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{{short description|South African attorney and venture capitalist}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| name = Mark Dubowitz
| name = Mark Dubowitz
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|9|11|df=y}}
| image =
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| birth_place = [[South Africa]]
| caption =
| birth_date = 11 September 1968
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| birth_place = South Africa
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
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| occupation = CEO of the [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]]
| citizenship = United States
| education = [[Johns Hopkins University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])<br />[[University of Toronto]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]], [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])
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| occupation = CEO, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
| alma_mater = [[Johns Hopkins University]]<br>[[University of Toronto]]
| website = {{URL|www.fdd.org}}
}}
}}
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'''Mark Dubowitz''' (born 11 September 1968) is a South African-born Canadian-American attorney and former [[venture capitalist]], currently serving as CEO of the [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]], a non-profit think-tank and lobbying institute part of the [[Israel lobby in the United States]], that advocates for [[War hawk|hawkish]] foreign policy.<ref name="KampeasCongress">{{cite news|last1=Kampeas|first1=Ron|title=Why the Republican Congress Most Likely Cannot Stop the Iran Deal|url=http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/1.666110|publisher=Haaretz|date=July 15, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/13/us/politics/mark-dubowitz-iran-deal.html|title=He Was a Tireless Critic of the Iran Deal. Now He Insists He Wanted to Save It.|date=2018-05-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-05-14|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fdd.org/team/mark-dubowitz/|title=FDD {{!}} Mark Dubowitz|website=FDD|language=en|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Jett|first=Dennis C.|title=The Iran Nuclear Deal: Bombs, Bureaucrats, and Billionaires|page=85|year=2017|publisher=Springer|isbn=9783319598222}}</ref> He is a proponent of [[sanctions against Iran]]<ref name=Sanctions>{{cite news|title=U.S. Senators Pushing for Tougher Sanctions on Iran, to the Point of Bankruptcy|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/u-s-senators-pushing-for-tougher-sanctions-on-iran-to-the-point-of-bankruptcy-1.476445|accessdate=January 18, 2016|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=Haaretz|date=November 9, 2012}}</ref> and was a leading critic of the Iran nuclear agreement, officially called the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]]. According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', “Mark Dubowitz’s campaign to draw attention to what he saw as the flaws in the Iran nuclear deal has taken its place among the most consequential ever undertaken by a Washington think tank leader.” <ref name=":0" />

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'''Mark Dubowitz''' (11 September 1968) is the CEO of the nonpartisan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/72008d8d52774fd3a1f6910c6333d120|title=Trump's 'America first' policy to key in on foreign shores|last=Riechmann|first=Deb|date=2019-02-02|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref> [[War hawk|hawkish]]<ref name=":0" /> think-tank [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]], where he co-founded its Center on Economic and Financial Power as well as its Center on Military and Political Power.<ref name="KampeasCongress">{{cite news|last1=Kampeas|first1=Ron|title=Why the Republican Congress Most Likely Cannot Stop the Iran Deal|url=http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/1.666110|publisher=Haaretz|date=July 15, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/13/us/politics/mark-dubowitz-iran-deal.html|title=He Was a Tireless Critic of the Iran Deal. Now He Insists He Wanted to Save It.|date=2018-05-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-05-14|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fdd.org/team/mark-dubowitz/|title=FDD {{!}} Mark Dubowitz|website=FDD|language=en|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref> He is a proponent of [[sanctions against Iran]] <ref name=Sanctions>{{cite news|title=U.S. Senators Pushing for Tougher Sanctions on Iran, to the Point of Bankruptcy|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/u-s-senators-pushing-for-tougher-sanctions-on-iran-to-the-point-of-bankruptcy-1.476445|accessdate=January 18, 2016|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=Haaretz|date=November 9, 2012}}</ref> and was a leading critic of the Iran nuclear agreement, officially called the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]]. According to ''The New York Times'', “Mark Dubowitz’s campaign to draw attention to what he saw as the flaws in the Iran nuclear deal has taken its place among the most consequential ever undertaken by a Washington think tank leader.” <ref name=":0" />


