Spotlight on International Experts and Senior Fellows

IISS Manama Dialogue Spotlight on International Experts and Senior Fellows:Dr Toby Dodge and Christopher Langton OBE 

In preparation for the forthcoming IISS Regional Security Summit, The Manama Dialogue, spotlights on IISS Senior Fellows and Experts will be distributed bi-weekly. The Manama Dialogue will be held in Bahrain from 11 to 13 December 2009.

This week, we are pleased to feature Dr Toby Dodge and Christopher Langton OBE. Dr Dodge and Mr Langton are available for interviews now regarding The IISS Manama Dialogue. Please see below for information on these two gentleman and also to spend ‘1 Minute’ with each of them.  To request an interview with Dr Parasiliti or Mr Inkster, or receive accreditation to attend the Manama Dialogue security summit, email dialoguepress@iiss.org.

Additional information on The Manama Dialogue can be found at: http://www.iiss.org/conferences/the-iiss-regional-security-summit/

Dr Toby Dodge

Consulting Senior Fellow for the Middle East  

Expertise: Iraq, international relations of the post colonial world, comparative politics of the Middle East

1 Minute with Dr  Toby Dodge: 

Most specific to The Manama Dialogue, I can talk about Iraq and the up and coming national elections that will be scheduled for the end of January 2010. The issues surrounding this are, will there be a marked increase in violence before the polls, will the current Prime Minister Maliki survive?  If not who will replace him?  Finally, how will elections impact on US President Obama’s plans to draw down American troops to 50,000 by August 2010 and out of the country altogether by December 2011? As a specialist in Middle East politics, I would be happy to discuss the Arab Peace Initiative and Arab-Iranian relations.

Read more about Toby Dodge

Christopher Langton OBE

Senior Fellow for Conflict and Defence Diplomacy

Expertise: Conflict and Defence Analysis with emphasis on Russia, Eurasia and Afghanistan

There is a change in strategic direction in the effort to counter the insurgency in Afghanistan. US General McChrystal who commands ISAF has made the 'protection of the population' his main objective. The tempo of military operations has increased and the Taliban-led insurgency have responded with a concentrated campaign against international and government forces  that has resulted in a rise in casualties, mostly due to improvised explosive devices. At the same time civilian casualties caused by coalition actions have decreased since McChrystal took over. There is now a drive backed by extra troops, the vast majority of which are American, to maintain momentum and increase the capabilities of the Afghan National Security Forces so that they can take over more of the military tasks. The international mission has been complicated by flawed presidential elections and political uncertainty. There is hope that the parliamentary (Wolesi Jirga) elections due in 2010 will bring some political stability whilst the new counter-insurgency strategy takes root. The Manama Dialogue will explore these issues, prospects and challenges.
 

Read more about Christopher Langton