POMED Notes: Political Reform and Religious Freedom in Bahrain
October 15th, 2008 by Jason
The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the Congressional Task Force on Religious Freedom co-hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill featuring Toby Jones, Nabeel Ahmed Rajab, Abduljaleel Al Singace, and Maryam Al Khawaja to discuss the state of political reform and religious freedom in Bahrain. The briefing was chaired by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).
The panelists talked about the systematic oppression and marginalization of the majority Shia by the ruling Sunnis. They called for greater U.S. engagement, and stressed that they do not seek the overthrow of the regime, but merely the guarantee of equal rights and religious freedom under the current system.
For POMED’s notes on the event, click here.
Posted in Bahrain, DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Event Notes, Human Rights, POMED, Reform | Comment »
POMED Notes: Prophets and Princes: Saudi Arabia from Muhammad to the Present
October 14th, 2008 by Tariq
This afternoon the Middle East Institute hosted Mr. Mark Weston to speak about his new book, Prophets and Princes: Saudi Arabia from Muhammad to the Present.
Weston argued that Saudi Arabia is the most important U.S. ally in the region, and the spiritual and economic center of the Middle East. Furthermore, the creation of an Allegiance Institution to approve prospective rulers, and the possibility of limited elected membership in the Shura council, are signs of limited government and the earliest inklings of democracy.
For POMED’s notes on this event, click here.
Posted in Event Notes, Saudi Arabia | Comment »
POMED Notes: “The Political Empowerment of Moroccan Women”
October 11th, 2008 by Tariq
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, in partnership with Vital Voices Global Partnership and The Georgetown University Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, commemorated Morocco’s “National Women’s Day” on October 10th, 2008, by holding a panel discussion on “The Political Empowerment of Moroccan Women.” Panelists included Ms. Aicha Afifi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco; Ms. Mahnaz Afkhami, President and CEO of Women’s Learning Partnership; Dr. Laith Kubba, Senior Director for Middle East/North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy; and Dr. Loubna Skalli-Hanna, Assistant Professor at American University’s School of International Service.
Speakers emphasized the role of civic participation, grassroots activism, and technology; and suggested ways to use the Moroccan example as a model of change for other activists in the Middle East/Muslim world who seek similar reform.
For POMED’s notes on this event, click here.
Posted in Event Notes, Freedom, Human Rights, Morocco, Reform, Women | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Qur’anic Guidance for Good Governance”
October 10th, 2008 by Tariq
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) held a Caux Round Table discussion on “Qur’anic Guidance for Good Governance” on Thursday. Stephen Young, Global Executive Director of the Caux Round Table, described meetings with Islamic scholars from the International Islamic University of Malaysia, and emphasized the compatibility of American style constitutionalism with the Qur’an, and the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, respectively. The event was moderated by Jerry Hyman, Senior Adviser and President of the CSIS Hills Program on Governance.
For POMED’s notes on this event, click here.
Posted in Event Notes, Islam and Democracy, Political Islam | Comment »
POMED Notes: Hill Event on Democracy in Egypt
October 10th, 2008 by Tariq
On Tuesday, the American Islamic Congress held a Capitol Hill lunch event on prospects of Democratic reform in Egypt entitled, “Democracy in Egypt: Can It Wait?” Speakers included Sherif Mansour of Freedom House, Dr. Dwight Bashir of the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom, and Atef Al-Saadawy of the National Endowment for Democracy, moderated by Zahir Janmohamed of Amnesty International.
Speakers called for rescinding the Emergency Status law and highlighted the need for a more independent legislature and judiciary.
For POMED’s notes on the event, click here.
Posted in DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Event Notes, Human Rights, Judiciary, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Security and Governance in Afghanistan”
October 9th, 2008 by Jason
Yesterday the Center for Strategic and International Studies hosted Ronald Neumann, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (2005-2007), and Arnaud de Borchgrave, Senior Advisor and Director of the CSIS Transnational Threats Project, to discuss the current state of nation building and security in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Neumann said that improved security and justice are priorities for Afghans. He said the proposed increase in troops to Afghanistan is nothing more than a marginal reinforcement to prevent a complete disaster. Neumann said there is much to work with in Afghanistan, and though we may not succeed, there is no reason at all to be hopeless.
Arnaud de Borchgrave said that increasing troops to Afghanistan is putting good money after bad. He also described as critical Saudi Arabia’s recent role in mediating negotiations between the Taliban and Kabul.
