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On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the Chairman of MGM, Paul Salem. Salem serves as Chairman of the Board of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), the global hospitality and entertainment company, and was formerly Chairman of MGM Growth Properties (NYSE: MGP) and is the Founder of Salem Capital Management and The Salem Foundation.Previously, Salem spent 27 years helping build and lead Providence Equity Partners, a global private equity firm specializing in the media, communication, and technology industries. Salem was a Senior Managing Director on Providence Equity's investment team and served as a member of the investment committee and management committees, helping grow the firm to over $50 billion of assets under management. In 1999, Salem established the London office for Providence Equity and in 2008 launched Providence Equity's credit affiliate, Benefit Street Partners. In 2014, Salem led the purchase of Merganser, a Providence Equity affiliate, and in 2017, formed Providence Public, a long/short hedge fund.Salem served as chairman or director for many of Providence Equity's portfolio companies, including Asurion, Eircom, Grupo TorreSur, Madison River Telecom, MetroNet (formerly AT&T Canada), PanAmSat, Tele1 Europe, Verio, and Wired Magazine.Salem is involved in the leadership of several non-profit organizations, including serving as Chairman at Woods Hole Oceanagraphic Institute, board member of Edesia Global Nutrition, and advisory board member of the Carney Institute for Brain Science at Brown University. He formerly served as Chairman of Year Up. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Brown University.Paul Salem:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-salem-42a807191/
Lebanon finally has a new president. After an over two year wait, Joseph Aoun was chosen to be the new President of Lebanon, with a healthy majority of the votes in parliament .Aoun, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces comes into office with a bulging in tray of problems to sort out. This week on The New Arab Voice podcast, we examine what Aoun's priorities will and what are the challenges that he will have to face? Can Aoun bring stability to the Israel/Lebanon border? And following their war with Israel, where does Hezbollah stand in this new phase of Lebanon's history. Joining us to discuss the new president is Paul Salem (@paul_salem), the Vice President for international Engagement at the Middle East Institute (@MiddleEastInst).This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).Theme music by Omar al-Fil. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For decades the Islamic Republic of Iran used its ties to Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen to create conflict and shore up its power in the Middle East and beyond. But in 2024 Iran's plans and power fell apart in spectacular fashion, from Assad's fall in Syria to Israel's devastating attacks on its proxy groups. Once able to export chaos with impunity, Tehran is now in a state of unprecedented weakness. And it faces the return to the White House of Donald Trump, who enacted a strategy of ‘maximum pressure' on Iran in his previous term. What does 2025 hold for Iran? Gavin Esler talks to Hagai M. Segal, New York University London professor and Middle-East advisor, and Paul Salem, vice president for international engagement at the Middle East Institute. • This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There's a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Gen. Khalil Helou and Dr. Paul Salem speak with MEI's US-Lebanon Fellow Fadi Nicholas Nassar on the unraveling Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces during this critical moment, and the prospects of a political solution in Lebanon and the wider region.
Since the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at the end of September, Israel has expanded its air strike campaign in Lebanon and launched a ground invasion. It has also struck Yemen and Syria in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has launched a series of rocket attacks towards Israel, which for the most part have been intercepted. At the same time, the war in Gaza is continuing as Israel devastates the north of the enclave. The other major escalation was Iran directly striking Israel with ballistic missiles for the second time since April. Israel has now vowed to strike back. But when and how? Until now, Iran has relied on its proxy groups in the Middle East. At first, it was unthinkable that any major world power would want to get involved in a war of that scale. Neither the US nor Iran seemed to want to venture to that point of no return. However, tensions have escalated. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks at the potential consequences of these recent escalations. We hear from Paul Salem, vice president for International Engagement at the Middle East Institute, and Dr Sanam Vakil, Middle East and North Africa programme director at Chatham House. They analyse how Israel could respond and the geopolitical risks the warring sides may or may not consider. Beyond The Headlines has been nominated in this year's Signal Awards in the News & Politics category. Click here to vote for the podcast.
This week's episode looks at the dramatic regional developments of the past 24 hours, including the Israeli strike on a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The strikes mark a significant escalation, and are expected to provoke retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah that could potentially ignite a wider regional conflict. This two-part interview features insights from regional experts: Dr. Nimrod Goren, Senior Fellow for Israeli Affairs at the Middle East Institute, and Paul Salem, MEI's Vice President for International Engagement and former President and CEO of the Institute.