He was a leading critic of the Iran nuclear agreement, [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], but then tried to save it after President Trump withdrew from the agreement according to his own account.<ref name=":0" />
He was a leading critic of the Iran nuclear agreement, [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], but then tried to save it after President Trump withdrew from the agreement according to his own account.<ref name=":0" />


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Dubowitz is a citizen of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Dubowitz profile|url=http://www.defenddemocracy.org/about-fdd/team-overview/dubowitz-mark|website=Defenddemocracy.org|accessdate=December 24, 2015}}</ref> He was born in South Africa and raised in Toronto.<ref name=Goodspeed>{{cite news|last1=Goodspeed|first1=Peter|title=Ratcheting Up The Hassle Factor; Expert sees sanctions against Iran wounding the regime by making it difficult to do business|publisher=[[National Post]]|date=January 28, 2012}}</ref>
Dubowitz is a citizen of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Dubowitz profile|url=http://www.defenddemocracy.org/about-fdd/team-overview/dubowitz-mark|website=Defenddemocracy.org|accessdate=December 24, 2015}}</ref> He was born in [[South Africa]] and raised in [[Toronto]].


He has a master's degree in international public policy from [[Johns Hopkins University]]'s School of Advanced International Studies where he focused on China, and JD and MBA degrees from the [[University of Toronto]].<ref name=Goodspeed/><ref>{{cite web|title=Master of Global Affairs|url=http://munkschool.utoronto.ca/mga/profs/mark-dubowitz|website=Munkschool.utoronto.ca|accessdate=March 22, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He has also studied at Jerusalem's [[Hebrew University]].<ref name="The man who fights Iran">{{cite web|title=The man who fights Iran|url= https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4060499,00.html|website=Ynet News}}</ref> He spent the first 8 years after law school working on funding technology start-ups in Toronto, as an attorney and venture capitalist in Toronto.<ref name=Goodspeed/>
Dubowitz earned a master's degree in international public policy from the [[Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies]] at [[Johns Hopkins University]], where he focused on China. He also earned a [[Juris Doctor]] and [[Master of Business Administration]] from the [[University of Toronto]].<ref name="Goodspeed">{{cite news|last1=Goodspeed|first1=Peter|date=January 28, 2012|title=Ratcheting Up The Hassle Factor; Expert sees sanctions against Iran wounding the regime by making it difficult to do business|publisher=[[National Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Master of Global Affairs|url=http://munkschool.utoronto.ca/mga/profs/mark-dubowitz|website=Munkschool.utoronto.ca|accessdate=March 22, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He has also studied at Jerusalem's [[Hebrew University]].<ref name="The man who fights Iran">{{cite news|title=The man who fights Iran|url= https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4060499,00.html|newspaper=Ynetnews|date= 26 April 2011|last1= Benhorin|first1= Yitzhak}}</ref> He spent the first 8 years after law school working on funding technology start-ups in Toronto, as an attorney and venture capitalist in Toronto.<ref name=Goodspeed/>


