harvard University; and Dr. Jan Kemp, National Mental Health Program Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    | more |
  • suicide, military, iraq, afghanistan, veterans, chiarelli, cnas, joining forces
    Video Highlights - Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide
    Date: 11/01/2011
    Media: Video

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held an event, Losing the Battle, on November 1, 2011, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., to discuss the issue of suicide in the U.S. military with a distinguished panel of experts, including the author of the CNAS report, Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide, Dr. Margaret Harrell, who is a Senior Fellow at CNAS and Director of the Joining Forces Initiative; General Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army; Juliette Kayyem, national security columnist for The Boston Globe and a lecturer in public policy at Harvard University; and Dr. Jan Kemp, National Mental Health Program Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    | more |
  • Dr. Nora Bensahel
    Dr. Nora Bensahel
    Deputy Director of Studies and Senior Fellow

    Dr. Nora Bensahel is Deputy Director of Studies and a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security.  She recently co-authored Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity, and Sustainable Pre-eminence: Reforming the U.S. Military at a Time of Strategic Change. Her other research interests include stability operations, counterinsurgency, civilian capacity for operations abroad, and coalition and alliance operations. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Security Studies Program at the Edmund A.

    | Read Full Bio |