Great Decisions discussion on Middle East

Monmouth College anthropology professor Petra Kuppinger will take a closer look at the volatile Middle East when she leads a Great Decisions discussion at Monmouth College on Feb. 13.

Kuppinger will introduce the topic at 7:30 p.m. in Room 276 of the College’s Center for Science and Business.

The administration of President Donald Trump has aligned itself with strongmen in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which along with Israel have a common goal of frustrating Iranian expansion.

Kuppinger and the Great Decisions group will attempt to answer such questions as: What will be the fallout from policy reversals such as withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear accord and moving the United States embassy in Israel to Jerusalem? Does the U.S. see a path forward in troubled states such as Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq? Is the U.S. headed toward war with Iran?

Called “America’s largest discussion program on world affairs,” Great Decisions is a nationwide program sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association, a non-partisan, non-governmental association that works to increase Americans’ understanding of foreign policy issues.