| 12/30/2004 IRmep Policy Research Note |
| Restoring Rule of Law
in US Middle East Policy: America's 2005 Priorities |
| American
Values vs. US Middle East Policy The year 2004 plumbed dark new depths of
America's foreign policies in the Middle East. American citizens, usually
willing to support official rationales for foreign policy, including military
intervention, on trust in the office of the President, now overwhelmingly oppose the US
invasion of Iraq. 56 percent of respondents to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on
December 21, 2004 conclude that the conflict "was not worth the fight" given
mounting costs and new information that fundamental justifications for the invasion were
incorrect. This new distrust is the backlash to a continuing series of legally and morally
questionable actions which have stripped away America's former reputation as a
country operating under the “rule of law”. |
| Full
Essay HTML PDF |
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| 11/17/2004
Essay |
| History
of Fundamentalism: |
| Regional Diagnosis: Aged Arab Rulers on Life
Support |
| By
Hassan Al-Husseini |
| There is a strong
rumor going around that Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi, in his 80s, is on life support. It is
said that the only decision left is when -- or whether -- to remove the life support. Big
questions arise over the succession, which is supposed to be by election. Sheikh
Zayed had strong opinions and has set many policies in place that affect the entire Gulf.
Dubai wants a greater say in national UAE affairs. In Kuwait, they have been grappling for weeks with the health of the ruler,
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and the Prime Minister Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah
Al-Sabah, both in their 70s. The ruling family is considering a total change, but is not
sure when. Rumors have been flying in recent weeks. |
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| Full
Viewpoint HTML |
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10/1/2004 IRmep Policy Research as seen in |
| Visa
woes 'cost US $5bn a year' |
The number of students heading to US universities from the Arab
world is also in sharp decline, with graduate numbers falling by 14.5 per cent from the
Middle East between 2002 and 2003.
From Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, student numbers have nearly halved since 2001, according to
Grant Smith, director of the Washington-based Institute for Research: Middle Eastern
Policy. This is despite efforts by Saudi Arabia to train nationals to replace highly
skilled foreigners. |
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| Financial Times of London research summary HTML |
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9/17/2004
IRmep Policy Brief as seen in (Rank) |
| An End to Ambiguity: US Counter-Proliferation from Tel Aviv to Tehran |
From the Iranian
government's perspective, right-wing Likud policies targeting Iran make achieving its own
arsenal of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons as quickly as possible an urgent matter
of survival. From an American standpoint, the U.S. cannot engage or even credibly threaten
Tehran with international isolation unless America first tackles "strategic
ambiguity" in Tel Aviv and Washington. Lifting the rhetorical smoke of
"strategic ambiguity" reveals the vast differences between U.S. and Israeli
policy objectives in the region.
HTM PDF |
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| 9/10/2004
Special Report |
| US Visa
Policies: Implications for America's Economy |
National
Arab-US Chamber of Commerce, September 10 2004
The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) says that over three years, the loss of
international travel to the U.S has cost the U.S. economy $15.3 billion in
expenditures. The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) notes,
"If new procedures turn away desirable Saudi visitors, U.S. education, business
travel, and tourism industries could easily lose an estimated $4.7 billion in Saudi travel
revenue over the next decade."
During 2000-02, according to data in the U.S. Commerce Department's "Survey of
Current Business" (October 2003), total receipts from the Arab world dropped by
nearly half... PDF |
|
Special Report
As Seen in |
Michigan
Export Jobs Thwarted by NY and FL Legislators
Javid Hassan, Arab News |
RIYADH, 4 September
2004 — A study conducted by the Washington-based Institute for Research: Middle
Eastern Policy (IRMEP) says that congressional roadblocks against Saudi Arabia's
accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) are proving to be counter-productive as
lucrative contracts are going to other countries.
The study becomes significant in the context of the current visit of Deputy Minister of
Industry and Commerce Dr. Fawaz Al-Alamy to Washington to hold talks with US officials as
part of the Kingdom's efforts to gain admission to the WTO.
The study, undertaken by Grant F. Smith, director of the institute, has documented that
while the total US-assembled auto and light passenger vehicle exports only grew by 6.6
percent, US auto exports to the Kingdom from Michigan alone surged by 25 percent during
the same period. |
| Arab
News report summary HTML
Full Report HTML |
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8/18/2004
Essay as seen in  |
It is Not Enough to have a Just Cause:
Are Members of Congress Misinformed about the Middle East? |
|
By Adib F. Farha, Special to
the Daily Star |
The most important lesson is that Americans in general are
ill-advised about the issues of the region. But if the tragic events
of 9/11 had only one lesson for Americans, it has to be that they
are not immune to events in other parts of the world. It is,
therefore, in their own interest to be better-informed. Otherwise,
they would continue to elect ignorant representatives who play a
role in the decision-making process of the world's sole superpower
based on false facts. The cost to America of ill-advised decisions
has also become abundantly clear after the recent events in Iraq.
