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Washington Institute for Near East Policy
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The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (TWI; known informally as WINEP) is a Washington, DC-based think tank which concerns itself with U.S.-Middle East policy. It was founded in 1985 by Martin Indyk, a research director for AIPAC who would later be appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
According to its mission statement, it was "established to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East.
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Encyclopedia
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (TWI; known informally as WINEP) is a Washington, DC-based think tank which concerns itself with U.S.-Middle East policy. It was founded in 1985 by Martin Indyk, a research director for AIPAC who would later be appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
According to its mission statement, it was "established to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East. Under the guidance of a distinguished and bipartisan Board of Advisors, the Institute seeks to bring scholarship to bear on the making of U.S. policy in this vital region of the world. Drawing on the research of its scholars and the experience of policy practitioners, the Institute promotes an American engagement in the Middle East committed to strengthening alliances, nurturing friendships, and promoting security, peace, prosperity, and democracy for the people of the region."
Its activities include annual conferences, a Presidential Study Group composed of a "bipartisan blue-ribbon commission charged with drafting a blueprint for the next administration's Middle East policy," closed-door policy forums, and various publications and research programs.
Since January 1993, it is led by Executive Director Robert Satloff. Several current and former members of WINEP have served in senior positions in the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Members of its Board of Advisors include Warren Christopher, Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Alexander Haig, Max Kampelman, Samuel W. Lewis, Edward Luttwak, Michael Mandelbaum, Robert McFarlane, Martin Peretz, Richard Perle, James Roche, Cheryl Halpern, George P. Shultz, R. James Woolsey, and Mortimer Zuckerman.
Criticism
In an interview on Al-Jazeera in December 2003, controversial Palestinian-American professor Rashid Khalidi sharply criticized the institute, stating it is is "the fiercest of the enemies of the Arabs and the Muslims."
Support
The WINEP is said to have "bipartisan credentials" and its "Mission" page features prominent quotes from both Al Gore and columnist Charles Krauthammer. Martin Kramer has expressed strong support for the WINEP, noting that it is run by Americans, and accepts funds only from American sources. He also criticized Khalidi for his remarks, stating that "it is outrageous for Khalidi to denounce the Arabs who have come to The Washington Institute as blundering dupes." Kramer noted that the institute hosted a group of Palestinian Fatah activists associated with the Tanzim in the Fall of 2003, despite the fact that this invitation resulted in criticism of the institute from pro-Israel sources. Kramer also noted that in for its annual 2003 conference, the Institute flew in three members of Iraq's Governing Council. The institute has also hosted Egyptian playwright, Ali Salem, who has been detained for his collaboration with democracy activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim.
Notable current and former scholars
External links
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