About the series: This is a critical year for the future of democracy. Half the world's population will go to the polls in 2024, at a time when citizens in America and across the globe are losing faith in democratic institutions. We often view the rollback of democracy and threats to the liberal international order as separate problems, but in reality they are closely interlinked. Through a new limited podcast series, MEI's Gonul Tol seeks to examine the interplay between democracy's domestic and international foes as well as how to counter them. In this episode: The world's oldest democracy is in trouble. According to a study by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution, 75% of Americans believe that “the future of American democracy is at risk in the 2024 presidential election.” We often debate why democracies die because we assume that authoritarian power is the exception and democracy is the norm. But history says otherwise. Francis Fukuyama and Paul Salem join Gonul Tol to answer the question: Why has democracy flourished in certain countries and regions and not in others?
As Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri is mourned following his assassination in Beirut, what are the risks of a wider regional conflict? We hear from analyst Paul Salem.Also in the programme: a high tide of youth unemployment in China; new research sheds light on the physical changes that occur in Long Covid patients; and controversy over a new method of execution in the US state of Alabama.(Photo: A man holds a Palestinian flag as mourners gather during the funeral of Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut. Credit: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)
With the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza showing no signs of stopping, exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanese border are raising fears of a widening conflict. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Paul Salem, the president and CEO of the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based non-partisan think tank. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
With the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza showing no signs of stopping, exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanese border are raising fears of a widening conflict. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Paul Salem, the president and CEO of the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based non-partisan think tank. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Urban warfare, an appalling civilian death toll, and international outcry: Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza shares parallels with its failed invasion of Lebanon in 1982, which was also meant to destroy a terrorist enemy (guerrilla units of the PLO) on the other side of the border. Whatever similarities and differences that exist between the two wars separated by 41 years, Middle East experts contend that both wars prove that there is no military solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. On the contrary, today's war is likely to end in disaster for all involved, just as the 1982 invasion did. In this episode, Middle East Institute president Paul Salem, who was in Lebanon in 1982, discusses the unsettling parallels.
As the humanitarian pause came to a screeching halt and the world still debates on what to call it, we invited Middle East Institute President Dr. Paul Salem for a #sardeafterdinner to get answers to life's most burning questions: - “Humanitarian Pause” vs. “Ceasefire” - What the hell is the difference? - Public Opinion & Knesset Politics: What's going on Inside Israel? - Will Netanyahu end up in jail? - The Ummah Scenario: Can the Arab bring an end to the “War”? - Two-state/ One-state/ No-state Solution: Worst & Best Case Scenarios - Exploring The (Really) Special Relationship: US, Israel & Presidential Elections مع انتهاء"الهدنة الإنسانية" في غ*ة واستمرار الجدل بين دول العالم حول تسميتها، قمنا بدعوة رئيس معهد الشرق الأوسط د. بول سالم في #سردة للإجابة على الأسئلة الأكثر تداولًا اليوم: -ما الفرق بين ال"هدنة الإنسانية" و"وقف إطلاق النار"؟ -الرأي العام والكنيست: ماذا يحدث في إسرائ*ل؟ -هل سيُسجن نتنياهو؟ -سيناريو الأمة: هل تستطيع الدول العربية إنهاء الحرب في غ*ة؟ -الحل الأنسب لفلسط*ن: حل الدولتين أم الدولة الواحدة أم اللا-دولة؟ -العلاقة المميزة بين إسرائ*ل والولايات المتحدة وتأثيرها على الانتخابات الرئاسية Sarde (noun), [Sa-r-de]: A colloquial term used in the Middle East to describe the act of letting go & kicking off a stream of consciousness and a rambling narrative. The Sarde After Dinner Podcast is a free space based out of the heart of Beirut, Lebanon, where Médéa Azouri & Mouin Jaber discuss a wide range of topics (usually) held behind closed doors in an open and simple way with guests from all walks of life. سردة (إسم) سَرْدَةْ : مصطلح بالعامية يستخدم في منطقة الشرق الأوسط للدلالة على الاسترخاء وإطلاق سردية. يشكّل بودكاست سردة بعد العشاء مساحة حرّة من قلب بيروت، لبنان، حيث تناقش ميديا عازوري ومعين جابر عدّة مواضيع (لطالما) تمّت مناقشتها خلف أبواب مغلقة وذلك بطريقة بسيطة ومباشرة مع ضيوف من شتّى المجالات. This Sarde is brought to you by our incredible patrons at https://www.patreon.com/sardeafterdinner Without you guys, there is no Sarde (after dinner). Thank you NEW Sarde. Every. Wednesday 9 PM
