On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Israeli leaders worry that Iran does not fear America, says Ben Caspit

Al-Monitor columnist Ben Caspit explains why the Israeli budget vote this week; whether Netanyahu still has a chance at a comeback; why another Gaza war is a matter of when, not if; and why Israeli leaders are worried and disappointed by the US approach to Iran. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

World not trusting Israel’s ‘flimsy’ terrorist claims against Palestinian NGO’s, says Daoud Kuttab

Al-Monitor columnist Daoud Kuttab says that Jerusalem and settlements remain the big issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; why Hamas is gaining in popularity; how Palestinian President Mahmoud is managed the consequences of the Abraham Accords and thinking about his legacy and succession;  and why we may see more Palestinian protests in the coming year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-in...

US Turkish relations unlikely to get better under Erdogan says veteran Turkey analyst Alan Makovsky

US Turkish relations remain on life support with Turkey's refusal to relinquish Russian made S 400 missiles. Turkey could face further US sanctions if Turkish president Erdogan acts on his talk about buying more Russian equipment. Turkey analyst Alan Makovsky believes this could lead to final rupture between Turkey and the NATO alliance. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Khamenei may still prefer a nuclear deal over a nuclear weapon, says Ken Pollack

Kenneth Pollack, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses Iraq’s elections, the prospects for an agreement on an Iranian nuclear deal, and why cyber may be part of Israel’s ‘Plan B’ for Iran. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iran unlikely to consider crossing nuclear weapons threshold unless attacked, says Ali Vaez

Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, discusses why the Iran nuclear talks could remain in ‘suspended animation;’ why some Iranian leaders may prefer to stick with the ‘resistance economy’ rather than pursue sanctions relief under a new nuclear deal; why the window for goodwill gestures to shake up the nuclear talks may have passed; and the prospects for release of Iranian-American detainees in Iran. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and C...

US intervention in Syria is different to Afghanistan says security expert Aaron Stein

As the Biden administration vows to put an end to America's "endless wars," the United States' military campaign against the Islamic State in Syria stands out as a rare success. Several hundred US Special Operations Forces remain in northeast Syria where they are partnered with the Syria Kurds who played a critical role in defeating the jihadis. But the fallout in diplomatic terms with NATO ally Turkey has been huge. Aaron Stein, Director for Research at the Foreign Policy Research ...

Vivian Salama previews the Biden Administration’s Middle East priorities at the UN General Assembly

Wall Street Journal National Security Reporter Vivian Salama discusses what to expect at the UN this week, including the impact of the US-France diplomatic dispute on the Middle East; why an Iran nuclear deal remains elusive; the state of UN diplomacy in Yemen, Syria and Libya; and more! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Europe, West threatened by Atmospheric Jihadism and the entrepreneurs of wrath, says Gilles Kepel

Professor Gilles Kepel of Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, discusses his latest book, The Prophet and the Pandemic; why Saudi Arabia is shifting its center of gravity to the Red Sea; the symbolism and consequences of Erdogan’s re-Islamization of the Hagia Sophia; and how and why trends in North Africa reach the banileues of Europe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iraqis fear worse chaos amid waning US presence, says Bilal Wahab

The debacle unfolding in Afghanistan starting with the chaotic exit of US troops has reverberated across Iraq with many Iraqis wondering whether a similar future awaits them too. Will the United States pull out of Iraq under pressure from Iran and Iranian backed militias? Will parliamentary elections that are due to be held next month help fix the political paralysis and massive corruption that engulfs the country and how are Iraq’s Kurds coping with it all. Bilal Wahab, a senior fe...

Armenia expert Richard Giragosian: Peace between Armenia, Turkey more likely than before

Turkey helped its Turkic Muslim ally Azerbaijan defeat Armenia in a short and bloody war over the mainly Armenian enclave of Nagorno Karabakh last fall. A Russian brokered peace remains in place and now Turkey says it is ready to reopen its sealed borders and establish diplomatic relations with Armenia . Armenia says it too is ready to normalize ties with Turkey. Given the tragic history, the 1915 genocide of more than a million Armenians by Ottoman forces, and the recent spate of b...

