The Project on Middle East Democracy Wire is a blog serving policymakers, democracy advocates, and the academic community by providing comprehensive coverage of the debates surrounding U.S. foreign policy and prospects for democracy in the Middle East. By reporting on the full range of debate, including opinions with which we disagree, we aim to provide a one-stop shop for readers who share our concerns.

We are not without an agenda. For both moral and strategic reasons, we believe the U.S. should more consistently support democracy in the Middle East (for more on this, see our principles). At times, we will publish articles by individuals who share our perspective and have expertise on U.S. policy toward particular countries.

Nonetheless, opinions expressed on our blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of POMED as an organization.

Main Contributors:

Matthew Hickey is a Program Assistant for the Project on Middle East Democracy who covers the 2008 Presidential Campaign for the POMED Wire. He is also an MA candidate at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. Prior to joining POMED, Matt interned at the Council on Foreign Relations and worked for two years on domestic education issues with the American Institutes for Research. Matt graduated from Boston College in 2003 with a BA in Sociology and a minor in French. Contact Matt at matthew.hickey@pomed.org.

Amanda Kadlec is a Legislative Assistant with the Project on Middle East Democracy and is an MA candidate in International Affairs at the George Washington University’s Elliot School. She obtained a BS in Finance from St. Louis University, and after working in Public Finance turned her attention toward US Foreign Policy with particular focus on the Middle East. She studied the Arabic language in Cairo for five months before beginning her graduate education and has returned to Cairo this summer to continue her Arabic study. Contact Amanda at amanda.kadlec@pomed.org.

Adam Merriam is a Legislative Assistant with the Project on Middle East Democracy and is a MA candidate in Security Studies at Georgetown University. He obtained a BA in Politics and Government from the University of Hartford where he became interested in the promotion of civil and political rights in the Middle East. Contact Adam at adam.merriam@pomed.org

Sarah Saadian is a Legislative Assistant with the Project on Middle East Democracy. She is a J.D. candidate at the University of Connecticut School of Law seeking a Graduate Certificate in Human Rights. She obtained a B.A. in History from the University of Virginia in 2005. Contact Sarah at sarah.saadian@pomed.org

Stephen McInerney serves as POMED’s Director of Advocacy and Editor of the POMED Wire blog and the Weekly Wire digest. He has more than six years experience in the Middle East, including graduate studies of Middle Eastern politics, history, and the Arabic language at the American University of Beirut and the American University in Cairo. His commentary on Middle East politics and U.S. foreign policy has appeared in publications including the Washington Post, the Arab Reform Bulletin, The Daily Star and the New Republic. He has spoken on Middle East affairs with numerous media outlets including MSNBC and CBS News. Contact Steve at stephen.mcinerney@pomed.org.

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