Washington Institute for Near East Policy

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The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Insight and Analysis on U.S. Middle East Policy
Formation	1985
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Website	www.washingtoninstitute.org

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) is a Washington, DC-based think tank which concerns itself with U.S.-Middle East policy. It was founded in 1985 by Martin Indyk, a research director for AIPAC who would later be appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

According to its mission statement, it was "established to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East. Under the guidance of a distinguished and bipartisan Board of Advisors, the Institute seeks to bring scholarship to bear on the making of U.S. policy in this vital region of the world. Drawing on the research of its scholars and the experience of policy practitioners, the Institute promotes an American engagement in the Middle East committed to strengthening alliances, nurturing friendships, and promoting security, peace, prosperity, and democracy for the people of the region."

Its activities include annual conferences, a Presidential Study Group composed of a "bipartisan blue-ribbon commission charged with drafting a blueprint for the next administration's Middle East policy," closed-door policy forums, and various publications and research programs.^[1]

WINEP is regarded by some as having a pro-Israel tilt,^[2] and "funded by individuals deeply committed to advancing Israel's agenda."^[3] The WINEP is said to have "bipartisan credentials" and its "Mission" page features prominent quotes from both Al Gore and neoconservative columnist Charles Krauthammer. However some have described the Institute as "serving as an important venue for policies advocated by leading Bush administration hawks and their supporters outside government." ^[4]

Since January 1993,^[5] it is led by Executive Director Robert Satloff. Several current and former members of WINEP have served in senior positions in the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Members of its Board of Advisors include Warren Christopher, Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Alexander Haig, Max Kampelman, Samuel W. Lewis, Edward Luttwak, Michael Mandelbaum, Robert McFarlane, Martin Peretz, Richard Perle, James Roche, Cheryl Halpern, George P. Shultz, R. James Woolsey, and Mortimer Zuckerman.^[6] Scholars include Soner Cagaptay, Andrew Exum, Mehdi Khalaji, Mohammad Yaghi, and many others, as well as two former IDF officers, Chuck Freilich and Ze'ev Schiff.