Gregory Aftandilian Journalist Profile

Articles

Girding for Post-Election Violence if Trump Loses

Nov 4, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

Many Americans are worried that if former President Donald Trump loses to Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election, he and his Make American Great Again (MAGA) supporters will cry foul, and some may engage in violence. Almost two-thirds of Republicans believe that Trump won four years ago, and they may say the same thing this year if Harris wins. Trump himself has fed this red meat to his base, saying on several occasions that the only way he will lose is if the election is rigged.
The Israel/Palestine Stain on Biden’s Foreign Policy Legacy

Oct 23, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

Every US president wants to leave office with a positive legacy. Some do so to draw attention away from a scandal; others hope that the history books will treat them better than the political class or the American public did while they held the highest office in the land. In the case of President Joe Biden, he clearly wants the history books to show that he restored America’s standing in the world after the chaotic years of the Trump presidency.
Foreign Policy’s Impact on the November Presidential Election

Sep 25, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

US presidential elections are usually decided on domestic issues, especially the economy. A candidate’s resting his or her presidential laurels on a foreign policy “triumph” has often proved ephemeral, as when George H.W. Bush successfully ousted Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991 only to lose to Bill Clinton in 1992 as Americans grappled with a recession. Although there have been times in US history when foreign policy does influence an election, they have been scarce.
The Islamic State Is Trying to Rebound

Aug 29, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

Taking advantage of the world’s attention to the Israel-Hamas and Israel-Hezbollah conflicts, the so-called Islamic State (IS) is trying to reconstitute itself in Syria and Iraq. US military commanders warn that the number of its attacks is set to double this year from 2023, a sign of the terrorist group’s increased capabilities.
Middle East Leaders Prefer Trump’s Victory

Jul 24, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

Donald J. Trump’s candidacy seems to draw more interest and support from the Middle East than from other areas of the world, particularly from among the ruling elite in influential countries like Israel and in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Saudi support for Trump may not be surprising given that current US President Joe Biden was sharply critical of Riyadh during his 2020 presidential election campaign, slights that the Saudi leadership has not forgotten.
History Redux: Immigrants from MENA and the US Presidential Election

Jun 26, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

Although the United States is often called a nation of immigrants—most people with the exception of Native Americans can trace their origins to somewhere else—there have been times in US history when the government demeaned immigrants from so-called inferior groups and severely restricted their entry into the country.
UAE Restricts US Military Strikes from Its Territory

May 22, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

Fearing an attack by Iran or its allied militias in the region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has restricted US military aircraft from targeting these proxy groups from its Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi.
The Gaza War Still Can Decide the American Presidential Election

Apr 24, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

Latest polls indicate that President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are in a dead heat in the presidential race at this point in the campaign, which is only six and a half months away from the election on November 5. How each candidate can move the needle depends on several factors, including the state of the economy and whether Trump is convicted of felonies in his current or upcoming trials.
Libya: Despite Talks on a Unified Government, Impasse Remains

Mar 27, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

Talks last month in Cairo between representatives of Libya’s two rival governments raised hopes over progress in resolving the country’s 10-year political impasse. The talks discussed the formation of a unified government with the authority to supervise long-overdue nationwide elections.
US Troops to Stay in Syria and Iraq but Perhaps Not for Long

Feb 22, 2024 | arabcenterdc.org | Gregory Aftandilian

In recent weeks, there have been meetings in Washington and in Baghdad about the presence in Iraq and Syria of US troops, whose official mandate is to aid local forces against remnants of the so-called Islamic State (IS). These meetings come following the post-October 7 surge of attacks on US forces in the region by Iran-backed Shia militias seeking to take advantage of the Israel-Hamas war and Arab public anger over unconditional US support for Israel.