US 'diplomatic muscle' can boost Libyan transition, says former UN Envoy Stephanie Williams

Stephanie Williams, the former acting UN Envoy to Libya, explains the background and prospects for the UN-mediated political transition in Libya; the roles of the US, Turkey, and Russia in the diplomatic process; whether Gen Khalifa Hiftar is strengthened by the unity agreement; and the prospects for elections in December 2021. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Iran has been getting closer to the Taliban for some time, says Shelly Kittleson

Al-Monitor columnist Shelly Kittleson shares observations from her reporting in Afghanistan and Iraq, including the Taliban’s relations with Iran and ISIS; what the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan might mean for ISIS in Iraq; her experiences as a woman journalist covering conflict; and her advice for journalists starting a career in international reporting. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...

Tunisia expert Monica Marks says Tunisia’s Democratic future hangs in the balance following what was unquestionably a coup

Tunisia has long been touted as the sole success story to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings. However last month the country’s president sacked the prime minister and suspended the parliament in a move that’s been largely welcomed by a public fed up with a decade of unresolved corruption and poor management. So what lies next? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Saudis see agreement with US on 90% of issues in region, says Stephen Kalin

Stephen Kalin, Wall Street Journal correspondent based in Riyadh, describes the scope of social, economic, and political change in Saudi Arabia; the prospects for diplomacy with Iran and an end to the Yemen war; the impact of COVID-19 on the Saudi economy; the outlook for Saudi energy policy; US-Saudi relations; and more.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nile Dam talks may be ‘in a lot of trouble,’ says Samuel Ramani

Samuel Ramani, a tutor at the University of Oxford and expert on Russia and Africa, explains why international mediation on the Nile Dam talks may continue to flounder; why the UAE has been an ‘exceptional actor’ in the GERD negotiations; the linkages between the Persian Gulf and Red Sea security; the relative interests and influence of the US, Russia and China in Africa; and more.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p...

Ali Hashem on what to expect from Ebrahim Raisi and the rise of the Hezbollahis in Iran

Al-Monitor columnist Ali Hashem discusses why incoming Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi may not give priority to closing the nuclear deal; why Iran sees an opportunity in Afghanistan; the complex relationships among Iraqi militias and the Iranian government; whether Iran’s policies toward Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinians are likely to change; and more! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. ...

South Asia security expert Ayesha Siddiqa says Turkey is a natural fit for Afghanistan

As Turkey negotiates the terms of retaining its forces at Kabul airport with Washington many air concerns that Turkish troops will be imperilled in the wake of the US withdrawal. The Taliban is wresting back control of much of the country as Afghan government troops flee their positions with some seeking refuge in neighboring Tajikistan. The Taliban has said it wants no foreign troops left behind once the Americans go so what does this spell for Turkey? Contrary to the prevailing vi...

The Gulf moment in the Middle East is here to stay, says Abdulkhaleq Abdulla

Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, UAE Professor of Political Science, discusses why UAE momentum and influence is on the rise in the Middle East; how the Gulf states’ management of the COVID-19 pandemic compares with the West; why the region can be cautiously optimistic on Libya; why the UAE will not back down from either its normalization with Israel or its support for Palestinians; how the region will manage a new Iran nuclear deal, if it happens, and Iran’s new hardline president; the fou...

Turkish academic Tugba Tanyeri: Erdogan’s conversion of Haghia Sophia part of drive to put a Sunni Muslim stamp on Turkey’s urban landscape

Amberin Zaman speaks this week to Tugba Tanyeri Erdemir, a Turkish academic, about the current status of the Haghia Sophia, the 6th century Byzantine cathedral that was converted from a museum to a full service mosque close to a year ago provoking harsh reactions worldwide. Has the structure been damaged? What further “conquests” does Erdogan have in mind as he pushes ahead with his ambitious campaign to supplant modern Turkey’s father Kemal Ataturk as the “greatest” and most conseq...

Biden-Putin summit exceeded expectations, says Fyodor Lukyanov, but US-Russia antagonistic relationship remains

Fyodor Lukyanov, Chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy in Moscow, discusses why Russia wants an agreement with the US on cyber security; why Russia does not expect the US to lift sanctions on Russia; how Russian and Iranian policies differ in Syria; why Syria and Iran are minor issues in US-Russia relations; how to understand Russian President Vladimir Putin’s relationships with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya...

