Weekend Roundup: Jan. 18-21

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Weekend Roundup: Jan. 18-21

In this weekend's roundup:

  • U.N. Rescinds Iran Invitation to Syria Conference
  • Syrian Defector Reveals Graphic Images of Detainees in al-Assad’s Prison Camps
  • Iran Limits Nuclear Activity in Accordance with P5 + 1 Deal
  • UAE Convicts 30 of Organizing Illegal Muslim Brotherhood Branch
  • Egyptian Supporters of al-Sisi Urge a Presidential Run
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You’re invited but your friend can’t come: Iran and Geneva II

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You’re invited but your friend can’t come: Iran and Geneva II

The successful American attempt to prohibit Iranian participation at the Geneva II peace talks on the Syrian crisis is a mistake.  By excluding Iran, the United States action ignores the traditional political behavior of the ethnic and religious communities in the Levant and thus significantly decreases the chances of achieving tangible results in Geneva.

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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.