Abu Muhammed

Could Now Be the Time for an American Spring?

Could Now Be the Time for an American Spring?

ABU MOHAMMED: What I miss the most is her promise to be able to live a good life, no matter who I am or was, as an equal to other men.

 Juan Cole

Steve Jobs and Barack Obama: Sons of Muslims, Distinctly American

Steve Jobs and Barack Obama: Sons of Muslims, Distinctly American

JUAN COLE: Both the U.S President and arguably America’s most creative entrepreneur provide proof of the value of multiculturalism.

 Tabsir

Yemen: The Desperation of Ali Abdullah Salih

Yemen: The Desperation of Ali Abdullah Salih

DANIEL M. VARISCO: It’s the ‘same old, same old’ with Yemen’s recently returned President, blather, bluster and baloney. In the words of the song ‘he just keeps hangin’ on’

 Steve Royston

Palestinian Hope – Voices for a Lost Cause?

Palestinian Hope – Voices for a Lost Cause?

STEVE ROYSTON: “This military occupation has lasted for over 64 years and is an affront to humanity and civilised values. It is high time that the international community took some responsibility.”

 Crossroads Arabia

A Surprise Announcement But Is it Enough?

A Surprise Announcement But Is it Enough?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: King Abdullah’s announcement seemed to catch everyone by surprise. It’s clearly a very welcome step but will women in the Kingdom be satisfied with what they’ve been granted?

 James Mullan

‘100 Questions About Islam’: Who’s Asking?

‘100 Questions About Islam’: Who’s Asking?

KARA HADGE, MARC SCHEUER, CGNEWS: An initiative launched recently confronts many of the common misconceptions that are held by non-Muslims.

 American Bedu

The Question: Where Were You On 9/11?”

The Question: Where Were You On 9/11?”

AMERICAN BEDU: I was in CIA Headquarters in Virginia and my soon-to-be Saudi husband was in Pakistan on the day the whole world remembers.

 Tabsir

How NOT to Educate Children About 9/11

How NOT to Educate Children About 9/11

DANIEL M. VARISCO: “We Shall Never Forget” is a masterpiece in truth-twisting and bigotry. The bad news is that it’s a coloring book aimed at U.S. children.

 Crossroads Arabia

American Politics: The View From Over Here

American Politics: The View From Over Here

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Local commentators are premature in seeing the current debate as a reflection on the issues that will come to the fore in the presidential campaign.

 The Moor Next Door

Libya and the U.S.: America’s Uncomfortable Role

Libya and the U.S.: America’s Uncomfortable Role

THE MOORE NEXT DOOR: The incentive to exaggerate America’s role is high on one side; the opposite push to down play its overall relevance will grow.

 The Moor Next Door

Reasons to be Cheerful: A Poem entitled ‘Smile’

Reasons to be Cheerful: A Poem entitled ‘Smile’

THE MOOR NEXT DOOR: Elia Abu Madi was a very well-respected Syro-Lebanese poet in the early twentieth century.

 Steve Royston

Default: Political Cowardice & Ratings Agencies

Default: Political Cowardice & Ratings Agencies

STEVE ROYSTON: I would suggest that to downgrade US debt while leaving other sovereign debts at a higher rating is a meaningless exercise.

 Abu Muhammed

The United States: A Nice Place to Visit, But…

The United States: A Nice Place to Visit, But…

ABU MUHAMMED: Guys from India and such places in the Far East generally have the worst time with me popping their soap bubble of hope of the United States as being a paradise on earth…

 Juan Cole

Christian v Muslim Fundamentalists: The Same?

Christian v Muslim Fundamentalists: The Same?

JUAN COLE: In spite of the aggressive blather of Bill O’Reilly it would appear that so-called ‘Christian’ and ‘Muslim’ fundamentalists have much in common.

 Abu Muhammed

The Grade Factories of Education: Saudi Schools

The Grade Factories of Education: Saudi Schools

ABU MUHAMMED: Eventually I figured out why no one seemed receptive: The first is that most government and private schools are being run for profit.

 Mondoweiss

‘Drop Dead’: Message to U.S Gaza Flotilla

‘Drop Dead’: Message to U.S Gaza Flotilla

PHILIP WEISS, MONDOWEISS: The American Gaza flotilla protesters have received some helpful advice from the U.S. State Department. They could be shot by Israeli forces.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Three Books That WON’T Help You Understand Iraq

Three Books That WON’T Help You Understand Iraq

M. LYNX-QUALEY: It’s one of those lists again. You know it’s designed to gain a reaction and you can’t help yourself so here I go with my reaction to books on Iraq.

 James Mullan

Saudi Students in Front-line of ‘Stereotype Battle’

Saudi Students in Front-line of ‘Stereotype Battle’

CROSSROADS ARABIA: There are more than 40,000 Saudis studying at American universities. Each of them (bar the odd one or two) is playing a vital role in breaking down stereotypes.

 Tabsir

‘Live Long and Prosper’: My Message to Region

‘Live Long and Prosper’: My Message to Region

LEONAR NIMOY, TABSIR: There is a viable plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It’s the ‘two-state’ solution and its application is, how should I put it, simply logical.

 David Roberts

Life Isn’t Fair – But It’s Fairer in Some Countries…

Life Isn’t Fair – But It’s Fairer in Some Countries…

DAVID ROBERTS: The lower the difference between the richest and poorest people in a country is a mark of a developed nation. Clearly China, India and Brazil have some way to go.