Were the Divas of Egypt’s Roaring 20’s also pioneers of Egyptian Feminism? A conversation with Raphael Cormack

Raphael Cormack, visiting researcher at Columbia University, discusses his book, Midnight in Cairo; profiles the amazing women who shaped and dominated Egypt’s music, theater, film, and cabaret scene in the early 20th century against the backdrop of dramatic political and social change; describes the rivalry between Mounira al-Mahdiyya and Oum Kalthoum, the two most popular entertainers of their times; and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

Children in Gaza most affected by war, says Hana Salah

Hana Salah, Al-Monitor columnist reporting from Gaza, discusses the impact of Israeli restrictions on Gaza’s reconstruction; the lack of clarity on the mechanism for international assistance; why people are flocking to Gaza’s polluted beaches; and how she managed her family life and professional responsibilities while reporting during the bombing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

US-Turkish relations difficult, but manageable, says ECFR senior fellow Asli Aydintasbas

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden are scheduled to hold their first meeting since Biden took office on the sidelines of next week's NATO summit in Brussels. Turkey's growing ties with Russia, symbolized by its acquisition of S-400 missiles, has driven a wedge between Ankara and Washington that is threatening to grow ever wider. Can the two leaders reverse this downward spiral? Veteran journalist Asli Aydintasbas, who is a senior fellow at the European...

Despite Gaza devastation, Hamas may have gained politically from war, says Shibley Telhami

Dr. Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, Director of the University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll, and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains what to expect, and not expect, from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to the region this week; why another eruption of political violence is likely, unless Israeli occupation policies are addressed; what’s next for US-Egypt relations; the limits of the Abraham Accords in he...

Latest Israel-Hamas war won’t resolve underlying problems, says Jon Alterman

Jon Alterman, senior vice president, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy and director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the escalation in violence in Israel and Gaza and its impact on Israeli and Palestinian politics; the prospects for US mediation to stop the fighting; US-Israel relations under the Biden Administration; US policy toward Iran and the region; China’s role in the Middle East; and more! ...

Ebtesam Al-Ketbi discusses the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis, the Abraham Accords, the Iran talks, UAE diplomacy in the Horn of Africa, and more

Dr. Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Center, discusses how the Abraham Accords could help provide context for tough concessions on the most controversial issues facing Israelis and Palestinians; UAE interests and expectations in dealing with regional security and Iran; why the UAE is well-placed to help mediate in the Horn of Africa; how the Gulf manages the US-China competition; and hew own journey as distinguished academic to founder of one of the region’s most i...

Gaza preparing for escalation between Israel and Hamas over Jerusalem, says Hana Salah

Hana Salah, Al-Monitor columnist based in Gaza, discusses the uptick in violence after the cancellation of Palestinian elections and skirmishes in Jerusalem; why Gaza youth feel hopeless about politics; the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and people’s lives; disappointment among Gazans over the Abraham accords; perceptions of Iran; and expectations regarding the Biden Administration’s policies in the region. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy N...

Middle East scholar Arzu Yilmaz says limits of Turkish military activity in Iraq are mostly set by Iran

Middle East scholar Arzu Yilmaz argues that Iran has made irreversible gains in Iraq allowing it to more or less dictate the limits of Turkish intervention in Iraq. Turkey is free to operate against the Kurdistan Workers Party in Iraqi Kurdistan but territories such as Sinjar that are disputed between Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurds are a red line. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ambassador Murat Mercan expects more US-Turkish cooperation, despite differences

Murat Mercan, Turkey’s Ambassador to the United States, discusses the prospects for enhanced US-Turkish cooperation during the Biden Administration; his country’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system; Turkey’s position on Syria, the Kurds, Ukraine, Greece, Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean; and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sudan hoping for shift in Ethiopian position on Nile Dam talks, says Nureldin Satti, Sudan’s Ambassador to the United States

Nureldin Satti, Sudan’s Ambassador to the United States, says that the ‘stumbling block’ in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations so far has been Ethiopia’s unwillingness to engage in talks leading to a binding agreement; that, with an agreement, the GERD can be a symbol of integration rather than a cause of conflict; that Sudan does not occupy Ethiopian territory; that US-Sudan ties have indeed entered a ‘new chapter; the prospects for ties with Israel; and the po...

