SPME-University of Pittsburgh co-sponsored a talk by Barry Rubin at the
University’s William Pitt Union on Nov 11, 2009. Other sponsors included
Pittsburgh ZOA, UJF-Iran Task Force, Panthers for Israel, and the
Hillel-Jewish University Center. Barry’s talk was paired with a talk by
Abby Wisse Schachter, a columnist for the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.
The latter was sponsored by CAMERA. A crowd of about 70 attended the
2-hour talk and discussion, including a number of students from nearby
Carnegie Mellon University.

Barry’s talk was entitled, “What is the problem in the Middle East?” His
emphasis was on the “in,” that is, the need to consult regional sources,
including what Arab newspapers report, what local opinion makers say, and
what people on the ground hear. His talk ranged across regional issues,
such as Iranian nuclear ambitions, Palestinian leaders’ continuing
commitment to one-state rule, Turkish internal divisions, and the
complexity of alliances in Iraq. A particular focus was the American
administration’s inability to understand how the Middle East works.

The evening was a great success and offers a good model for joint
sponsorship of events that no single organization would be able to mount
on its own.