Too soon to start counting chickens, but President Biden’s public and private diplomacy, coupled with a demonstration of military power, may have succeeded in helping the Iranian regime understand an attack on Israel is its worst option. blogs.timesofisrael.com/making-an-iran…

🚨 Israel Puts Military on High Alert as U.S. Sends Assets to Middle East wsj.com/world/middle-e…

In this smart piece, Brian Katulis hits on something key: there has absolutely been a transpartisan through-line that has guided U.S. policy in the Middle East, certainly visible over the last 2 admins, that leans toward greater partnership and multilateral relationship-building.

In May, the emir of Kuwait suspended the nation's parliament, one of the few Middle Eastern legislative bodies with real power. Aaron Arnett (CNAS) explores what led to the dissolution & how the U.S. should respond to stop this democratic backsliding. lawfaremedia.org/article/the-un…

Aaron Arnett, Visiting Researcher with the CNAS Middle East Security Program, wrote an insightful piece for Lawfare on Kuwait’s democratic backsliding — and actions the US should take to address it. lawfaremedia.org/article/the-un…

US shows military might in Middle East as it approves $20 billion in arms for Israel 'There's a lot of more aggression discussion going on behind the scenes to prevent an Iranian attack' on Israel, Jonathan Lord tells @jacobeilon

With the region in crisis, I confess I've not closely followed the Iraqi debate on amending the Personal Status Law. Marsin Alshamary مارسين الشمري explains it well here. The proposed overhaul threatens to take Iraq backwards by codifying sectarianism and weakening the rights of women and girls.

Demonizing policy staffers w/ whom you disagree makes good policy harder to achieve & hurts good people. Making good Middle East policy decisions is hard enough. Your ideas & arguments are made stronger by debating those who hold different views. Be compassionate and kind.

I am excited to welcome Rep. Adam Smith and Rep. Rob Wittman to CNAS for this discussion on Sep 20! Register to virtually join us and please bring your questions! cnas.org/events/virtual…

"Ahlan wa sahlan, ya Bibi, ya Abu Yair!" Farhan Kadi greets and thanks the Prime Minister for his rescue, and reminds him more hostages remain.

The Axis of Upheaval at work: Iran steal's Israeli drone tech, passes it to Russia, which passes it to North Korea, which builds new drone based on stolen Israeli tech. timesofisrael.com/new-north-kore…

Join me in welcoming Eitan Danon to the CNAS Middle East Security Program! cnas.org/press/press-re…

Register now for a special conversation on 9/20 featuring Rep. Adam Smith and Rep. Rob Wittman in conversation with Jonathan Lord. The trio will discuss confronting the Axis of Upheaval of Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and other global challenges. cnas.org/events/virtual…

Register to join us virtually and bring your questions!

Adversaries of the rules-based order are colluding to subvert democratically-held elections the world-over. Richard Fontaine rightly argues a US-led collective response to this meddling is overdue. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/…

I am honored and deeply humbled to be returning to the House to testify on this critically important and sobering subject, at a moment of tremendous consequence in Washington and the region.