As recent media reports suggest that the Obama administration has made a decision to reduce the number of troops in Iraq, possibly to as few as 3,000. However, administration officials have denied any decision has been made on troop levels in Iraq. In an editorial by senators John McCain(R-AR) , Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT), and Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC), they argued that "such an approach would disregard the recommendations of our ...

On Friday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that Iraqi officials had agreed to negotiate an extension of noncombat U.S. troops beyond the end of the year. Despite the lack of an official request, Panetta said that the Pentagon is moving forward with plans, since there is unanimous consent among Iraqi leaders. The Pentagon then downplayed Panetta's remarks, and the Iraqi government quickly denied that an agreement had been reached. A Pentagon spokesman clarified that ...

Two U.S. hikers, who have been held in Iran for the past two years, were convicted today as spies and sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran.  Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were arrested on July 31, 2009 when hiking near Iran's border with Iraq along with Sarah Shourd, who was released on a $500,000 bail in September 2010.  The hikers said that they were hiking in the mountains ...

Elizabeth Rubin writes in the New York Times on the Mujahedeen e-Khalq (MEK) and their controversial claims as Iran's main opposition group.  According to Rubin, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, "should ignore their P.R. campaign. Mujahedeen Khalq is not only irrelevant to the cause of Iran’s democratic activists, but a totalitarian cult that will come back to haunt us." Rubin argues that what is "most disturbing" about the MEK ...

Semira Nikou, from the United States Institute of Peace, speaks with Seyed Hossein Mousavian, the former foreign policy adviser to Iran's former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani on whether Iran is "ready" to begin diplomatic negotiations with the United States.   According to Mousavian, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be "ready to negotiate" once Iran is offered the "right solutions package" by the P5+1 (five permanent members of the ...

After discussions on Tuesday, Iraqi leaders gave the government permission to begin negotiations with the U.S. about keeping troops in the country after the end of the year. A joint statement issued after the meeting said, "The leaders agreed to authorise the Iraqi government to start the talks with the United States that are limited to training issues." Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari noted that Iraq might still insist that the American military withdraw ...

Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said today that if U.S. troops remain in Iraq past the end of the year, they must be granted immunity from prosecution. Mullen told reporters in Baghdad that an agreement would have to be approved by the Iraqi Parliament and "would include privileges and immunities for our American men and women in uniform." Calling for the Iraqi government to expedite its decision, Mullen said, ...

On Friday, Turkey attempted to downplay the crisis caused by the resignations of it's top military officials and staff, by naming the military police chief as the acting chief-of-staff and the commander of land forces. Soner Cagaptay argues that the military is making an effort to show the AKP that it is on its own and that Turkey has two options in it's effort to respond well to the crisis: either operate ...

According to Syrian officials, the month of Ramadan, which ends August 29, is expected to include an increase in protests in Syria.  Protesters are waiting for official start of Ramadan to call for President Bashar al-Assad's overthrow.  On Friday, protesters were chanting, "Our God, help us to fast and pray... and topple the regime." On Friday, the Syrian government reported that an oil pipeline had been hit by a bomb by ...

On Thursday, the Center for International Private Enterprise and Charney Research released the 2011 Iraqi Business Survey "Iraqi Business Attitudes on the Economy,  Government, and Business Organizations." The survey provides insight into the current business environment in Iraq and highlights positive trends in Iraqi business owners’ perceptions of the overall economy and future growth, attitudes towards the value of business associations, and underscores the costs of corruption in Iraq.

Syrian's opposition met on Saturday in Istanbul and elected a National Salvation Council to present "a united challenge to President Bashar al-Assad's rule." Meeting participants elected a 25-member National Salvation Council that consisted of Islamists, liberals and independents.  Nearly 350 people attended the meeting, including a number of Syrian exiles.  Due to the crackdown on Friday, the meeting participants were unable to connect with the Syrian opposition in Damascus via ...

On Thursday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held the second hearing on “Preserving Progress: Transitioning Authority and Implementing the Strategic Framework in Iraq.” In attendance were Congressmen Steve Chabot (R-OH), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), and Brian Higgins (D-NY). Witnesses included Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations; Michael Eisenstadt, Director of Military & Security ...