Center for Middle East Public Policy

The RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy (CMEPP) provides expertise on the Middle East. CMEPP analysts are in touch with political, social, economic, and technological developments in and around the region. Through research and analysis, CMEPP helps public and private decision makers solve problems, tackle challenges, and identify ways to make society safer, smarter, and more prosperous.

U.S. Policy in Afghanistan: Basic Questions — Strategic Choices

Daily Life in Afghanistan, Photo courtesy of Boston.com

On October 29, 2009, the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy convened a half-day symposium of experts — including Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Ambassador James Dobbins, Senator Carl Levin, and others — and journalists to address assumptions and alternatives for U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

The US Midterm Elections and US-Turkish Relations — Nov. 23, 2010

President Obama sits with Prime Minister Erdogan

In the last several weeks, the Turkish press has been filled with articles seeking to assess the implications of the U.S. midterm elections, especially for U.S.-Turkish relations. Many Turkish commentators see a badly weakened President Barack Obama losing control of foreign policy, as discussed by F. Stephen Larrabee in a commentary that appeared in Hürriyet Daily News and Economic Review.

The Arc Wins "Future Project of the Year" at 2010 World Architecture Festival — Nov. 15, 2010

close up of The Arc

The Arc, a proposed high-speed transportation infrastructure corridor linking urban centers within and between the West Bank and Gaza, won two major prizes at the 2010 World Architecture Festival held in Barcelona November 3-5, 2010.

Revolutionary Guards Criticize Ahmadinejad — Nov. 5, 2010

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, photo courtesy of Marco Castro/UN

Recent criticism of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the Revolutionary Guards’ publication Payam-e Enghelab (Message of the Revolution) is in some ways unprecedented. Yet it is also not completely surprising as discussed in this commentary by Alireza Nader that appeared in PBS.org and USIP.

Our Foes Cannot Destroy This Nation — Oct. 27, 2010

Soldiers in Afghanistan, photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. A. Smith/U.S. Army

President Obama's military and civilian advisers are at odds about how to employ counterinsurgency (COIN) in Afghanistan as discussed in this commentary by James Dobbins that appeared on ForeignAffairs.com.

An Old Scourge Needs a Modern Solution — Sep. 3, 2010

USS San Jacinto conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, photo courtesy of U.S. Nav

Piracy is a crime of international jurisdiction. Any flag state can arrest persons caught in the act. However, most nations have junked archaic piracy laws and enacted no new ones, and therefore are reluctant to bring pirates to trial as discussed in this commentary by Peter Chalk that appeared in International Herald Tribune.

Budget Cuts Are Cracking the West’s Defenses — Aug 19, 2010

a formation of ships, photo courtesy of U.S. Navy/MC C. Thompson

The global economic crisis is forcing many of America’s European allies to make deep cuts in defense spending and procurement. This could have a significant impact on US transatlantic defense cooperation, especially with Britain and France as discussed in this commentary by By F. Stephen Larrabee and Peter A. Wilson that appeared on Christian Science Monitor.

A Bottom-Up Peace in Afghanistan — Jul 15, 2010

Afghan National Police officer talks to a group of boys, photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force/SrA Nathan

The Afghan government has embarked on a high-stakes gamble: Try to negotiate with the leaders of the various insurgent networks to end the nine-year-old Afghan war. As discussed in this commentary by Wali Shaaker and John V. Parachini that appeared in Providence Journal.