U.S. diplomacy can help build shock absorbers in key bilateral ties to buffet against threats to global stability.

My latest in The Liberal Patriot on one key relationship:

liberalpatriot.com/p/a-middle-eas…

أقر مجلس النواب حزمة مساعدات مؤجلة من ثلاثة أجزاء في عطلة نهاية الأسبوع، ومن المقرر أن يمضي مجلس الشيوخ الأمريكي وإدارة بايدن قدمًا في دعم القوات المسلحة لأوكرانيا وتايوان وإسرائيل بالإضافة إلى معالجة الوضع الإنساني في غزة التي مزقتها الحرب.
Brian Katulis
mei.edu/blog/monday-br…

Monday Briefing | Eran Etzion ערן עציון, Evren Balta 🫐, Brian Katulis, Nasir Almasri, M. Mahmoud & Marvin G. Weinbaum on Israel-Iran standoff, Turkey’s hardening pro-Hamas rhetoric, US congressional aid deal, UN Palestine vote, Gulf floods & Pakistan's opposition. Middle East Institute

mei.edu/blog/monday-br…

The United States remains the most influential and powerful external actor in the Middle East, but it faces strong limits on its ability to determine outcomes.

An assessment & report card of Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Middle East Institute

mei.edu/publications/b…

The pro-Russian caucus inside the GOP was defeated on Saturday, and with it Putin's dream of quickly occupying Ukraine. Now the US and Europe need to seize the moment to win, and end, the war

theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

But you can still catch a sense of what it's like by watching these movies and listening to these songs.

A Saturday diversion in The Liberal Patriot with some travel tips based on a recent visit:

liberalpatriot.com/p/saturday-div…

Iranian-style downplaying

Iran's Commander-in-Chief of the Army on Isfahan incident:

'There were several flying objects that were shot at - Any madman can do foolish things'

Recognizing Pal statehood is too important to be wasted.
1. Context matters: Absent changes on the ground, it might resemble the raising of Pal flag at UN Plaza: leaders celebrated, public ridiculed an empty gesture.
2. No freebie:
It should reward, not precede internal reforms.

The United States remains the most influential and powerful external actor in the Middle East, but it faces strong limits on its ability to determine outcomes.

An assessment & report card of Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Middle East Institute

mei.edu/publications/b…

Here is my big news. I am excited about leading @VOA, whose mission is so critical in the defense of journalism, free expression and truth. I am sad to leave Freedom House, but it will continue to prosper because it will always be a bulwark in defense of freedom and democracy.

Famous last words of a think tanker: If only they read our policy report, we wouldn't be in this mess, lol

Middle East Institute report on de-escalation spring '23

cc: Paul Salem Khaled Elgindy Nimrod Goren Randa Slim Mohammed Soliman Alex Vatanka Alistair Taylor et al

mei.edu/publications/p…

Votes in Congress today show just how outnumbered the neo-isolationists on the right & left are.

Yet the political media industrial complex allows fringe voices to punch far above their weight in foreign policy debates these days.

The Liberal Patriot

liberalpatriot.com/p/the-new-poli…

America needs a new Iran policy.

Clowns to the left & jokers to the right have defined the terms of the debate for far too long.

The Liberal Patriot

liberalpatriot.com/p/america-need…

Despite President Biden pressure on Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו, some type of retaliatory strike by Israel against Iran was expected.

My latest w/ insight from Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib Brian Katulis Laura Blumenfeld Johns Hopkins SAIS

voanews.com/a/us-not-invol…

The Biden administration has a reactive, crisis-management approach to the Middle East, driven by tactics in search of a strategy.

Middle East Institute

mei.edu/publications/b…

Joe Biden is winning white college-educated voters by 18 points and losing white non-college voters by 27 points—a colossal gap of 45 points.

Nate Moore on a key political division in today's America.

The Liberal Patriot

liberalpatriot.com/p/the-deepenin…

One Biden official's personal reaction to my report card & grades on how it has handled the Middle East over the last six months:

'Well, we are taking this course pass/fail.'

Report here Middle East Institute

mei.edu/publications/b…