==Career==
==Career==
Dubowitz is the CEO of the [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-14/iran-sanctions-bid-targets-oil-tanker-companies-to-cut-exports.html|title=Iran-Sanctions Bid Targets Oil, Tanker Companies to Cut Exports|date=February 14, 2012|newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=July 16, 2012}}</ref> He co-founded FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power and FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power,<ref name=":1" /> and is the author or co-author of more than twenty studies on economic sanctions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenddemocracy.org/latest/staff/publication/dubowitz-mark|title=Foundation for Defense of Democracies|website=Defenddemocracy.org|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He also is co-chair of the Project on U.S. Middle East Nonproliferation Strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/press-release-project-on-u.s.-middle-east-nonproliferation-strategy|title=Press Release - Project on U.S. Middle East Nonproliferation Strategy &#124; Institute for Science and International Security|website=Isis-online.org|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref>
Dubowitz is the CEO of the [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-14/iran-sanctions-bid-targets-oil-tanker-companies-to-cut-exports.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216082320/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-14/iran-sanctions-bid-targets-oil-tanker-companies-to-cut-exports.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 16, 2012|title=Iran-Sanctions Bid Targets Oil, Tanker Companies to Cut Exports|date=February 14, 2012|newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=July 16, 2012}}</ref> He co-founded FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power and FDD's Center on Military and Political Power,<ref name=":1" /> and is the author or co-author of more than twenty studies on economic sanctions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenddemocracy.org/latest/staff/publication/dubowitz-mark|title=Foundation for Defense of Democracies|website=Defenddemocracy.org|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He also is co-chair of the Project on U.S. Middle East Nonproliferation Strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/press-release-project-on-u.s.-middle-east-nonproliferation-strategy|title=Press Release - Project on U.S. Middle East Nonproliferation Strategy &#124; Institute for Science and International Security|website=Isis-online.org|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref>


He joined the FDD in 2003 despite "any relevant political or policy experience and coming from a wholly different background" and quickly became an authority on international terrorism and sanctions against states that sponsor terrorism such as Iran and North Korea.<ref name="The man who fights Iran"/> "I was a strange kid with an obsession with terrorism and plane hijackings. On September 11th it turned out that terrorism is not just an international problem, after it hit us at home," he told Ynet news. In 2003 I joined a small organization (FDD) despite not having any relevant political or policy experience and coming from a wholly different background." <ref name="The man who fights Iran"/>
He joined the FDD in 2003 and became an authority on international terrorism and sanctions against states that sponsor terrorism such as Iran and North Korea.<ref name="The man who fights Iran"/> "I was a strange kid with an obsession with terrorism and plane hijackings. On September 11th it turned out that terrorism is not just an international problem, after it hit us at home," he told Ynet news. In 2003 I joined a small organization (FDD) despite not having any relevant political or policy experience and coming from a wholly different background."<ref name="The man who fights Iran"/>


Dubowitz is a lecturer and senior research fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto where he teaches and conducts research on international negotiations, sanctions, and Iran's nuclear program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://munkschool.utoronto.ca/mga/profs/mark-dubowitz|title=Mark Dubowitz - Master of Global Affairs|website=Munkschool.utoronto.ca|date=2013-08-21|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref>
Dubowitz is a lecturer and senior research fellow at the [[Munk School of Global Affairs]] at the University of Toronto, where he teaches and conducts research on international negotiations, sanctions, and Iran's nuclear program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://munkschool.utoronto.ca/mga/profs/mark-dubowitz|title=Mark Dubowitz - Master of Global Affairs|website=Munkschool.utoronto.ca|date=2013-08-21|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref>


He is currently sanctioned by the Iranian government.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://en.mfa.ir/portal/newsview/50334| title=Foreign Ministry Blacklists 'Foundation for Defence of Democracies'| date=August 24, 2019| publisher=Islamic Republic of Iran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref>
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==Opposition to 2015 nuclear deal with Iran==
According to the ''New York Times'', "no one outside the Trump administration was a more persistent or effective critic [of the Iran nuclear agreement] than Mark Dubowitz".<ref name=":0" />


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=== Opposition to Iran nuclear deal ===
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He told [[YnetNews]] in 2011 that at FDD they "closely monitor international companies that do business with Iran, invest in Iran's energy sector and provide important equipment and technologies to this sector.<ref name="The man who fights Iran"/> They also monitor the movement of commercial vessels coming into and leaving Iran.<ref name="The man who fights Iran"/>
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According to ''The New York Times'', "no one outside the Trump administration was a more persistent or effective critic [of the Iran nuclear agreement] than Mark Dubowitz".<ref name=":0" /> As a vocal critic of the agreement, Dubowitz has stated that it did not address Iran's non-nuclear malign activity, such as its misappropriation of economic relief to fund terrorism, and "its lack of any limits on the regime’s ballistic missile program and its 'sunset provisions' that would allow Iran to increase its capacity to enrich uranium beginning seven years from now."<ref name=":0" /> According to ''[[Politico]]'', although Dubowitz "was an intense critic of the Iran deal," he "nonetheless advocated against scrapping it."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pompeo threatens Iran with 'strongest sanctions in history'|url=https://politi.co/2rYN1CT|last=Nelson|first=Louis|website=POLITICO|date=21 May 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref>