Is Turkey's authoritarian president losing his grip? Wishful thinking, says Ankara-based journalist Raziye Akkoc

Raziye Akkoc, a British-Turkish journalist based in Ankara who reports for Agence France Presse and co-edits a highly regarded weekly newsletter Turkey Recap, speaks to Amberin Zaman about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unchallenged grip on politics. For all his recent setbacks — most notably a weakening economy — he is, she says, "still the guy." Early elections are a possibility and his alliance with far right nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli is likely to last. See Pri...

On China-Iran ties: follow the money, not the MOU’s, says Afshin Molavi

Afshin Molavi, senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins University SAIS Foreign Policy Institute and founder of Emerging World newsletter, discusses why we shouldn’t oversell the Iran-China agreement; the prospects for employment and growth in the MENA region following the coronavirus pandemic; the post-covid prospects for Dubai and Egypt; China’s role in the region; the ‘disruption-proof trends in emerging markets; and more! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

Renad Mansour of Chatham House breaks down Iraq’s power networks and the PMU’s

Renad Mansour, senior research fellow and project director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House, discusses the origins, impacts and trends in Iraq’s protest movements; the influence and role of the US and Iran in Iraqi politics and security; the normalization of Iraq’s foreign policy; how network analysis informs our understanding of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units; and the challenges to incremental reform in Iraq.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...

Healing child soldiers of the Islamic State remains huge challenge for Iraq, says Sherri Kraham Talabany

Sherri Kraham Talabany, the president and executive director of the Iraqi Kurdistan-based SEED Foundation NGO, speaks to Amberin Zaman this week about the enormous challenges facing Iraq as the country grapples with the human toll of the havoc and brutality wreaked by the Islamic State. Few have suffered as much as the country's Yazidi community, with thousands of its women abducted, raped and enslaved, as well as young boys used as child soldiers, in a wave of violence across Iraq ...

Post-conflict stabilization in Yemen should be locally-driven and have regional buy-in, says Denise Natali

Dr. Denise Natali, former Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations and Director of the Center for Strategic Research at the National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies, discusses the impact of the bipartisan Global Fragility Act on US policy; the challenges of re-integration of non-state armed individuals and groups in the Middle East; why post-conflict stabilization in Yemen will need to be locally driven and supported by its...

Time for a rethink — and a shift away from ‘threatism ’— for US strategy in the Middle East, says RAND team

Dalia Dassa Kaye, RAND senior political scientist and Wilson Center Fellow; Linda Robinson, Director of the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy; and Jeffrey Martini, RAND Senior Middle East researcher, discuss their recent RAND report, ‘Reimaging US strategy in the Middle East, including a new approach to assess US partnerships in the region; how Iran can be ‘right sized’ in US strategy; the increasing importance of Iraq as a regional partner for the United States; why the US ...

‘Tech That’: Sam Blatteis, former head of Google Gulf Government Relations, takes us inside the Middle East Digital Boom

Sam Blatteis, CEO of The MENA Catalysts, explains the continued potential and vitality of the digital economy and high tech sectors in the Gulf, post-COVID; the Gulf’s commitment to the knowledge economy, and how it has become a differentiator in a fragmenting Arab world; why the US is still the partner of choice for Gulf governments, but why and how the US-China competition for influence in the region may be heating up; the synergies between the Gulf and Silicon Valley; and more. ...

Who are the Syrian Kurdish women fighters who took down the Islamic State? Gayle Tzemach Lemmon tells the inside story

Yemen may be best opportunity for regional diplomacy with Iran, says Mohsen Milani

Mohsen Milani, professor of politics at the University of South Florida and a leading scholar of Iranian politics, discusses why Iran is ready to talk with the US, and reenter the Iran nuclear deal, but only from a position of strength; why Iran is in a stronger regional position today than it was 30 years ago; what to expect in Iranian politics and the presidential election; who will follow Ayatollah Khamenei; why Iran will not give up the right to enrich uranium, and more; also, A...

