Conference Call on Egypt, Syria

RAND experts on Egypt and Syria will participate in a media conference call to discuss the latest developments in the region, including:

• the transition process in Egypt
• the future of the Muslim Brotherhood
• the effects of the soccer riots on the legitimacy of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces
• options available for the U.S. and its allies to stop the escalating violence in Syria
• the implications of the embassy closure and the UN Security Council veto by Russia and China.

Amb. Charles Ries, director of the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy.

Jeffrey Martini, Middle East research project associate who returned from Egypt on Saturday, where he met with Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists, among others.

Fred Wehrey, a senior policy analyst focusing on Persian Gulf security, Syria, Libya, and civil-military relations. He is co-author of "Arab Spring, Persian Winter: Will Iran Emerge the Winner from the Arab Revolts?"

Julie Taylor, a political scientist focusing on the Middle East, Islamist groups, and nation-building. She is co-author of "Commanding Democracy in Egypt: The Military's Attempt to Manage the Future."

11 a.m. ET, Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Members of the media covering foreign and defense policy

Call RAND Media Relations Officer Joe Dougherty at (703) 413-1100, ext. 5137 or email media@rand.org