BEIRUT, Dec 9—Amid the overwhelming popular enthusiasm and unprecedented media coverage in the Arab world that accompanied the 2008 U.S. presidential elections, the Carnegie Middle East Center provided an open forum for distinguished Arab observers to share their thoughts on future American policies in the Middle East.

Obama’s Middle East Policy: What the Arab World Expects, features the different concerns and agendas of writers from a range of countries, disciplines, and backgrounds, including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

The writings explore America’s image in the region; the critical security issues facing the Middle East: Iraq, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions; the social significance of Obama’s election; political reform; and Islamist movements.

Social Significance of Obama's Election:

• The White President in the Black House, Elias Khoury
• The Social Significance of Obama's Election, Gamal al-Ghitany

Top Priorities for the Middle East:

• Candid Words for a Candid President, Salah ad-Din al-Jourchi
• American Presidential Election Results and Their Implications for America's Image and Policies in the Middle East, Ahmed Saif

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:

• Obama and the Middle East: Palestine First, Khaled al-Hroub
• The Obama Administration and the Middle East, Rana al-Sabbagh

Iraq, Iran, and Gulf Security:

• What the Arab Intellectual Wants From Obama, Abdel Hussein Shaban
• The Obama Administration and the Arab World's Concerns: A Perspective From the Gulf, Abdulaziz Sager
• Obama's Dilemma Over the Balance of Power in the Arabian Gulf, Khaled al-Dakhil
• The Obama Administration's Realism and Limitations, Elias Harfoush

Islamist Movements:

• The Obama Administration and Islamist Parties: Any Hope for Turning a New Page?, Mustapha al-Khalfi

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NOTES

• The Carnegie Middle East Center is a public policy think tank and research center based in Beirut, Lebanon. Bringing together senior researchers from the region, the Carnegie Middle East Center aims to better inform the process of political change in the Middle East and deepen understanding of the issues the region and its people face.

• The Carnegie Middle East Program combines in-depth local knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to examine economic, socio-political, and strategic interests in the Arab world. Through detailed country studies and the exploration of key cross-cutting themes, the Carnegie Middle East Program, in coordination with the Carnegie Middle East Center, provides analysis and recommendations that are deeply informed by knowledge and views from the region. The Carnegie Middle East Program has special expertise in political reform and Islamist participation in pluralistic politics throughout the region.

• Carnegie's Arab Reform Bulletin has been transformed into a full-featured website that offers greatly enhanced search functionality, the option for readers to comment on articles, and frequent news updates.

• Press Contact: Trent Perrotto, 202/939-2372, tperrotto@ceip.org