Carnegie Connects

September 11, 2001, was the second deadliest day on American soil in the country’s history, exceeded only by a single day during the 1862 Battle of Antietam. Events that day produced a rare moment of national unity, only to give way to controversy and heightened divisions over the American response. It would lead to the two longest wars in U.S. history, a global war on terror and a rethinking of America’s counter-terrorism policy.Twenty-five years later, what are the lessons—learned and unlearned—from that fateful day?  And what have been the long-lasting consequences and implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security?Join Aaron David Miller as he engages the Brookings Institution's Philip Gordon, the McCain Institute’s Nick Rasmussen, and The New Yorker's Susan B. Glasser on the impact of September 11th, on the next Carnegie Connects. 

Since the state of Israel was established in 1948, the U.S.-Israeli relationship has had its ups and downs. Even with episodic tensions under American presidents of both parties, U.S. support for Israel remained strong. In the last few years, however, the foundational elements of the relationship—shared values, common interests, and strong bipartisan domestic support—have come under unprecedented strain and scrutiny, especially as Congressional and public attitudes have grown more critical.  What’s driving the decline and to what extent is this shift affecting the actual substance of the U.S.-Israeli relationship? How has the war with Iran and Israeli policies in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank impacted strategic cooperation, intelligence sharing, and political alignment between the two nations? Have we reached an inflection point where America’s special relationship with Israel is changing irreversibly? Join Aaron David Miller as he engages Princeton University’s Daniel Kurtzer, the Middle East Institute’s Yael Lempert, and the University of Maryland’s Shibley Telhami, in a wide-ranging discussion of the future of the U.S.-Israeli relationship, on Carnegie Connects.  Carnegie Connects is recorded as a live broadcast and audio quality may be impacted.

Russia’s war against Ukraine is well into its fifth year. In recent weeks, momentum has swung in Ukraine’s favor amid a remarkable series of strikes on Russia’s energy system, military logistics nodes, and defense industrial base.  Nevertheless, Ukraine remains dangerously vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks with little chance of improvement in the face of the global shortage of missile interceptors.  Moreover, neither side appears closer to inflicting the level of damage that might decisively turn the tide on the battlefield or open prospects for a diplomatic conclusion to the conflict. What is the reality on the battlefield? Is significant pressure mounting on Vladimir Putin that might compel him to look for a diplomatic off ramp? Will recent political turbulence in Kyiv impact Ukraine's ability continue an open-ended war of attrition?  And how has the role of external actors evolved, especially Europe, NATO and the United States? Join Aaron David Miller as he engages Carnegie’s own Andrew S. Weiss and Dara Massicot, who recently returned from a visit to the front-line in Ukraine, in a wide-ranging conversation on the headlines and trend lines of the Russia-Ukraine war, on Carnegie Connects.

Israel's image and credibility in the United States have fallen to an unprecedented low. A recent Pew poll revealed that 60 percent of American adults have an unfavorable view of Israel, especially among younger respondents. Criticism of Israel among Democrats in Congress has increased substantially, and while Republicans still broadly view Israel favorably, those who hold negative views are growing. Both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also voiced public criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that have gone well beyond their predecessors. What's driving the decline? How have the policies of Israel's right-wing government, especially the war in Gaza, rising antisemitism, and a growing number of younger candidates challenging traditional policies in both parties, changed U.S. perception of Israel and fractured once solid bipartisan support? What role is the Israel issue playing in recent primaries and the run-up to the midterms and what does it mean for the future of the U.S.- Israeli relationship? Join Aaron David Miller as he engages S.E. Cupp and Ron Brownstein, two leading American political analysts, in conversation on Israel and domestic U.S. politics, on Carnegie Connects.

In their 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU), the United States and Iran have agreed to “negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days extendable with mutual consent." However, challenges abound at the negotiating table, including the fragile ceasefire on the Israeli-Lebanese border, the ever-problematic Strait of Hormuz, and the issue of nuclear assets and international oversight. In the absence of even a modicum of trust in the wake of this bloody war, the likelihood of quickly reaching a successful deal seems uncertain. Are there relevant lessons from previous negotiations with Iran? What are the major do’s and don’ts when working with Tehran and organizing a U.S. delegation and strategy? Join Aaron David Miller in conversation with three former American negotiators: Robert Malley and Alan Eyre, members of the negotiating team for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015; and Michael Singh, former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council during President George W. Bush’s administration (2005-2008), to discuss the best path forward for the U.S. and Iran, on Carnegie Connects.