⚫
He told [[Ynet]] in 2011 that at FDD they "closely monitor international companies that do business with Iran, invest in Iran's energy sector and provide important equipment and technologies to this sector.<ref name="The man who fights Iran" /> They also monitor the movement of commercial vessels coming into and leaving Iran.<ref name="The man who fights Iran" />
Dubowitz opposed the Obama administration's nuclear diplomacy with Iran, testifying before Congress on several occasions against the nuclear talks, including to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (February 2014),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dubowitz_Testimony.pdf|format=PDF|title=Dubowitz prepared testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee|publisher= Senate Foreign Relations Committee website |date=February 4, 2014|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> Senate Banking Committee (January 27, 2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranwatch.org/sites/default/files/dubowitz-012715.pdf|format=PDF|title=Dubowitz prepared testimony to the Senate Banking Committee|website=Oranwatch.org|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> House Financial Services Committee (July 22, 2015), the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (July 29, 2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/07-29-15%20Dubowitz%20Testimony.pdf|format=PDF|title=Congressional Testimony: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|website=Foreign.senate.gov|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (August 5, 2015),<ref>{{cite web|title=Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies|url=http://www.defenddemocracy.org/testimony/the-implications-of-sanctions-relief-under-the-iran-agreement|website=Defenddemocracy.org|accessdate=2015-12-24}}</ref> and the House Ways and Means Committee (November 4, 2015).<ref>{{cite web|title=Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies|url=http://www.defenddemocracy.org/testimony/iran-terror-financing-and-the-tax-code|website=Defenddemocracy.org|accessdate=2015-12-24}}</ref>


Dubowitz authored or co-authored several op-eds on the Iran deal, including a July 8, 2015 Wall Street Journal op-ed with Reuel Marc Gerecht The Iran Nuclear Paradox,<ref>{{cite web|last=Marc|first=Reuel|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-iranian-nuclear-paradox-1436397909?alg=y|title=The Iranian Nuclear Paradox|website=WSJ.com|date=2015-07-08|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> a Dubowitz/Gerecht Wall Street Journal op-ed Iran's Negotiating Triumph Over Obama and America,<ref>{{cite web|last=Marc|first=Reuel|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/reuel-marc-gerecht-and-mark-dubowitz-irans-negotiating-triumph-over-obama-and-america-1428099801|title=Reuel Marc Gerecht and Mark Dubowitz: Iran’s Negotiating Triumph Over Obama and America|website=WSJ.com|date=2015-04-03|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> a November 8, 2011 ''[[New York Times]]'' op-ed with Gerecht, Don't Give Up on Sanctions,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/19/opinion/dont-give-up-on-sanctions-against-iran.html?_r=0|title=Don’t Give Up on Sanctions|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> and many others. Recently, Dubowitz authored How to Get a Better Deal With Iran,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/17/how-to-get-a-better-deal-with-iran-congress-reject-nuclear-treaty|title=How to Get a Better Deal With Iran |publisher=Foreign Policy|date=2015-08-17|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> and Amend Iran Deal to Improve It: Opposing View in Foreign Policy and USA Today.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usat.ly/1hkcNui|title=Amend Iran deal to improve it: Opposing view|website=Usat.ly|date=2015-08-05|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref>
Dubowitz opposed the [[Obama administration]]'s nuclear diplomacy with Iran, testifying before Congress on several occasions against the nuclear talks, including to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (February 2014),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dubowitz_Testimony.pdf|title=Dubowitz prepared testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee|publisher= Senate Foreign Relations Committee website |date=February 4, 2014|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> Senate Banking Committee (January 27, 2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranwatch.org/sites/default/files/dubowitz-012715.pdf|title=Dubowitz prepared testimony to the Senate Banking Committee|website=Oranwatch.org|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> House Financial Services Committee (July 22, 2015), the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (July 29, 2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/07-29-15%20Dubowitz%20Testimony.pdf|title=Congressional Testimony: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|website=Foreign.senate.gov|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref> Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (August 5, 2015),<ref>{{cite web|title=Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies|url=http://www.defenddemocracy.org/testimony/the-implications-of-sanctions-relief-under-the-iran-agreement|website=Defenddemocracy.org|accessdate=2015-12-24}}</ref> and the House Ways and Means Committee (November 4, 2015).<ref>{{cite web|title=Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies|url=http://www.defenddemocracy.org/testimony/iran-terror-financing-and-the-tax-code|website=Defenddemocracy.org|accessdate=2015-12-24}}</ref>