For POMED’s notes on this event, click here.
Posted in Afghanistan, DC Event Notes, Event Notes, Military, POMED, Sectarianism, Terrorism, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Event Notes: “Religion and State”
October 6th, 2008 by Jason
This afternoon, POMED and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung hosted a panel discussion titled “Religion and State: A Middle East, U.S., and EU ‘Trialogue.’” The event featured Geneive Abdo, Ibrahim Houdaiby, Bob Edgar, and Dietmar Nietan. The discussion was moderated by Andrew Albertson, Executive Director of POMED.
Geneive Abdo discussed the permanent tension in Islamic societies between the authority of the state and that of the religious clerisy. Ibrahim Houdaiby said that all three major monotheisms share basic human values that should govern societies. He believes a society governed by absolute secularism loses certain human values that only a religious framework can provide.
Dietmar Nietan noted that all European nations share the difficulty of integrating their Muslim populations. He stressed the need for dialogue with religious groups and noted such engagement has proven historically successful. Bob Edgar said that he believes strongly in the separation of church and state, but not in the separation of people of faith from government institutions.
For full notes on this POMED event, click here.
Posted in Egypt, Event Notes, Islam and Democracy, Muslim Brotherhood, POMED, Political Islam, Secularism | Comment »
POMED Event Notes: Saad Eddin Ibrahim and Marc Lynch
September 23rd, 2008 by Jason
Yesterday afternoon, POMED and the Institute for Middle East Studies hosted a discussion featuring Saad Eddin Ibrahim, leading Egyptian dissident and founder of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies in Cairo; and Marc Lynch, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at GWU. The discussion was moderated by Andrew Albertson, Executive Director of POMED, and focused on how the changing dynamics of reform in the region affect efforts at democracy promotion and U.S. policy.
Saad Eddin Ibrahim noted that while democracy cannot be imported or exported, it can be supported by concrete U.S. policy. He called for the U.S. to condition its aid to Egypt in the model of 1975’s Helsinki Accords.
Marc Lynch agreed, and criticized U.S. efforts at democracy promotion under the Freedom Agenda. He said the U.S. should focus on the expansion of “bill of rights” freedoms in order to level the playing field and strengthen opposition forces.
For full notes on this POMED event, click here.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Event Notes, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, Muslim Brotherhood, POMED, US foreign policy | Comment »
This Week’s Events
September 22nd, 2008 by Sarah
Monday, September 22, 2008
2:00pm Project on Middle East Democracy: A Time of Transition: U.S. Impact on Reform in a Changing Middle East
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
10:00am New America: Jihadists’ Revolt Against Al Qaeda
10:00am Wilson: The Other Euro-Islam: Sufism in Turkey and the Balkans
12:00pm Heritage: They Must Be Stopped: Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam and How We Can Do It
12:00pm MEI: How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering al-Qaeda
1:30pm Brookings: Reforming U.S. Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communication: Views from Congress
3:00pm National Press Club: Radical Islam and Its Muslim Critics
4:00pm CGD: Beyond Population: Everybody Counts in Development
5:30pm IMES: The Middle East: For the Next Administration
7:00pm Georgetown: Prospects for Peace: 2009 and Beyond in Middle East
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
11:30am Heritage: Security in Afghanistan: Progress and Challenges
12:00pm Wilson: Algeria’s Efforts to Fight Terrorism
Thursday, September 25, 2008
4:00pm Wilson: Book Launch—To Lead the World: American Strategy After the Bush Doctrine
6:30pm IMES: The Honorable John D. Negroponte
Posted in Events, Events, Uncategorized | Comment »
POMED Event Notes: Human Rights and Rule of Law in Egypt
September 11th, 2008 by Jason
On Wednesday, The Project on Middle East Democracy hosted Marc Lynch, Ambassador Nicholas Veliotes, and Michele Dunne to discuss the current state of democratic reform and human rights in Egypt and the U.S. foreign policy implications. The event was moderated by Stephen McInerney, Director of Advocacy at POMED.
Marc Lynch discussed the disturbing state of affairs in Egypt today, and said he is not optimistic about the short-term future of Egyptian reform in the face of increasing economic despair, labor unrest, and no legitimate outlet for political expression. Despite this, Lynch said the U.S. must continue to forcefully advocate for political and human rights reform. A copy of Marc’s prepared remarks is up at his blog, Abu Aardvark.
Ambassador Veliotes said he believes the stability of the U.S.-Egyptian relationship is paramount, and since the U.S. cannot force other nations to change for the better, it shouldn’t even try. Michele Dunne agreed that the U.S. cannot be the impetus for change in Egypt, but it can and should add its support to the strong indigenous demand for change.
For full notes on this POMED Event, click here.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Event Notes, Human Rights, POMED, US foreign policy | Comment »
This Week’s Events
September 8th, 2008 by Sarah
Monday, September 8, 2008
12:00pm Wilson Center: Freedom “After” Speech, Saad Eddin Ibrahim
1:30pm U.S. Institute of Peace: Antiquities in Iraq: Cultural Heritage and Iraq’s Future
6:30pm World Affairs Council: Author Series Event with Marwan Mausher - The Arab Center
7:00pm Politics and Prose: Ron Suskind
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
11:00am Heritage Foundation: Politics, Priorities, and American Defense Spending
12:00pm Middle East Institute: Dubai & Co.: Global Strategies for Doing Business in the Gulf States
3:30pm New America Foundation: Against Us, The New Face of America’s Enemies in the Muslim World
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
1:00pm Heritage Foundation: Experiencing America: Public Diplomacy at its Best
2:00pm POMED: Egypt Today: The State of Human Rights and Rule of Law
4:00pm Brookings Institution: Can the World Be Governed?
4:30pm SAIS: Tell Me How This Ends: General David Petraeus and the Search For a Way Out of Iraq
Thursday, September 11, 2008
12:00pm Hudson Institute: The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq
12:00pm Middle East Institute: A Path Out of the Desert: A Grand Strategy for America in the Middle East
Friday, September 12, 2008
12:00pm Wilson Center: Book Launch: Undeclared War and the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy
And you can always check out POMED’s Events Calendar for a current listing of events in the Washington D.C. area related to democratic reform, U.S. foreign policy, and the Middle East.
Posted in Events, Events | Comment »
POMED Notes: Bing West at MEI on Iraq
September 4th, 2008 by Jason
Yesterday the Middle East Institute hosted Iraq war correspondent and former Assistant Secretary of Defense Bing West to discuss his new book, The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq.
West focused on the genesis and impact of both the 2006 Sunni Awakening and the 2007 U.S. military troop surge. West attributes the turnaround to the change in miliitary strategy and the ability to capitalize on the Sunnis’ desire to turn against al-Qaeda. He also talked about Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s recent assertiveness and its implications for future political reconciliation.
For full POMED notes on the event, click here.
Posted in Event Notes, Iraq, Military, POMED | Comment »
POMED Notes: Pakistan, Toward Democracy and Stability
August 19th, 2008 by Sarah
Today, the New America Foundation invited Ambassador Husain Haqqani and Steve Coll to discuss the future of Pakistan. Ambassador Husain Haqqani is the Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. and Steve Coll is President of the New America Foundation. The event was moderated by Steve Clemons, Director of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation.
Haqqani was optimistic in noting that “for the first time Pakistani politicians are united in making Pakistan a functioning democracy.”
For POMED’s full notes, click here.
Posted in Event Notes, Pakistan | Comment »
POMED Notes: Back from Baghdad, Views from Veterans of the Iraq Mission
August 15th, 2008 by Sarah
Yesterday, the American Enterprise Institute invited David Bellavia, Capt. Erik Swabb, and Colin Kahl to share their day to day experiences in Iraq, to discuss a potential withdrawal of U.S. troops, and the effects of the Surge on the ground. David Bellavia is a former U.S. Army soldier and co-founder of Vets for Freedom, Capt. Erik Swabb is a U.S. Marine Corps member and currently attends Harvard Law School, and Colin Kahl is a Senior Fellow of the Center for a New American Security. Danielle Pletka, Vice President for Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at AEI, moderated the event.
Despite the heated exchange between participants, all agreed that while there have been great security gains in Iraq, those gains remain fragile.
For POMED’s full notes, click here.
Posted in Event Notes, Iraq, US foreign policy, al-Qaeda | Comment »
POMED Notes: Iraq’s Refugee and IDP Crisis
August 11th, 2008 by Sarah
Today, the Middle East Institute invited Dr. Phebe Marr and Elizabeth Ferris to discuss the Iraqi dislocation within and beyond its border and its effect on political stability in Iraq and the region. Dr. Phebe Marr is a former professor at National Defense University. Elizabeth Ferris is co-director of the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Amb. Wendy Chamberlain, President of MEI, moderated the event.
