March 25, 2013
Category: Conflict, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Elections, Featured, Iraq, Sectarianism
PKK Leader Orders Ceasefire; Turkey, Israel Normalize Relations
The imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, called on Thursday for a truce in its decades-long insurgency in southeast Turkey. He also urged the group's militants to withdraw from Turkey. His statement was received with cheers at ...
Congressmen Urge Iraq to Ground Iranian Flights
Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) are expected to send a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki today expressing their concern with Iranian arms shipments across Iraq en route to Syria. Robert Ford, the U.S. ...
March 22, 2013
Category: Congress, Diplomacy, Featured, Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: Senate Hearing “Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis”
On Tuesday, March 19, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs held a hearing titled “Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis.” The witnesses were divided into three panels. Panel 1 consisted of the Honorable Anne C. Richard, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and the Honorable Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at the U.S. Agency for ...
March 21, 2013
Category: Conflict, Congressional Hearing Notes (Senate), Diplomacy, Human Rights, Political transition, Syria, United Nations, US foreign policy, Women, Youth
POMED Notes: House Hearing “Crisis in Syria: The U.S. Response”
The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the current conflict in Syria titled “Crisis in Syria: The U.S. Response.” Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford, U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne Richard and USAID Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Nancy Lindborg were witnesses. Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) presided. For full event notes, continue reading ...
March 20, 2013
Category: Congress, Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Hezbollah, Islamist movements, Political transition, Syria, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: “U.S. Policy in the Middle East on the Eve of President Obama’s Trip”
The Center for American Progress held an event on Tuesday, March 19th, titled “U.S. Policy in the Middle East on the Eve of President Obama’s Trip.” It featured a keynote address by Sandy Berger, chair of the Albright Stonebridge Group and former National Security Advisor, and a panel discussion including Berger and Rudy deLeon, Senior Vice President for National Security and International Policy, Center for American Progress; Martin Indyk, Vice ...
POMED Notes: “Obama to the Middle East: Implications and Expectations”
Ahead of President Obama's upcoming trip to Israel and Jordan, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy held a policy forum titled "Obama to the Middle East: Implications and Expectations" on Tuesday, March 18, 2013. It featured Ambassador Dennis Ross, Counselor to the Washington Institute and former National Security Council member under President Obama, Michael Singh, Managing Director at the Washington Institute, and David Makovsky, Director of Project on the ...
March 18, 2013
Category: Diplomacy, Egypt, Human Rights, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, US foreign policy
Video of the Day: U.S. Amb. Robert Ford Addresses the Syrian People
U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford recently released this address to the Syrian people (in Arabic). Ford has served as the Ambassador to Syria since 2010, and served in-country until he was recalled in October 2011 due to safety threats.
March 18, 2013
Category: Diplomacy, Freedom, Political transition, Syria, US foreign policy, US politics
March 14, 2013
Category: Conflict, Diplomacy, Featured, Foreign Aid, Political transition, Syria, US foreign policy
Syrian Opposition in Aleppo Elects Provincial Council
On Monday, a contingent of Syrians from Aleppo announced that the province had elected a civilian council. The election was held this weekend in Gazientep, Turkey, due to safety concerns. Committees throughout the province selected a total of 224 ...
March 5, 2013
Category: Courts and Judiciary, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Featured, Human Rights, Islamist movements, UAE, US foreign policy
U.S. Announces Aid to Egypt
Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the United States will provide $250 million in aid to Egypt following President Mohamed Morsi's promise to move forward on negotiations with the International Monetary Fund over economic reforms. Congress has ...
March 4, 2013
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Featured, Foreign Aid, Political transition, US foreign policy
U.S. Encourages Egyptians to “Get Out and Vote”
During Thursday's daily U.S. Department of State press briefing, Acting Deputy Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell, when asked about the National Salvation Front's decision to boycott Egypt's parliamentary elections, said that the U.S. encourages "all political parties and individuals with an ...
March 1, 2013
Category: Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Featured, Political transition, US foreign policy, US politics
U.S. Announces Nonlethal Assistance to Syrian Opposition
Secretary of State John Kerry announced Thursday that the United States will provide $60 million in nonlethal assistance to the Syrian Opposition Coalition. The assistance will include food rations and medical supplies as well as training, but according ...
February 28, 2013
Category: Conflict, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, EU, Featured, Foreign Aid, Syria, US foreign policy
Rubio: Human Rights “Our Currency” in the World
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) spoke Wednesday at the Washington Institute regarding his recent visit to the Middle East and offered his observations on U.S. foreign policy, political reforms, and foreign aid in the region. Addressing Jordan, Rubio stated he was ...
February 28, 2013
Category: Civil Liberties, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Economics, Featured, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Jordan, Reform, US foreign policy
February 27, 2013
Category: Conflict, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Featured, Foreign Aid, Political transition, Syria, US foreign policy
Syrian Opposition Reverses Decision to Boycott International Conference
The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) reversed its decision to boycott a conference in Rome designed to help raise funds and political support for the Syrian opposition. After a phone call between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and SNC leader Mouaz al-Khatib, ...