The second lesson is that Arab and Muslim diplomacy is painfully
ineffective. HTML |
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Broadcast Live on  |
 Event
at the Rayburn House Bldng 6/29/2004
The Muslim Vote in Election 2004
The American Muslim vote in the coming elections may prove once
again to be very significant in determining who our next President
will be. According to CAIR, 78 percent of Muslims voted Republican
in 2000. Will the Muslims vote en bloc once again in such a
high percentage? Have George W. Bush's policies put him out of the
running for obtaining Muslim votes? Will they vote for John Kerry or
Ralph Nader? How are Republicans disaffected by the Iraq War and
subsequent debt likely to vote? Are Democrats on board with Kerry's
"Stay the Course" policy mirroring that of George W. Bush? |
Entire
Program
Real Video (Streaming)
1:38:00 |
 Ralph Nader
Ind. Presidential Candidate |
Nihad Awad,
Executive Director, CAIR |
Eugene Bird
President, CNI |
Hassan Ibrahim,
Muslim Public Affairs Council |
Ed Peck
(Ambassador)
CEO, For. Services Int'l. |
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| IRmep Academic Poll: Why the US is in Iraq and
How to Get Out - 5/24/2004 |
A poll of 116 US academics with advanced degrees in Middle East
studies reveals skepticism about official justifications for the
ongoing US presence in Iraq. 96% of polled academics believe there
were no legitimate historical or security reasons for the US
invasion. 86% believe that forward military bases are a
critical or important decision factor in US Iraq policy.
90% feel that projection of power and control over Middle East oil
reserves and infrastructure are critical or important policy
criteria while only 34% found evidence that "transformation" and
"Middle East democratization" were real factors in the Bush
administration decision matrix.
Question: What drivers do you believe are influencing Bush
administration policies on Iraq?a.
Establishing a military foothold in the Middle East.
Polled academics make recommendations for improving US-Iraq
policy while speculating about how the US invasion and occupation
will be judged by future generations. |
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Full Survey PDF
HTML |
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| Broadcast Live on |
IRmep/CNI
Event at the Hart Senate Office Building 4/13/2004
The Israeli Withdrawal from
Gaza: Implications for US Middle East Policy |
Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon will be discussing a conditional unilateral withdrawal from
Gaza on April 14 with President Bush in the Oval Office of the White
House. What will Israel ask for in terms of compensation?
Does Israel expect the U.S. to legitimize Israeli annexation of the West
Bank in return? How would the security situation in Gaza be
affected by a withdrawal? Will U.S. taxpayers be expected to pay
up to $5 billion for the transfer of Israeli settlers out of Gaza?
Find out on Tuesday, April 13 at 10AM!
Palestinian ambassador Hassan Abdul Rahman, just returned from
consultations in Cairo, discussed the details of the
withdrawal and conditions that must be established to move the peace
process forward.
Ambassador Edward Peck discussed the endgame in Iraq and reviewed
possible exit strategies. Eugene Bird, President of CNI, discussed the
impact of the Gaza withdrawal on those strategies.
Grant Smith, Director of Research of IRmep, discussed insights and
recommendations extracted from an April Gaza withdrawal poll of 100 US
academics specializing in the Middle East.
This hearing, sponsored by the Council for the National Interest (CNI)
and the Institute for Research Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep), is the
fourth in a series on the Middle East in Election 2004. |
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| IRmep Poll: US Support of Proposed Israeli Annexations
could Increase Terrorism 4/2/2004 |
A poll of 100 US academics with advanced degrees in Middle East studies
reveals concern over proposed Israeli plans to withdraw from Gaza.
Negotiations underway between the White House and an Israeli delegation
are discussing possible US recognition or approval of Israeli annexation
of territories and settlements seized by Israel in the 1967 war. In
exchange, Israel would unilaterally withdraw from Gaza.
96% of the Middle East experts polled believe the US has neither the
authority nor the international credibility to approve such an
arrangement. 81% believe such a deal could increase terror attacks in
the Middle East while 75% believe attacks on the US would increase if
such an exchange is approved by the Bush administration.
Polled academics observe that any US decisions about territory would
likely consider the security of Israelis and effect on the US led "war
on terror." However 70% responded that lobby-driven American domestic
politics would ultimately determine the outcome of such a swap. 66%
believe that calculations about the 2004 presidential elections are a
major factor in the current negotiations. |
|
Full Survey PDF
HTML |
|
Event at the
National Press Club
The Accountability
Acts:Implications for US Middle East Policy 3/17/2004 |
| The new Syrian
and Saudi "Accountability Acts" represent unique Congressional forays
into the executive branch's traditional authority over US foreign
affairs. What is the potential long-term diplomatic and economic
impact of accountability acts on the US and relations with the
international community? What evidence and justifications underlie these
acts? How are American national interests served? Which
lobbies and interest groups seek these acts? As Congress sets
preconditions for relations with Middle East nations based on violations
of international laws and resolutions, should a regional balance be
sought in order to increase US credibility? Should relations with
Israel be subject to an accountability act? |
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| IRmep
Policy Brief 3/1/2004 |
|
Saudi Accountability or US Job Elimination Act? |
|
(Forecast U.S. Service and Manufacturing Jobs tied to Saudi Imports) |
|
The Saudi Arabia
Accountability Act of 2003 now under consideration in Congress is rife
with problems. Although the bill hopes to address the global scourge of
terrorism, evidence cited in the act is inaccurate, obsolete, or narrow
to the point of discriminatory.