Dubowitz authored or co-authored several op-eds on the Iran deal, published in ''The New York Times'', ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', and ''[[USA Today]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marc|first=Reuel|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-iranian-nuclear-paradox-1436397909?alg=y|title=The Iranian Nuclear Paradox|website=WSJ.com|date=2015-07-08|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Don't Give Up on Sanctions|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=19 November 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/19/opinion/dont-give-up-on-sanctions-against-iran.html?_r=0|accessdate=2016-01-11|last1=Gerecht |first1=Reuel Marc |last2=Dubowitz |first2=Mark }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Reuel Marc Gerecht and Mark Dubowitz: Iran's Negotiating Triumph Over Obama and America|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/reuel-marc-gerecht-and-mark-dubowitz-irans-negotiating-triumph-over-obama-and-america-1428099801|last=Marc|first=Reuel|date=2015-04-03|website=WSJ.com|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=How to Get a Better Deal With Iran|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/17/how-to-get-a-better-deal-with-iran-congress-reject-nuclear-treaty|date=2015-08-17|publisher=Foreign Policy|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Amend Iran deal to improve it: Opposing view|url=http://usat.ly/1hkcNui|date=2015-08-05|website=Usat.ly|accessdate=2016-01-11}}</ref>
Dubowitz has co-authored many reports against the Iran deal for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. These included "Improving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" which he co-authored with Annie Fixler in August 2015; "Iran’s Economic Resilience Against Snapback Sanctions Will Grow Over Time" which he co-authored in August 2015 with Annie Fixler and Rachel Ziemba.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} On the July 26, 2017 PBS Newshour evening broadcast the subject and [[Robert Malley]] exchanged views on Iranian nuclear deal compliance and military intentions.<ref>PBS Newshour. (26 July 2017). "Trump signals he might pull out of the Iran nuclear deal. What’s at stake?" [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/trump-signals-might-pull-iran-nuclear-deal-whats-stake/ PBS website] Retrieved 26 July 2017.</ref>

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Dubowitz was critical of the agreement, saying it did not address Iran's non-nuclear malign activity, such as its misappropriation of economic relief to fund terrorism, and "its lack of any limits on the regime’s ballistic missile program and its 'sunset provisions' that would allow Iran to increase its capacity to enrich uranium beginning seven years from now." <ref name=":0" /> According to ''Politico'', although Dubowitz "was an intense critic of the Iran deal," he "nonetheless advocated against scrapping it." <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2rYN1CT|title=Pompeo threatens Iran with 'strongest sanctions in history'|last=Nelson|first=Louis|website=POLITICO|language=en|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref> Following President Trump's May 8, 2018 withdrawal of the JCPOA, ''The New York Times'' says "Mr. Dubowitz said he felt 'ambivalent' about the withdrawal: happy that Mr. Trump saw the agreement as flawed but disappointed in the rejection of the proposed fix, which he said 'seemed closer than anyone would have expected.'<ref name=":0" /> 'I was very invested in the process of trying to help the E3 bridge the gap with us,' he added, referring to negotiations with British, French and German diplomats." <ref name=":0" />


