CSIS, 10 Jan 08: Security and Stability in the Greater Middle East
Six Strategic Challenges

• Energy export capacity and security

• Adjustment of military posture in Iraq, and the Gulf.

• Deciding how to deal with Iranian proliferation, growing asymmetric warfare capabilities, and use of proxies.

• The lack of near-term prospects for a real Arab-Israeli peace process, and potential further military clashes in Lebanon and between Israel and the Palestinians and/or Syria.

• The region-wide impact of Neo-Salafi Islamist extremism. The franchising of Al Qaida, and its impact inside and outside the region.

• Dealing with the war in Afghanistan, potential destabilization of as nuclear Pakistan, and its impact on proliferation and Islamist extremism in the Middle East.
Complete 53 slide briefing in pdf format at the link.