America's decision to go to war in 2003 and remove the regime of Saddam Hussein has shaped much of the century for Iraq, the region, the United States and arguably the world. In this episode, host Mina Al-Oraibi discusses how the world has changed since the US-led invasion with Emma Sky, founding director of Yale's International Leadership Centre, Douglas A. Silliman, president of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and the ambassador to Iraq from 2016-2019, and, Paul Salem, President and CEO of the Middle East Institute based in Washington. This episode was produced by Doaa Farid, editing and sound design by Arthur Eddyson, music by Naseer Shamma
President Joe Biden's recent trip has received acclaim, scorn, and indifference from across the foreign policy establishment. Why did Biden go to the Middle East, and what did he seek to gain? In this much-anticipated episode, host Alistair Taylor and four expert guests reflect on this question from a variety of perspectives, diving deep into the motivations and repercussions of President Biden's trip. Esteemed guests include Paul Salem, President of MEI; Bilal Saab, Senior Fellow and Founding Director of the Defense and Security Program at MEI; Mirette Mabrouk, Senior Fellow and Founding Director of the Egypt Program at MEI; and Alex Vatanka, Director of the Iran Program and Senior Fellow at the Frontier Europe Initiative at MEI.
A few Arab countries have normalized ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Negar Mortazavi joined a panel of experts to discuss Israeli-Arab cooperation, concerns over Iran, and the stalled Palestinian peace process with Omar Baddar, co-host of “This is Palestine” podcast, Paul Salem, President of the Middle East Institute, and Dan Arbell, a 25-year veteran of the Israeli Foreign Service, hosted by Nathan King on CGTN's "The Heat". Produced by Joshua Barlow. Music by 127. Logo art by Mina Jafari. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support
In seven episodes, the Babel: U.S. Power and Influence in the Middle East podcast miniseries will take a closer look at two decades of heightened U.S. engagement in the region. Over seven weeks, Babel will cover how the United States has used its military, economic, diplomatic, and soft power tools in the Middle East—and how the Middle East has responded. In part five, Jon takes a look at U.S. soft power in the Middle East, and just what makes American culture, ideals, and institutions enduringly attractive in the region—and around the world. He talks with Paul Salem, president of the Middle East Institute; Lisa Anderson, who served as the president of the American University in Cairo from 2011 to 2016; and Alanoud Alsharekh, a Kuwaiti women's rights activist and an associate fellow at Chatham House. Paul Salem, "Why the Arab Spring Failed—And Why It May Yet Succeed," TIME, January 5, 2021. Lisa Anderson, "Is There a Future for American Universities in the Middle East?" Foreign Affairs, March 22, 2019. Alanoud Alsharekh, Angry Words Softly Spoken: A Comparative Study of English and Arabic Women Writers, 2006. Transcript, "U.S. Power and Influence in the Middle East: Part Five," CSIS, April 5, 2022.
The day after Biden's first State of the Union address, during which he lauded the sanctions imposed on Russia, Chris Miller, a Jean Kirkpatrick Visiting Fellow at AEI, joins Giselle, Dalibor and Iulia to talk sanctions. Chris assesses how effective the US' and EU's sanctions on Russia are, how long it will take to see their effects, and how they will affect the global economy. He also notes a change in American public opinion as he finds that Americans are more and more likely to support damaging sanctions on Russia, like energy sanctions, even though they might negatively affect the American economy. Chris and our hosts also reflect on how sanctions and Russia's war on Ukraine will play out in India, China, and the Middle East. References: https://www.aei.org/op-eds/the-risks-of-delay-loom-large/ (The risks of delay loom large (The Dispatch) by Giselle Donnelly); https://www.mei.edu/blog/special-briefing-middle-east-and-russian-invasion-ukraine#young (Special briefing: The Middle East and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine (The Middle East Institute) by Iulia Joja et al.); https://www.aei.org/op-eds/the-new-russian-sanctions-playbook/ (The new Russian sanctions playbook (Foreign Affairs) by Chris Miller); https://twitter.com/paul_salem/status/1496900861720600576 (Paul Salem on Arab countries and Ukraine)
What were the most significant developments in the Middle East and regional policy in 2021? MEI's Paul Salem, Randa Slim, Bilal Saab, and Karen Young join the program to discuss the key events and what trends to watch in 2022.
Ross Harrison, Paul Salem, and Randa Slim join host Alistair Taylor to reflect on 9/11's impact on US policy in the Middle East over the past 20 years and how its legacy has been viewed by the region.
We talked to Paul Salem, President of The Middle East Institute, on the work of the Middle East Institute including his career working in economic, social, and foreign policy studies. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra Edited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/About the afikra Conversations:Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, and media experts who are helping document and/or shape the history and culture of the Arab world through their work. Our hope is that by having the guest share their expertise and story, the community still walks away with newfound curiosity - and maybe some good recommendations about new nerdy rabbit holes to dive into headfirst. Following the interview, there is a moderated town-hall-style Q&A with questions coming from the live virtual audience on Zoom. Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp Follow Youtube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity.Read more about us on afikra.com
Paul Salem and Randa Slim join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the Biden administration’s first 100 days in office and what it’s meant for U.S. Middle East policy, from Afghanistan to Iran.
Today’s show is a preview of a mini-series coming in a few months, where I’ll be speaking with some of the preeminent leaders in private equity to learn more about what the continuing insatiable interest in the asset class is all about. Paul Salem is a Senior Managing Director Emeritus at Providence Equity. Providence is a premier private equity and asset management firm focused on media, communications, education, software and services with $49 billion in asset commitments. Paul joined Providence when it was a $171 million media focused boutique in 1992 and became an integral part of the firm’s growth and success ever since until retiring a year ago. Paul considers himself the luckiest guy in the world, which you can hear more about in a TED talk he delivered a few years ago. Our conversation covers Paul’s entry to the business, the benefits of specialization, Providence’s nice guy advantage, and the development of the firm over three decades. We then turn to the competitive landscape for deals, value of operating partners, evolution of private equity, advice for allocators in the space, and life after stepping away from the business. Learn More Subscribe: Apple | Spotify | Google Follow Ted on twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe Monthly Mailing List Read the Transcript
MEI’s Paul Salem and Ross Harrison join host Alistair Taylor to discuss what the Biden Administration can do to reduce regional tensions and proxy conflicts in the Middle East.
In our final episode of the year, host Alistair Taylor interviews several MEI scholars on the key events that transpired across the Middle East in 2020 including in Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, and they discuss US defense and diplomatic strategy in region as the as the transition to the Biden administration gets underway. Guests include Paul Salem, Bilal Saab, Randa Slim, and Marvin Weinbaum.
Paul Salem and Randa Slim join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the US presidential election and what lies ahead for US policy in the region under Joseph Biden’s presidency.
The deadly blast that rocked Beirut on August 4 left at least 200 Lebanese dead, thousands injured, and hundreds of thousands homeless. Even before that, Lebanon’s economy was in freefall, and tensions were high over chronic corruption and mismanagement. Now, amid devastating physical and political aftershocks, Lebanon is careening toward an unpredictable future. In response to mass protests, the Prime Minister and entire government cabinet have resigned, throwing the country into even greater chaos. Paul Salem, one of the world’s leading experts on the Middle East, joined Altamar to discuss if Lebanon can recover – and can it tackle its underlying flaws and limitations? Salem is the President of the Middle East Institute (MEI), a think tank that evaluates political change, transition, and conflict within regional and international relations of the Middle East. Salem was the former founding director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, as well the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, Lebanon's leading public policy think tank. https://altamar.us/beirut-burning/
MEI's Paul Salem and Ross Harrison join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the complexity and limitations of US diplomacy with Iran, and how the upcoming US presidential election impacts the state of play. Salem and Harrison examine the issue in depth in their recent article for The National Interest, "The Layers and Limits of Diplomacy With Iran."
Paul Salem and Randa Slim join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s massive explosion in Beirut, which killed over 150 people and left as many as 300,000 homeless. The blast caused extensive damage across the city, and compounds the stress of Lebanon’s preexisting political, economic, and health crises.
MEI’s Paul Salem and Randa Slim join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the main trends and developments across the region over the first half of 2020, and what to watch for in the months ahead.
MEI’s Paul Salem, Khaled Elgindy, and Fatima Abo Alasrar join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the Middle East as nations scramble to contain the spread of COVID-19 and the massive humanitarian and economic toll it could take on already vulnerable populations.