==References==
==References==
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* [http://defenddemocracy.org/about-fdd/team-overview/dubowitz-mark/ FDD Bio Page]
* [http://defenddemocracy.org/about-fdd/team-overview/dubowitz-mark/ FDD Bio Page]
* [https://markdubowitz.org/ Mark Dubowitz Website]
* [https://markdubowitz.org/ Mark Dubowitz Website]
* {{C-SPAN|markdubowitz}}
* {{C-SPAN|9275618}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Dubowitz, Mark}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dubowitz, Mark}}
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[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American activists]]
[[Category:American activists]]
[[Category:Activists from Toronto]]
[[Category:American people of South African descent]]
[[Category:American people of South African descent]]
[[Category:South African emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:South African emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:People from Toronto]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]
[[Category:University of Western Ontario alumni]]
[[Category:Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies alumni]]
[[Category:McGill University alumni]]
[[Category:American venture capitalists]]
[[Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
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[[Category:1968 births]]

Latest revision as of 07:06, 15 February 2024

Mark Dubowitz
Born (1968-09-11) 11 September 1968 (age 55)
South Africa
OccupationCEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
EducationJohns Hopkins University (MA)
University of Toronto (JD, MBA)

Mark Dubowitz (born 11 September 1968) is a South African-born Canadian-American attorney and former venture capitalist, currently serving as CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a non-profit think-tank and lobbying institute part of the Israel lobby in the United States, that advocates for hawkish foreign policy.[1][2][3][4] He is a proponent of sanctions against Iran[5] and was a leading critic of the Iran nuclear agreement, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. According to The New York Times, “Mark Dubowitz’s campaign to draw attention to what he saw as the flaws in the Iran nuclear deal has taken its place among the most consequential ever undertaken by a Washington think tank leader.” [2]

He was a leading critic of the Iran nuclear agreement, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but then tried to save it after President Trump withdrew from the agreement according to his own account.[2]

Early life and education

[edit]

Dubowitz is a citizen of the United States.[6] He was born in South Africa and raised in Toronto.

Dubowitz earned a master's degree in international public policy from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, where he focused on China. He also earned a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto.[7][8][3] He has also studied at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.[9] He spent the first 8 years after law school working on funding technology start-ups in Toronto, as an attorney and venture capitalist in Toronto.[7]

Career

[edit]

Dubowitz is the CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.[10] He co-founded FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power and FDD's Center on Military and Political Power,[3] and is the author or co-author of more than twenty studies on economic sanctions.[11][3] He also is co-chair of the Project on U.S. Middle East Nonproliferation Strategy.[12]

He joined the FDD in 2003 and became an authority on international terrorism and sanctions against states that sponsor terrorism such as Iran and North Korea.[9] "I was a strange kid with an obsession with terrorism and plane hijackings. On September 11th it turned out that terrorism is not just an international problem, after it hit us at home," he told Ynet news. In 2003 I joined a small organization (FDD) despite not having any relevant political or policy experience and coming from a wholly different background."[9]

Dubowitz is a lecturer and senior research fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, where he teaches and conducts research on international negotiations, sanctions, and Iran's nuclear program.[13]

He is currently sanctioned by the Iranian government.[14]

Opposition to Iran nuclear deal

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According to The New York Times, "no one outside the Trump administration was a more persistent or effective critic [of the Iran nuclear agreement] than Mark Dubowitz".[2] As a vocal critic of the agreement, Dubowitz has stated that it did not address Iran's non-nuclear malign activity, such as its misappropriation of economic relief to fund terrorism, and "its lack of any limits on the regime’s ballistic missile program and its 'sunset provisions' that would allow Iran to increase its capacity to enrich uranium beginning seven years from now."[2] According to Politico, although Dubowitz "was an intense critic of the Iran deal," he "nonetheless advocated against scrapping it."[15]

