Martini Chat: A War Expert Discusses Afghanistan

The following interview was excerpted from TheStreet.com's online Martini Chart, Thursday, Oct. 18. For the transcript of the entire Martini Chat, click here.

Welcome to TheStreet.com's Martini Chat. Our first guest adds significant value to any discussion regarding the geopolitical landscape and, especially to any discussion regarding the politics and business of the Middle East.

Marvin Zonis is professor at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, focusing on U.S. foreign policy, global politics and economic development, Middle Eastern and Russian politics, and economics. He also is the principal of an international risk-consulting firm that bears his name.

Zonis is widely published on Middle Eastern affairs and has previously focused research on Iran and the Israel-Palestinian peace process. He has served as a consultant to the Policy Planning Council, U.S. Department of State, and the National Security Council, not to mention as a consultant on the implications of geopolitical events on investments and the energy markets to a number of investment firms. ...