Ethiopia showing ‘no political will whatsoever’ to reach deal on Nile Dam, says Egyptian Ambassador Motaz Zahran

Motaz Zahran, Egypt’s ambassador to the United States, discusses why US and international mediation is required to break the stalemate in Renaissance Dam talks; why the US-Egyptian relationship ‘transcends local politics’; Turkey’s ‘destructive role’ in Libya; the Egyptian economy’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic; Egypt’s role in Libya and in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts; and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

Hebah Fisher on why podcasts are becoming the medium of choice for Arab youth

Hebah Fisher, Co-Founder and CEO of Kerning Cultures Network, discusses trends in media consumption in the Middle East, the power of sound and storytelling, and why young people in the region are turning to podcasts instead of radio. Also: Andrew’s take on why the Biden Administration is well-placed to help the break the deadlock in the Nile Dam talks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. ...

Can Syria be stitched back together again? Not any time soon says analyst Elizabeth Tsurkov

Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian scholar and a fellow at the Center for Global Policy who has followed the Syrian conflict from the ground since the beginning, talks with Amberin about how over the past decade a peaceful civilian uprising against the government of Bashar al-Assad degenerated into a seemingly endless series of conflicts within conflicts. The country is effectively divided into at least three separate zones of influence. Tsurkov addresses how the incoming Biden a...

‘Things are going to get tougher’ in US-Turkey relations, says Amberin Zaman

Al-Monitor Senior Correspondent Amberin Zaman discusses why US-Turkey relations are unlikely to get better; the Kurdish question in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria; why an Israel-Turkey rapprochement is not imminent; and her new role as the other host of ‘on the Middle East….also Andrew’s take on Hamas and Egypt’s vital role in regional peace efforts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Arab youth turning to podcasts for expression, culture, and connection, says Leila Hamadeh

Leila Hamadeh, Co-founder and CEO of Finyal Media, explains how Arab youth are seeking new media outlets and platforms for expression and connection, and to bridge the gap between traditional and modern culture. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Pentagon Official Mick Mulroy makes the case for US staying power in Middle East

Mick Mulroy -- former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, retired CIA officer and co-founder of the Lobo Institute—discusses why the US needs to stay engaged in the Middle East, including militarily, to prevent ISIS 2.0; the prospects for the US-Saudi partnership and the future of Yemen; and whether and how US partners could endorse a new Iran deal. Also:  Andrew’s take on whether Sudan launched a sequel to the Arab Spring in December 2018. See Privacy Policy...

Al-Monitor correspondents Hagedorn, Lucente, and Szuba on what to expect from the Biden Administration in the Middle East

Elizabeth Hagedorn, Adam Lucente, and Jared Szuba discuss what the Biden Administration can expect, and what we might expect from the Biden Administration and the next Congress, in dealing with the Middle East, including policies toward Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, human rights, the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mahmoud Abbas has ‘frozen’ the Palestinian movement, says Daoud Kuttab

Al-Monitor columnist and media activist Daoud Kuttab breaks down the present and future of Palestinian politics, assesses the impact of Israel’s normalization agreements and the prospects for a renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace track, and explains why he is optimistic, and relieved, about a Joe Biden Administration…as well as Andrew Parasiliti’s comment on the signals from Tehran on the pathways to a US-Iran nuclear deal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ...

Israeli scholar Micky Aharonson breaks down Putin’s strategy in Israel, Iran and Syria

Ms. Micky Aharonson, senior research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, and a former senior director on Israel’s National security council, discusses why she is upbeat about US-Israel relations under a Biden Administration; Russian President Vladimir Putin’s role in the region; why Israel would prefer an Arab strategy to try to break Assad’s ties to Iran ; and the prospects for further normalization and an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference, as well as my...

Biden Administration should give early priority to setting clear expectations for Saudi policy

Dr. Karen Young, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses why the Biden Administration needs early and clear communication regarding US policy toward Saudi Arabia and Iran; prospects for healing the rift within the GCC; the potential and constraints of economic normalization between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain; the prospects for Egyptian and GCC economies post-COVID; and more…as well as my recommendations for the best books on US President-elect Joe Biden....

Turkey may no longer be model partner, but US has interest in finding common ground where it can

Dr. Philip Gordon, Mary and David Boies Senior Fellow in US Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, former White House Coordinator for the Middle East, and author of Losing the Long Game: The False Promise of Regime Change in the Middle East, discusses the lessons learned, and not learned, from US regime change efforts in the region; trends in US policies toward Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq; the benefits and limits of Israel’s normalization agreements with the UAE, Bahr...