Richard N. Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, in an essay entitled "The New Middle East" published in the latest Foreign Affairs (Nov-Dec '06), suggests that the era of US dominance in the Middle East has ended.

According to his analysis, a new era has begun which will be characterized by decreasing impact of external forces and increasing cominance of local radical actors seeking to change the status quo.

The Reut Institute has been following the shifting security environment in the region, as presented in the following news analyses and documents:

• Proxy, Sponsor and Host

• The Lebanese Systemic Threat

• Change in Regional Priorities

• Is the US facing a Foreign Policy Crisis??
  
  
• Mixed Messages from Syria
  
  

• Incapacity of Moderate Arab Leaders

• Role of the Gulf States in the Palestinian Arena

• Severe Crisis of Palestinian Representation

Sources

Richard Haass, "The New Middle East", Foreign Affairs, 11/01/06.