James M. Dorsey

Foreign Players Threaten to Turn Backs on Egypt

Foreign Players Threaten to Turn Backs on Egypt

JAMES M. DORSEY: Several Ittihad players failed to show up for training last week after the club had been unable to pay their housing rents. Cameroonian striker Edet Otobong was evicted from his home.

 Michael J. Totten

What if Qaddafi Wins? Thinking the Unthinkable

What if Qaddafi Wins? Thinking the Unthinkable

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: With the West refusing to be drawn into the conflict it looks increasingly like Qaddafi could prevail against the rebels. What will be the consequences?

 Jonathan Cook

Global Unpopularity Wearing Down Israel

Global Unpopularity Wearing Down Israel

JONATHAN COOK: Benjamin Netanyahu’s advisers conceded last week that the Israeli prime minister is more downcast than they have ever seen him.

 Common Ground News Service

Egypt: Time for Cool Heads and Hard Work

Egypt: Time for Cool Heads and Hard Work

RABAB FAYAD, CGNEWS: Though the attention of the world has moved from Egypt to the strife in Libya there is a lot to be done to ensure the ideals of the revolution are fully realised.

 James M. Dorsey

The ‘Is It All Back to Normal?’ Test: Is the Footy On?

The ‘Is It All Back to Normal?’ Test: Is the Footy On?

JAMES M. DORSEY: Tunisian and Egyptian reluctance to restart football reflects the changing role of soccer and the sense of empowerment felt by fans.

 James M. Dorsey

Is Turkey the Role Model for the Arab World?

Is Turkey the Role Model for the Arab World?

JAMES M. DORSEY: For the first time in its history, Turkey is emerging as a true bridge between East and West. Unrest elsewhere however puts Turkish aspirations to the test.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Dictatorship: The Ultimate ‘Boys Only’ Club

Dictatorship: The Ultimate ‘Boys Only’ Club

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Adeptness in brutal suppression and torture are characteristics demanded of all dictators. One other vital characteristic is also required – maleness.

 Zeinobia

Is this Al Ahram? Official Paper Gets Teeth

Is this Al Ahram? Official Paper Gets Teeth

ZEINOBIA: The changing face of Egypt’s official newspapers, and reports into the whereabouts of Mubarak’s millions…

 Juan Cole

MidEast Protesters Target Unfinished Business

MidEast Protesters Target Unfinished Business

JUAN COLE: Progress has been made, but across the Middle East protesters are pushing for governments to follow through on the demands they have made.

 Jonathan Cook

Israeli Military to Cash in on Egyptian Revolution

Israeli Military to Cash in on Egyptian Revolution

JONATHAN COOK: Israel has always presented itself as ‘the villa in the jungle’. The military in ‘the villa’ see an opportunity to secure additional U.S. largess.

 James M. Dorsey

Gadaffi Son a Study in using Sport for Politics

Gadaffi Son a Study in using Sport for Politics

JAMES M. DORSEY: Gadaffi’s controversial soccer-playing son, Saadi, offers a study in the use of soccer by authoritarian Arab regimes to distract attention from real issues.

 12345

Comment on The Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Will Not Fall by 12345

“Saudi Arabia doesn’t come close to the crimes perpetrated by Hosni Mubarak, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Qaddafi on their people.”

Actually, it does. In fact, they’ve done and continue to do much, much worse. They continually oppress half of the population to an unthinkable degree, treating them as lower than dirt. That alone is worse than anything the aforementioned have done. I cannot understand why the world sits by and lets this policy continue in Saudi Arabia, when the apartheid regime in South Africa was so widely condemned. Gender apartheid is even worse than the apartheid of a race.

Meanwhile they enforce the death penalty for a number of “offences” including nonsense like witchcraft and have public executions. They’re also the world’s largest supplier of terrorists, and just about ever Islamist insurgency worldwide has ties with Saudi Arabia. Let’s not forget that the majority of the 9/11 suicide hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Coincidence? I think not. The youth are indoctrinated with extremist Wahhabi values through their appalling education system which produces terrorists, anti-westernism, discrimination and plain ignorance.

Of course, greedy western nations are also at fault for legitimising this tyrannical regime.

 Rob L. Wagner

The Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Will Not Fall

The Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Will Not Fall

ROB L. WAGNER: Western analysts are engaging in wishful thinking that Saudi Arabia is ripe for a revolution. The Kingdom is no Egypt or Tunisia.

 Steve Royston

What’s Needed for Democracy in the GCC

What’s Needed for Democracy in the GCC

STEVE ROYSTON: This post is more than a five-minute read. I apologise, but I don’t apologise: Sometimes you need more than a few hundred words.

 Mondoweiss

Israeli ‘muscle flexing’ could harm U.S Interests

Israeli ‘muscle flexing’ could harm U.S Interests

ALI GHARIB, MONDOWEISS: Two Iranian warships pass through the Suez Canal and the Israelis howl in protest. The U.S administration quickly falls into line…

 Parastou Hassouri

Logan Assault a Symptom of Mubarak’s Egypt

Logan Assault a Symptom of Mubarak’s Egypt

PARASTOU HASSOURI: Sexual Harassment, including the assault on Lara Logan, is a result of patriarchal attitudes coupled with stifled dialogue…

 Steve Royston

Bahrain Bulletin: How to Get out of the Stalemate

Bahrain Bulletin: How to Get out of the Stalemate

STEVE ROYSTON: I can’t believe that anybody in Bahrain, except possibly those who would like to see the country purged by fire, wants the economy to suffer.

 Common Ground News Service

‘Business As Usual’ Not Possible for Israel

‘Business As Usual’ Not Possible for Israel

KHALED DIAB:The change convulsing the Middle East is being viewed fearfully by Israel. But there’s an opportunity for it to improve its relationships…

 Ramzy Baroud

From Gulf to Ocean the Middle East is Changing

From Gulf to Ocean the Middle East is Changing

RAMZY BAROUD: The revolution has restored power to the people, an experience many of us will always remember with pride, and a few with fear.

 S Mukhtar

Egypt – May You Avoid the Mistakes of the Past

Egypt – May You Avoid the Mistakes of the Past

S MUKHTAR: It’s too easy to let history repeat itself. Egypt’s young need to guard against revisiting the mistakes of the past…