A very special edition of The 966 for Episode 53: The 966 has lined up three experts to discuss their reactions to President Biden’s visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia and a renewed U.S. focus on the Middle East region. Hussein Ibish, columnist for Bloomberg, Dr. Jon Alterman from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Col. David Des Roches from the National Defense University join the podcast to react to the visit, discuss the outcomes, and help us cut through the noise and understand the significance of President Biden’s visit to the region.
LISTEN NOW:
WATCH THE CONVERSATION WITH HUSSEIN IBISH HERE:
2:00 – First up, The 966 speaks with Hussein Ibish, columnist for Bloomberg and The National and Senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Hussein discusses his view, shared with the Washington Post, that “[a]nyone expecting a checklist of achievements was looking at the wrong visit. Biden didn’t go with a list but a long-term agenda.”
WATCH THE CONVERSATION WITH DR. JON ALTERMAN HERE:
33:49 – Next, The 966 welcomes Dr. Jon Alterman to the program to talk about the visit and its significance. Jon notes that there was a very different feel between Biden’s welcome to Israel, which he visited before Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom. The hosts discuss with Jon a recalibration in relations and a renewed American role in the Middle East region.
WATCH THE CONVERSATION WITH DAVID DES ROCHES HERE:
1:11:47 – Last but certainly not least, Col. David Des Roches joins The 966 from London to discuss the significance and potential impact of the visit. Des Roches is Associate Professor at the National Defense University and a Non-Resident Fellow, AGSIW. The hosts discuss with Des Roches some of the security aspects of the meeting between President Biden and his team and King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the host of ministers in attendance for working meetings in Jeddah.