We're joined by Paul Salem for Episode 129 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the steps needed to translate protestors' grievances into sustained political power. Paul reflects on a century of shifting political tides that impacted Lebanon and the region. He separates the geopolitical issues from domestic reform and emphasizes that ongoing regional struggles should not prevent action against corruption at home. Paul Salem is the president of The Middle East Institute. He was the founding director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut between 2006 and 2013 and previous served as the director of the Fares Foundation from 1999 to 2006. Paul founded and directed the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies from 1989-1999. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan Check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.
In our annual year in review episode, MEI experts Paul Salem, Gonul Tol, Charles Lister, Alex Vatanka, Marvin Weinbaum, and Mirette Mabrouk sit with host Alistair Taylor to discuss the key events across the region in 2019, what surprised them, and where things stand as we head into 2020.
MEI’s Paul Salem and Randa Slim join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the nationwide protests that have swept through Lebanon and Iraq this week resulting in political and economic turmoil as well as crackdowns by security forces. Where do things go from here?
MEI experts Paul Salem, Randa Slim, and Bilal Saab join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the massive uprising that has swept across Lebanon since last weekend, including what’s driving the protests, how the government has responded so far, and where things may go from here.
President of the Middle East Institute, Paul Salem, discusses political change, transition, and conflict as well as the regional and international relations of the Middle East, with a special focus on recent changes in the U.S.- Iran relationship.
MEI’s Randa Slim and Paul Salem join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the Institute’s conflict resolution program and how Track II diplomacy—or unofficial meetings between adversarial groups—has supplemented state-to-state diplomacy and become a transformative experience for many of its participants.
On ACMCU's Building Bridges Podcast, we present a conversation on Muslim-Christian relations and highlight experts in the field and the work that they do. On this episode, we feature Dr. Paul Salem, President of the Middle East Institute. Dr. Salem gave a talk this past November at ACMCU on the topic of the Christian Communities in Lebanon. We caught up with Dr. Salem to talk about this topic and more for this installment of Building Bridges.
In our first episode of 2019, MEI experts Paul Salem, Charles Lister, Ahmad Majidyar, Randa Slim, Gonul Tol, Robert Pearson, and Gerald Feierstein discuss the significant policy developments and announcements of the past few weeks and outline the major issues to watch in the year ahead.
In our final episode of the year, host Alistair Taylor interviews several MEI scholars on the key events that transpired across the Middle East in 2018 including in the Gulf, Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan. Guests include Paul Salem, Gerald Feierstein, Alex Vatanka, Gonul Tol, and Ahmad Majidyar.
Yemen, the site of the biggest humanitarian disaster in the world today, has seen several significant developments in recent weeks, including renewed calls for a cease-fire, UN intervention, and brokered peace talks. Fatima Alasrar, senior analyst at the Arabia Foundation, and MEI’s Gerald Feierstein join host Paul Salem to discuss the prospects for these latest moves.
MEI’s Alex Vatanka and Jean-Francois Seznec join host Paul Salem to discuss the impact of incoming U.S. sanctions on Iranian energy exports on Iran’s economy, the Gulf, and energy markets in general.
This week, in a highly anticipated speech on the Khashoggi affair, Turkish President Erdogan promised a lot but said little; the “Davos in the Desert” conference opened in Riyadh with an appearance by the Saudi crown prince; and the United States continued to send mixed signals. Karen Young, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and Gonul Tol, director of MEI’s Turkey program, join host Paul Salem to discuss the latest developments.
The disappearance of journalist and commentator Jamal Khashoggi from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has sparked the most serious crisis to face relations between the Trump administration and Riyadh. It has also posed a major diplomatic challenge for Turkey’s President Erdogan. MEI’s Jerry Feierstein and Gonul Tol join host Paul Salem to discuss the fallout of this developing crisis and potential tragedy.
It was a busy week for Middle East policy as President Trump touched on a range of key issues at the United National General Assembly in New York, including Iran sanctions, the intra-GCC dispute, OPEC policy, Saudi domestic reforms, and the Middle East peace process, among others. Gerald Feierstein, MEI’s director for policy research, programs and government relations, and Ahmad Majidyar, director for MEI’s IranObserved program, join host Paul Salem to break down what was said, as well as what issues were left off the agenda.
U.S.-Palestinian relations have faced repeated setbacks over the past year, from the decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, to cutting off funding to UNRWA. This month the Trump administration ordered the closure of the PLO’s office in Washington and revoked the visas of PLO Ambassador Husam Zomlot’s family members. Dr. Zomlot joins host Paul Salem via Skype from Ramallah to discuss the state of relations, and where the peace process can go from here.
