Rethinking a Middle East in Transition

Presents the opinions of an array of experts on the region, drawn from their presentations at the Middle East Institute’s 64th Annual Conference in November 2010, on the eve of the Jasmine Revolution. Topics include the Arab-Israeli peace process; Iran and its role in the region; the challenges of the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan; condition in Iraq as the U.S. withdraws its forces; the Obama administration’s policies in response to these issues and more. TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface by Wendy J. Chamberlin, Middle East Institute Introduction by Kenneth H. WIlliams, Marine Corps University Press Part I: America's Middle East Policy in the Second Half of the Obama Term1. Efforts in Israeli-Palestinian Mediation by David Makovsky, Washington Institute for Near East Policy 2. Iraq: The Jury is Sill Out by Joost R. Hiltermann, International Crisis Group 3. Taking Stock of U.S. Policy Toward Iran by Suzanne Maloney, Brookings Institution4. Connecting the Dots: A Comprehensive Strategy for a Broader Middle East by Edward P. Djerejian, Baker Institute, Rice University 5. Discussion of America's Middle East Policy Moderated by Barbara K. Bodine, Princeton University Part II: New Approaches to Nonstate Armed Actors 6. Negotiating with Terrorists by Mitchell B. Reiss, Washington College 7. State versus Nonstate Interventions in Fragile States by David Kilcullen, Center for a New American Security 8. What are Our Objectives with Nonstate Actors? by Robert Malley, International Crisis Group 9. De-radicalization and Disengagement Programs by Peter R. Neumann, King's College, London 10. Discussion of New Approaches to Nonstate Armed Actors Moderated by Roger Hardy, Woodwrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Part III: Shifting Regional Dynamics: Turkey, Israel, Iran and the Arab States 11. Turkey's Middle East Policy by Omer Taspinar, Brookings Institution 12. The Rising Iran? by Alex Vantanka, Middle East Institute 13. Israel's Perspective on the Broader Middle East by itamar Ravinovich, Tel Aviv University 14. The Arab Dimension of the Regional System by Shibley Telhami, University of Maryland/Brookings Institution 15. Discussion of Shifting Regional Dynamics Moderated by Genieve Abdo, The Century FoundationPart IV: Reevaluating U.S. Policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan 16. Afghanistan and Pakistan -- Where are We? by Brian Katulis, Center for American Progress 17. Military Strategy in the South Asian Theater by Stephen D. Biddle, Council on Foreign Relations 18. Reevaluating U.S. Policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Paul R. Pillar, Georgetown University 19. Pakistan-U.S. Relations by Hassan Abbas, Columbia University 20. Discussion of U.S. Policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan Moderated by Caroline Wadhams, Center for American Progress Contributors Index