Don’t expect predictable foreign policy in Trump’s second term

November 22nd, 20240 The voters have spoken, and Donald J. Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. With a Republican-controlled Senate and strong backing in the House, Trump will be in position to implement his agenda, starting in January. What does that mean for foreign policy? It’s hard to say with certainty. In Trump’s first term, from...

Where Harris and Trump stand on key issues of importance to Arab Americans

November 1st, 20241 Here is a brief look at some of their policies as published by Reuters: Vice President Harris, a Democrat, faces former President Trump, a Republican, in the 2024 U.S. presidential election race that may be decided by a thin sliver of votes in seven battleground states. The two are sharply divided on the role the U.S. government should...

“Is this who we are?”: Gitmo is America’s enduring shame

March 10th, 20210 “That’s certainly our goal and our intention.” This was the non-committal answer given by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki when, on February 12, she was asked by a reporter whether the new Joe Biden administration intends to shut down the notorious Guantánamo Bay Prison by the end of the president’s first term in...

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar fires back at Trump as AIPAC controversy continues

February 15th, 20190 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following in the footsteps of her colleague, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MINN) sparked controversy this week with stark comments about the country's most prominent pro-Israel lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). “It's all about the Benjamins...

Omar was right about AIPAC, her apology is a mistake

February 15th, 20190 This weekend, just hours after U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) posted a tweet implying that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) pays off American politicians to defend Israel, she had already apologized, in response to a swift rebuke from House Democratic leaders. In two separate tweets, Omar called out AIPAC as a...

What to Look For in 2018

December 22nd, 20170 By Lee H. Hamilton This was an interesting year that's just passed, wasn't it? And here's the thing: I suspect 2018 will be just as intriguing. Let's start with some good news. The economy had a good year in 2017, seeing overall growth, subdued inflation, progress on wages and even some signs that economic growth is reaching the...

World rejects Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital

December 8th, 20170 On Wednesday, Arabs and Muslims across the Middle East condemned the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital as an incendiary move in a volatile region and Palestinians said Washington was abandoning its leading role as a peace mediator. The European Union and United Nations also voiced alarm at President Trump's decision to...