Tunisia, where the Arab uprisings began seven years ago, continues to face many difficulties in its transition on the economic, political and security fronts. Emir Sfaxi, a Tunisian public policy consultant and Fulbright scholar, and Bill Lawrence, professor of political science and international affairs at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, join host Paul Salem to discuss the country’s trajectory.
Millions of landmines scattered across the Middle East have remained a persistent threat to civilians long after the wars in which they were deployed came to a close. However the recent conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen have made the problem much worse. Steve Priestley, global director of operations for mine action at Janus Global Operations, joins Paul Salem to discuss the challenges facing demining operations, and some of the technological innovations that could help.
UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths will lead a new round of negotiations next week to attempt to end the long and costly war in Yemen. A new UN report this week that outlines possible war crimes by the parties engaged in the conflict underscores the need to find a resolution. MEI’s Gerald Feierstein, a former U.S. ambassador to Yemen, and Randa Slim, who was a member of the last UN negotiating team on Yemen, join host Paul Salem to assess the prospects for the peace talks.
Turkey is under enormous strain as it faces an economic crisis that has caused the lira to lose 40% of its value since the beginning of this year; an ongoing crisis in domestic politics; and an international relations crisis with the United States. Gönül Tol, MEI’s director of Turkish studies, and Ömer Taşpınar, professor at the National War College, join host Paul Salem to explain the causes of these challenges and what lies ahead.
Seven years after Syria’s civil uprising broke out, the war isn’t over, but it is entering a new phase. MEI Senior Fellow Robert Ford, the last U.S. ambassador to Syria, and Charles Lister, director of MEI’s Countering Violent Transnational Movements project, join host Paul Salem to discuss the state of play and how things may develop in the months ahead.
Three months after Iraq held its latest parliamentary elections the results are still being counted. Meanwhile political parties are jockeying for power and Iraqi citizens are taking to the streets to protest the government’s handling of services and the economy. Dr. Abbas Kadhim, senior fellow at Johns Hopkins SAIS, Omar Al-Nidawi, Iraq director for Gryphon Partners, and Dr. Randa Slim, director of MEI’s Program on Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues, join host Paul Salem to discuss the situation.
As long as there have been tombs, there have been tomb raiders. Today the plunder is taking place on an unprecedented scale, and the multi-billion dollar illegal trade has been used to fund groups such as ISIS. Brigadier General Fabrizio Parrulli of Italy’s Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and Deborah Lehr, founding director and CEO of The Antiquities Coalition, join host Paul Salem to discuss the international efforts to crack down on antiquities trafficking.
Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, and Randa Slim, director of MEI’s program on Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues, join host Paul Salem to discuss the Helsinki Summit and takeaways from the latest meeting of the US-Russia Middle East Dialogue in Berlin, where participants outlined challenges and opportunities for US-Russian cooperation in Syria and elsewhere in the region.
The U.S.-backed military campaign in Iraq to drive the Islamic State from the city of Mosul is expected to succeed, but it could open the door to a host of problems the next U.S. administration will have to tackle, says Paul Salem of the Middle East Institute. In a conversation with CQ Roll Call’s National Security reporter Ryan Lucas and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim, Salem explains the complications hindering stability in Iraq, including the conflict in Syria, where U.S. diplomatic efforts face challenges from an assortment of players, including Russia and Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The U.S.-backed military campaign in Iraq to drive the Islamic State from the city of Mosul is expected to succeed, but it could open the door to a host of problems the next U.S. administration will have to tackle, says Paul Salem of the Middle East Institute. In a conversation with CQ Roll Call’s National Security reporter Ryan Lucas and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim, Salem explains the complications hindering stability in Iraq, including the conflict in Syria, where U.S. diplomatic efforts face challenges from an assortment of players, including Russia and Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Paul Salem, Mr. Bassel Charles Korkor, Mr. Elias Samo, Mr. Charles C. Chidiac, Dr. Judith Yaphe, and Dr. Michael Hudson at NCUSAR's 2015 Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference. Visit www.ncusar.org for more information.
Former Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa and the Middle East Institute’s Dr. Paul Salem discuss Tunisia’s relative success in establishing a stable democracy in the wake of the Arab Spring. Jomaa, who recently delivered an address at the JFK Jr. Forum, and Salem, who lead a seminar at the Belfer Center’s Middle East Initiative, go into detail about how Tunisia’s strong national identity, existing civil service society and commitment to a secular government have set it apart.