A consequence of passing the bill into law would be heavy US employment
losses. In 2003 US global exports partially recovered from post
9/11 trade declines. US exports to Saudi Arabia currently provide
124,000 jobs in America and should reach 177,000 by 2012.
However, like many other countries, Saudi Arabia has shown a capability
for self-defense through economic retaliation. This could
translate into 81,000 lost jobs in the US beginning in 2004.
Most Americans reject disinformation and haste as a basis for sound
solutions to complex global problems, especially in the Middle East. The
Saudi Arabia Accountability Act lacks the integrity, accuracy and
responsibility that form the foundation of American law. |
| Full Policy Brief HTML PDF |
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|
Broadcast Live on |
| History in
the Making: State Rules on the 1967 Arab-Israeli War |
| U.S. State
Department 1/12/2004 |
The US
Department of State panel discussion opening the two day conference on
the 1967 Arab-Israeli war brought little clarity or unanimity about one
of many tragic outcomes of the war, the Israeli attack on the USS
Liberty. Although the State Department opened the session
officially declaring that the Israeli attack which killed 34 Americans
and wounded 170, was an accident, two hours of panel presentations
brought acrimonious debate and counter charges of cover-ups. The
question and answer session took an Orwellian turn as moderator Marc
Susser shouted down speeches from the floor by USS Liberty survivors,
pleading, "we're trying to have an academic discussion!"
The heated argument called for clarification. How valuable is an
official history based on what James Bamford called "opinions" with no
formal investigation as thorough as the USS Cole? Why does the
conflict about the USS Liberty continue to steam ahead, nearly four
decades after the attack? What does it reveal about US interests
and the feelings Americans have about the US-Israeli relationship?
IRmep attempted to find out. |
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Broadcast Live on |
| Palestine,
Israel and the Secret Life of Saeed 12/20/2003 |
Professor Trevor
Le Gassick of the University of Michigan discusses US-Arab
misunderstanding, religion, Israel and Palestine on the America Radio
Network.
Excerpt:
TFS: ...and you did a book called
The Secret Life of Saeed?
TLG: Yes, that is one of those that I translated, yes.
TFS Are there lessons in books like this that are
valuable, or is it just a matter of taking a classic from one language
and moving it into another so others can have access. Is there some
reason for us to go out and read this stuff?
TLG: Well this particular book is extraordinarily
important, it seems to me, to have available in English at this time.
And there is quite a large readership developing for it. Because, of
course, it shows what it's like to be an Arab Christian, born and bred
in Palestine, and become absorbed into the state of Israel. So it is very
topical in that sense of displaying what it is like to be an Israeli
Arab. And, of course, it gets to the fundamental issues of the problems
between the Israelis and Palestinians. |
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Broadcast Live on
(Rank) |
The
'Clean Break' Plan:
Implications for US Middle East Policy (C-SPAN
Archive
Video)
Full C-SPAN Panel Discussion
10AM-Noon 11/26/2003
Rayburn House Congressional Office Building |
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"A Clean Break,
A New Strategy for Securing the Realm" is an ambitious 1996 Middle East
policy paper. A Clean Break recommended toppling the government of Iraq,
"rolling back" Syria and Iran, and "electrifying" support for Israel in
the US Congress in exchange for new missile defense contract
opportunities. Three of the eight authors have since become prominent
policymakers in the U.S. government. The study leader, Richard Perle, is
the former chair and a current member of the Defense Policy Board of the
Pentagon. Douglas Feith is Undersecretary of Defense and David Wurmser
is Vice President Richard Cheney's recently hired Middle East advisor.
But what is "A Clean Break?" What are the plan's core
assumptions? How has it affected US regional policy? What insights does
it reveal about US policy initiatives in the Middle East? How do Arab
countries perceive current US regional policy? Are Clean Break
assumptions and strategies beneficial to US interests? What are the
potential costs? The IRmep Capitol Hill Forum took place on Wednesday,
November 26th 2003 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Gold Room of the
Rayburn Congressional House Office Building. Our distinguished and
diverse panel of experts and IRmep analysts reviewed the
implications of A Clean Break and took questions from the public. Panel
members included Adam Shapiro of the International Solidarity Movement,
former congressional candidate and Million Man March leader Dr. E. Faye
Williams, Muhammad Khaddam, First Secretary of the Syrian Embassy;
Khaled Dawoud, D.C. bureau chief of Al-Ahram; and Adib Farha, adviser of
the Lebanese Minister of Finance and professor at the Lebanese American
University in Beirut, Lebanon. |
Full C-Span Event (2 Hours) |
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