Embracing a New Status Quo

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Embracing a New Status Quo

US-Gulf relations are critical for stability, energy resources, investment, and other key US interests in the Middle East. The flurry of analysis in the Western press has been unanimous in emphasizing the need to reassure America’s Gulf allies.  However, while these analyses are well reasoned, they overlook three important political conditions in the region.

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Morning Highlights

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  • Al Jazeera's Marwan Bishara argues that the United States cannot afford to downplay Arab concerns over its detente with Iran. I can't say I agree with everything he writes in this Op-Ed, but Bishara does raise legitimate concerns.
  • Not directly related to the Middle East, but interesting nonetheless: is it time for the Germans to play a greater military role globally? Imagine what impact a more aggressive German foreign policy could have on the Middle East.
  • Daniel Byman and Natan Sachs, writing in Foreign Affairs, remind us that, despite almost two decades since Israeli PM Rabin's assassination, the problem of West Bank settler extremism has yet to be addressed.
  • On a subject that's particularly close to my heart — constitutionalism — Sec. of State Kerry maintains that Egypt is "following the right path" as it approaches its national constitutional referendum.  This guy disagrees.