Forever Wars: America’s Middle East Dilemma
How does America’s enduring support for Israel shape the prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East? Join Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, for an unflinching look at America’s evolving relationship with Israel and the wider region. Drawing on decades of experience living and working across the Middle East, and regularly cited in leading outlets such as The New York Times and NPR, Katulis will examine the dilemmas shaping U.S. foreign policy: security partnerships, shifting regional dynamics, and the prospects for peace.
About the Moderator: Dr. Robert Farley
Dr. Robert Farley is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, where he has taught security and diplomacy since 2005. He earned his BS from the University of Oregon and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Washington.
Dr. Farley is the author of Grounded: The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force (2014), The Battleship Book (2016), and Patents for Power: Intellectual Property Law and the Diffusion of Military Technology (2020). His work has appeared in The National Interest, The Diplomat, World Politics Review, and The American Prospect.
A founder and senior editor of the blog Lawyers, Guns & Money, Dr. Farley also manages the Patterson School’s podcast and recruitment efforts. He brings deep expertise in defense policy, military technology, and U.S. strategy—offering valuable context for understanding America’s complex role in the Middle East.
Location
The Filson Historical Society
1310 South 3rd Street
Louisville, KY, 40208 United States
Schedule
5:00 pm - Check in and Networking
6:00 pm - Program and Q&A
7:30 pm - Dinner at Bucks
Student Tickets
We’re excited to welcome students to our programs!
- A limited number of free student tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
- To request one, complete the Student Ticket Request Form using your student email. 
- We’ll confirm if you received a ticket. If tickets are gone, you’ll be added to our student waitlist and notified if a spot opens. 
🎟 Didn’t get a free ticket? Students can still attend for just $10 by registering through the event registration page with a valid student email.
Please note: The World Affairs Council of Kentucky & So. Indiana (WAC) provides a platform for open dialogue and exchange on global issues. Views expressed in WAC programs are those of the speakers and participants and do not represent the official positions of WAC. As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization, WAC’s mission is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of international affairs, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.

