Michael Gfoeller is an independent consultant on international politics and security matters. He served for 26 years as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. His career included service in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Manama, Bahrain; Iraq; Moscow, Russia; Yerevan, Armenia; Chisinau, Moldova; Warsaw, Poland; and Brussels. From 2004 to 2008, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge’ d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh.