Speaking with AFP, AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish commented on the Gulf Cooperation Council crisis saying, “It’s an all-out struggle of wills.” He continued, “The way out for both sides is a kind of an American mediation which is face-saving for everybody.” In addition, with VOA Ibish discussed the causes of the rift, and ramifications for the United States and the region. Speaking with Al-Monitor about U.S. Senator Bob Corker’s threat to block future arms sales to Gulf states if the situation is not resolved, Ibish stated, “It seems to be almost entirely content-free. It takes a pox on all their houses stance.” He continued, “It’s kind of a primal scream to say ‘this is bad, stop this.’ What it doesn’t do is to help provide the framework of an American policy.” He further noted, “It isn’t a tool, and it isn’t going to be a tool. It is a statement of extreme distress from the Senate, and a lack of leadership from the White House. It seems to be the case that the State Department wants to play a mediating role but doesn’t have any sort of green light.”