He told Ynet in 2011 that at FDD they "closely monitor international companies that do business with Iran, invest in Iran's energy sector and provide important equipment and technologies to this sector.[9] They also monitor the movement of commercial vessels coming into and leaving Iran.[9]

Dubowitz opposed the Obama administration's nuclear diplomacy with Iran, testifying before Congress on several occasions against the nuclear talks, including to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (February 2014),[16] Senate Banking Committee (January 27, 2015),[17] House Financial Services Committee (July 22, 2015), the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (July 29, 2015),[18] Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (August 5, 2015),[19] and the House Ways and Means Committee (November 4, 2015).[20]

Dubowitz authored or co-authored several op-eds on the Iran deal, published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.[21][22][23][24][25]

References

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  1. ^ Kampeas, Ron (July 15, 2015). "Why the Republican Congress Most Likely Cannot Stop the Iran Deal". Haaretz.
  2. ^ a b c d e "He Was a Tireless Critic of the Iran Deal. Now He Insists He Wanted to Save It". The New York Times. 2018-05-13. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  3. ^ a b c d "FDD | Mark Dubowitz". FDD. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  4. ^ Jett, Dennis C. (2017), The Iran Nuclear Deal: Bombs, Bureaucrats, and Billionaires, Springer, p. 85, ISBN 9783319598222
  5. ^ "U.S. Senators Pushing for Tougher Sanctions on Iran, to the Point of Bankruptcy". Haaretz. Associated Press. November 9, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  6. ^ "Mark Dubowitz profile". Defenddemocracy.org. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Goodspeed, Peter (January 28, 2012). "Ratcheting Up The Hassle Factor; Expert sees sanctions against Iran wounding the regime by making it difficult to do business". National Post.
  8. ^ "Master of Global Affairs". Munkschool.utoronto.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e Benhorin, Yitzhak (26 April 2011). "The man who fights Iran". Ynetnews.
  10. ^ "Iran-Sanctions Bid Targets Oil, Tanker Companies to Cut Exports". Bloomberg Businessweek. February 14, 2012. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  11. ^ "Foundation for Defense of Democracies". Defenddemocracy.org. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  12. ^ "Press Release - Project on U.S. Middle East Nonproliferation Strategy | Institute for Science and International Security". Isis-online.org. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  13. ^ "Mark Dubowitz - Master of Global Affairs". Munkschool.utoronto.ca. 2013-08-21. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  14. ^ "Foreign Ministry Blacklists 'Foundation for Defence of Democracies'". Islamic Republic of Iran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. August 24, 2019.
  15. ^ Nelson, Louis (21 May 2018). "Pompeo threatens Iran with 'strongest sanctions in history'". POLITICO. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  16. ^ "Dubowitz prepared testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee" (PDF). Senate Foreign Relations Committee website. February 4, 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  17. ^ "Dubowitz prepared testimony to the Senate Banking Committee" (PDF). Oranwatch.org. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  18. ^ "Congressional Testimony: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" (PDF). Foreign.senate.gov. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  19. ^ "Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies". Defenddemocracy.org. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  20. ^ "Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies". Defenddemocracy.org. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  21. ^ Marc, Reuel (2015-07-08). "The Iranian Nuclear Paradox". WSJ.com. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  22. ^ Gerecht, Reuel Marc; Dubowitz, Mark (19 November 2011). "Don't Give Up on Sanctions". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  23. ^ Marc, Reuel (2015-04-03). "Reuel Marc Gerecht and Mark Dubowitz: Iran's Negotiating Triumph Over Obama and America". WSJ.com. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  24. ^ "How to Get a Better Deal With Iran". Foreign Policy. 2015-08-17. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  25. ^ "Amend Iran deal to improve it: Opposing view". Usat.ly. 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
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