Top Five Myths Guiding American Foreign Policy in the Broader Middle East & North Africa Region

January 2010

Despite occasional calibrations reflecting changes in administration, America’s policy towards the Broader Middle East and North Africa region remains highly influenced by a set of misperceptions and ideological stances more related to America’s internal politics than regional realities. This situation has constantly undermined America’s efforts and, occasionally, desire at playing a positive role in the region, and served to transform her into a convenient scapegoat upon which ruling regimes heap blame for all regional woes.

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Few Tweets of Obama and Pipedreams

In our struggle to even things out, to bring a measure of justice into our lives, we should always be aware that the odds are against us. 4:28 PM May 24th
Describing an ugly reality is not the same as endorsing it. We have to know what we are dealing with here. Freedom is not easily achieved. 4:32 PM May 24th
Life is not just. Freedom is not a given. We have to fight hard to get where we want, and have to remain true to who we are in the process. 4:43 PM May 24th
As the world unravels into multipolarity, peace and security, for many, become more hollow as concepts, and more untenable as realities. 3:43 AM May 25th
Ours is an age of many fast-paced transformations, too far reaching, too overwhelming, the violent atavistic backlash is already unfolding. 3:56 AM May 25th Continue reading “Few Tweets of Obama and Pipedreams” →

Activists honored by President George W. Bush

On July 24, I was invited to attend President George W. Bush speech on his Freedom Agenda, an event hosted by USAID. Prior to the speech, and alongside a number of colleagues from Belarus, Cuba, Burma, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Zimbabwe, we had a brief encounter with the President. One the most memorable aspect of the meeting was when the President whispered in my ear that he was sorry for not doing enough about Syria. Continue reading “Activists honored by President George W. Bush” →

Defending America’s “Freedom Agenda”

Project Syndicate

Former Syrian MP and political prisoner Mamoun al-Homsi, Kurdish activist Djengizkhan Hasso of the Executive Council of the National Assembly of Kurdistan, and I recently met with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office. National Security Adviser Steven Hadley, Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams, National Security Adviser to the Vice President John Hannah, and several other officials also attended the hour-long meeting.

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