Archives for December 2018

Published on December 29, 2018 by Gary Grappo

Are Saudi Arabia and MBS Becoming a Liability for the White House?

Published first at Fair Observer on December 18, 2018

It would be hard to find the leader of any close American ally in recent history with a cloud over his head as the one over Mohammed bin Salman today. The December 14 Senate votes to end US military aid for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen and to condemn Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for […]

FO° Talks: America’s New Fast-Changing Role in the Middle East, Part 1

August 25, 2024 By Gary Grappo

After World War II, the need to ensure that no single country controlled access to the region’s rich reserves of fossil fuels underscored US diplomacy in and led US diplomats to the Middle East. While the US forged an alliance with Saudi Arabia, the British had thrown their hat in with Iran. The US proved […]

FO° Talks: America’s New Fast-Changing Role in the Middle East (Part 2)

August 25, 2024 By Gary Grappo

The United States’ role in the Middle East took a turn in the early 2000s after the Bush administration’s War on Terror. The disastrous US invasion of Iraq changed the public perception of the US’ role in the region and the world. While the Obama administration attempted to pivot to Asia, the 2011 Arab Spring, […]

What Happens Now That the Iranian President Is Dead?

June 1, 2024 By Gary Grappo

The recent death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash has created uncertainty regarding the nation’s future. Gary Grappo, a retired US diplomat with extensive regional experience, provides insight into the potential implications. The president is a figurehead, and the immediate effects will be minimal. Still, Raisi’s death highlights the instability of the […]

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Archives for December 2018

Are Saudi Arabia and MBS Becoming a Liability for the White House?