Michael Rubin

MICHAEL RUBIN, Resident Scholar at AEI and author of “Dancing With the Devil: The Perils of Engaging Rogue Regimes”:

PART ONE

• A prognosis of U.S. policy in 2014 Iraq
• Acting symbolically versus acting substantively against the Islamic State
• American military intervention against IS: revenge or tactical?

PART TWO

• Is the President taking the counsel of his military advisors?
• President Obama’s misunderstanding of Turkey’s support for the Islamic State
• An argument for closer U.S. ties with the Kurds

PART THREE

• Deep penetration of Iraq's political and military leadership by pro-Iranian elements
• Is a bad nuclear deal with Iran better than no deal at all?
• Radical ideology's impact on Iran's decision making process on nuclear arms

PART FOUR

• Egypt’s long fight against the Muslim Brotherhood and radical Islam
• Challenges President al-Sisi is up against in addressing Egypt’s domestic issues
• Indications of a strained US-Egyptian relationship with the postponed sale of American military helicopters
• Disproportionate blame placed on Israel for motivating Jihadist recruitment