Middle East
-
‘Mowing the grass’ in Yemen By Eric Walberg
Radical Muslim cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, the victim of assassination by US forces 30 September, was born in New Mexico in 1971, educated at Colorado State University in engineering, and radicalised while preaching in US mosques and visiting Afghanistan in the 1990s. His sermons attracted a large following, first in Denver and then San Diego, where… Continue reading
-
Turkey redraws Sykes-Picot By Eric Walberg
A new Bermuda Triangle has been spotted, but this one is in the eastern Mediterranean — between Turkey, Cyprus and Israel, observes Eric Walberg Continue reading
-
US backing for Arab Spring bearing ‘strange fruit’ — RT
Under the umbrella of Arab revolutions, Washington is also beating the drums of regime-change in Syria, Iran’s closest ally in the region. Violence within the country has been widely condemned with countries like Russia and China calling for both sides in Syria to talk and end the bloodshed. However, America is blaming Assad alone. Continue reading
-
Russia’s Middle East dilemma Eric Walberg
Muammar Al-Gaddafi’s demise is all but a done thing, carried out with a UN blessing, however dubious, and only belatedly opposed by Russia and China. Russian policy makers are now wondering if their quasi-principled condemnation of Western-backed regime change in Libya was not just Quixotic but downright stupid. Continue reading
-
Replay: Why is Qatar so Active in Libya?
TRNN REPLAY Adam Hanieh: Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council want to control the outcome of the popular Arab uprisings Continue reading
-
The Future of Arab Revolts: Interview with Samir Amin By Hassane Zerrouky
The way Egyptian scholar and researcher Samir Amin sees it, nothing will be the same as before in the Arab world: protest movements will challenge both the internal social order of Arab countries and their places in the regional and global political chessboard. Continue reading
-
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the Arab Awakening By Joel Beinin
The ‘Palestine Papers’ published by the pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera in early January confirm that, under US pressure, PA negotiators offered concessions to the government of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert well beyond the Palestinian national consensus. Nonetheless, these offers were insufficient to reach an agreement. Continue reading
-
Let them eat doughnuts: the US response to Bahrain's oppression By Mehdi Hasan
Syria was subjected to sanctions and Libya to air strikes; Bahrain, however, was rewarded with visits from the Pentagon’s two most senior officials – the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Mike Mullen, and the then defence secretary, Robert Gates Continue reading
-
The Powers of Manipulation: Islam as a Geopolitical Tool to Control the Middle East By Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya
As Washington and its cohorts march towards the Eurasian Heartland, they have tried to manipulate Islam as a geo-political tool. They have created political and social chaos in the process. Along the way they have tried to redefine Islam and to subordinate it to the interests of global capital by ushering in a new generation of so-called Islamists,… Continue reading
-
Bahrain Newslinks 21 June 2011
21 June 2011 — williambowles.info Trial resumes for Bahraini doctors accused of aiding protesters CNN By the CNN Wire Staff (CNN) — The trial resumed Monday of dozens of Bahraini doctors and nurses accused of working to undermine the Arab country’s government during mass protests earlier this year, with seven additional witnesses taking the stand. Continue reading
-
Bahrain Newslinks for 15 June 2011: Bahrain to sue Independent newspaper over articles
15 June 2011 — williambowles.info Ex-editors of opposition Bahraini newspaper to go on trial CNN International By the CNN Wire Staff (CNN) — The trial of three Bahraini opposition journalists accused of fabricating news to disrupt peace during the civil unrest in the Gulf state adjourned after a few minutes Wednesday. Civilian High Court judges Continue reading
-
NORTH AFRICA: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF REVOLT Middle East Report 259 12 June 2011
Tunisia and Egypt, where the 2011 Arab rebellions began, will do much to determine the course of the upheavals elsewhere. The degree of political democracy that Tunisians and Egyptians achieve will be the most watched barometer. But just as important will be the extent of reform of the economic order. Continue reading
-
Yemen Newslinks 12 June 2011: Ali Abdullah Saleh's Health In 'Bad' Condition: Report
12 June 2011 — williambowles.info Army confronts Islamists in Yemen Boston Globe Tribesmen loyal to Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, the head of the powerful Hashid tribe, gathered on the back of a vehicle while patrolling the area around Ahmar’s house in Sana, Yemen. (Hani Mohammed/ Associated Press) By Ahmed Al-Haj Associated Press / June … http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2011/06/12/army_confronts_islamists_in_yemen/ Continue reading
-
Bahrain Newslinks 12 June 2011: US defense sales to Bahrain rose before crackdown
12 June 2011 — williambowles.info Bahrain opposition holds rally calling for more political rights Sacramento Bee CAIRO, Egypt — Bahrain’s opposition on Saturday held on to its demand for an elected government that represents the will of the people, as the government announced details of a national dialogue scheduled for next month. … http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/11/3693793/bahrain-opposition-holds-rally.html Continue reading
-
Bahrain Newslinks 9 June 2011
9 June 2011 — williambowles.info Bahrain official blasts Ecclestone “hypocrisy” pitpass.com A number of prominent people in Bahrain have criticised Bernie Ecclestone’s u-turn on the country’s 2011 Grand Prix, describing the latest decision as “shameful”. Although the announcement that Bahrain will not now host a race this year has yet to be …www.pitpass.com/43852-Bahrain-official-blasts-Ecclestone-hypocrisy Continue reading
-
After the spring By Sama Ramadami
Sami Ramadani considers the response to the popular uprisings from the region’s dictators and other reactionary forces, as well as the role of imperialism Continue reading
-
Bahrain Newslinks 8 June 2011
8 June 2011 — williambowles.info US presses crown prince to ease Bahrain crackdown Los Angeles Times Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bahrain’s crown prince, Salman bin Hamad Khalifa, speak with reporters at the State Department. (Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images / June 7, 2011) By Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times President Obama pressed Continue reading
-
Bahrain Newslinks 6 June 2011
6 June 2011 — williambowles.info Bahraini medics were called on to treat dozens of wounded protesters in the … CNN Bahrain, where the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet anchors, is a small, predominantly Shiite country governed by a Sunni royal family. Since the beginning of the turmoil in Bahrain, about 30 people have been killed, Continue reading
The New Dark Age 