Both guests spoke of the need to improve Iraqi governance, including health services, schools, and infrastructure, in order to entice Iraqi refugees to voluntarily return to Iraq in order to help rebuild their country.
For POMED’s full notes, click here.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Event Notes, Human Rights, Iraq, US foreign policy | 1 Comment »
POMED Notes: Implications of Turkey’s Constitutional Court Decision
August 7th, 2008 by Sarah
Yesterday, the Brookings Institution invited Cagri Erhan, Ibrahim Kalin, and Murat Yetkin to discuss the Turkish court’s ruling and its implications for Turkey’s relations with the United States and Europe. Cagri Erhan is Vice President of the Center for Eurasian Strategic Studies, Ibrahim Kalin is the Founding Director of the Foundation for Political, Economic, and Social Research, and Murat Yetkin is a columnist for Radikal, a Turkish publication. Brookings Visiting Fellow and former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris moderated the event.
All of the speakers saw the court’s decision as “good step forward for democracy.”
For POMED’s full notes, click here.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Event Notes, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Political Islam, Political Parties, Turkey | Comment »
POMED Notes: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan: Challenges in the Fall and Beyond
August 6th, 2008 by Sarah
Today, the Brookings Institution hosted foreign policy experts Kenneth Pollack, Bruce Riedel and Jeremy Shapiro for a discussion on the state of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as U.S. efforts to partner with Pakistan in confronting al Qaeda. Kenneth Pollack is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Bruce Riedel is Director of Research at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, and Jeremy Shapiro is a Senior Fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy and Director of Research at the Center on the United States and Europe. Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution moderated the event.
Riedel called for the U.S. to “clearly stand behind the new democratically-elected government” in Pakistan, while Pollack recommended that the U.S. aggressively engage Iran in order to best serve our interests in the region.
For POMED’s full notes, click here.
Posted in Afghanistan, Elections, Event Notes, Foreign Aid, Iran, Iraq, Legislation, Pakistan, Terrorism, US foreign policy, al-Qaeda | Comment »
This Week’s Events
August 4th, 2008 by Adam
Wednesday August 6, 2008
11:oo Brookings Institution: Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan: U.S. Foreign Policy Challenges This Fall and Beyond
3:30 Brookings Institution: The Implications of Turkey’s Constitutional Court Decision on the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
Thursday August 7, 2008
2:00 NDI/IRI: New Directions for Democracy Promotion: Opportunities and Challenges for the Next Administration in Pursuing Global Good Governance
7:00 Politics & Prose: Kenneth Pollack
And you can always check out POMED’s Events Calendar for a current listing of events in the Washington D.C. area related to democratic reform, U.S. foreign policy, and the Middle East.
Posted in Events, Events, This Week's Events | Comment »
POMED’s Weekly Wire - August 4
August 4th, 2008 by Sarah
POMED’s Weekly Wire for August 4th is now available.
This week’s edition includes Congressional hearings on Lebanon, al-Qaeda, and the future of U.S. foreign policy, as well as a surprising ruling by the Turkish Constitutional Court.
The full Weekly Wire can be viewed as a pdf here.
Posted in Weekly Wire | Comment »
Saad Eddin Ibrahim Receives Prison Sentence
August 4th, 2008 by Sarah
Saad Eddin Ibrahim, prominant Egyptian dissident and member of POMED’s Board of Advisors, has been sentenced to 2 years in prison, after an Egyptian judge found that Ibrahim’s writings had harmed the country’s reputation. Ibrahim has urged President Bush and Congress to tie financial aid to Egypt to democractic reform, and has accused President Hosni Mubarak of manipulating the country’s peaceful relationship with Israel, as well as fears of Islamist extremism, to keep U.S. aid flowing.
In response to his sentence, Ibrahim states, “my real crime is speaking out in defense of the democratic governance Egyptians deserve.”
Blake Hounshell at FP Passport argues that despite the fact that Ibrahim has a lot of admirers on Capitol Hill, that “with the [Bush administration’s] ‘freedom agenda’ long dead, perhaps Hosni Mubarak’s government….thinks it can get away with it.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Islamist movements, Muslim Brotherhood, POMED, US foreign policy | Comment »
