Sultan Al Qassemi

Politics: Emirati Students Abroad Show Way at Home

Politics: Emirati Students Abroad Show Way at Home

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Qatar, he told me, has one of the most impressive constitutions, as well as the most impressive parliamentary building. “Too bad there’s no parliament to occupy it,” he said.

 David Roberts

Big Claims By ‘WSJ’ on Iran & Bahrain. But Proof?

Big Claims By ‘WSJ’ on Iran & Bahrain. But Proof?

DAVID ROBERTS: The Wall Street Journal has published a very curious piece indeed on the relationship between Iran and Bahrain. It’s long on allegation but very short on proof.

 Crossroads Arabia

Saudi Elections: What Exactly Was the Point?

Saudi Elections: What Exactly Was the Point?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: This was the election before ‘the Big One’ – the 2015 Municipal Elections where women can vote and stand for office. So was it a damp squib, as some have suggested?

 James M. Dorsey

GCC: Winds of Change Kept At Bay – At What Price?

GCC: Winds of Change Kept At Bay – At What Price?

JAMES M. DORSEY: Their reluctance to be proactive rather than reactive has so far shielded the GCC from the revolt. The question is for how long, and what’s the price?

 David Roberts

The Mess that Is Kuwait. Who Can Sort it Out?

The Mess that Is Kuwait. Who Can Sort it Out?

DAVID ROBERTS: Allegations of corruption have been swirling around Kuwait’s parliament for a very long time now. It’s time that the issue was treated seriously.

 Rob L. Wagner

Kick It: Women’s Football On the Rise in Kingdom

Kick It: Women’s Football On the Rise in Kingdom

ROB L. WAGNER: ‘Unseemly’, ‘undignified’ and ‘a threat to players’ virginity’ in the eyes of religious conservatives but women’s football is making major strides in Saudi Arabia.

 David Roberts

The Dangerous Spiral in Kuwait Iraq Relations

The Dangerous Spiral in Kuwait Iraq Relations

DAVID ROBERTS: There seems to be little attention paid to the continuing worsening in relations between Kuwait and Iraq. That may change as we appear to be entering a downward spiral.

 David Roberts

Kuwait Reaps the Sectarian Gulf Whirlwind

Kuwait Reaps the Sectarian Gulf Whirlwind

DAVID ROBERTS: Kuwait’s Parliament is undergoing another crisis. What are the key issues which so frequently flare-up and cause such anguish?

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Salwa al Mutairi: A Gift to Muslim-Haters

Salwa al Mutairi: A Gift to Muslim-Haters

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: She’s certainly made an impression but unfortunately it’s a damaging one for Muslims

 Common Ground News Service

Women Must Claim Their Place in ‘Arab Spring’

Women Must Claim Their Place in ‘Arab Spring’

NATANA J. DELONG-BAS, CGNEWS: They have confronted Western stereotypes and achieved much – but will they actively participate actively in emerging democracies?

 David Roberts

Kuwait Concubines: What Century Are We in Again?

Kuwait Concubines: What Century Are We in Again?

DAVID ROBERTS: ‘Concubines’ are the solution to protecting Kuwaiti men from “..adultery and corruption,” according to a female Kuwaiti political activist. Great idea, eh?

 Steve Royston

Where is the ‘Arab Lobby’ in the United States?

Where is the ‘Arab Lobby’ in the United States?

STEVE ROYSTON: There are many reasons why the ‘Arab Voice’ is so weak in the United States. But that doesn’t give leaders and opinion formers an excuse.

 Dr Abdulkhaleq Abdullah

GCC Clings to ‘Comfort Blanket’ Status Quo

GCC Clings to ‘Comfort Blanket’ Status Quo

ABDULKHALEQ ABDULLAH: The situation in Bahrain has seriously unnerved other Gulf states and has significantly undermined attempts to promote democracy throughout the region.

 Sultan Al Qassemi

GCC: Muslim Brotherhood Fears Over Arab Spring

GCC: Muslim Brotherhood Fears Over Arab Spring

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: UAE national observers commented in private that many names on the UAE petition calling for an elected parliament were UAE members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

 American Bedu

How do you Accurately Define a Muslim?

How do you Accurately Define a Muslim?

AMERICAN BEDU: It’s a topic that seems, more often than not, to generate more heat than light but here’s my attempt to define a Muslim.

 Juan Cole

Goodbye Bin Laden. Now It’s Time to Exit Iraq

Goodbye Bin Laden. Now It’s Time to Exit Iraq

JUAN COLE: Post Osama, President Obama should do us all a favour and now remove U.S. troops from Iraq.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

The Top 100 – and Five – Arabic Novels

The Top 100 – and Five – Arabic Novels

M. LYNX-QUALEY: The Arab Writers Union has listed the Top 100 Arabic novels. Puzzling, annoying, lists such as this are nevertheless fun.

 Mishaal Al Gergawi

Gulf Government Silence Speaks Volumes

Gulf Government Silence Speaks Volumes

MISHAAL AL GERGAWI: Most government media arms have dug their boots in. That their positions may be correct is irrelevant. After all, how strong is a position that isn’t communicated?

 Mishaal Al Gergawi

Opportunity Knocks in the Saudi Oil Conundrum

Opportunity Knocks in the Saudi Oil Conundrum

MISHAAL AL GERGAWI: Unlike an Emirati or Qatari, a Saudi doesn’t have delusional expectations of financial entitlement and pre-deserved stature at the marketplace. A Saudi is glad to find a job at all.

 David Roberts

Kuwait and Iran Playing the ‘Expel-A-Diplomat’ Tit-for-Tat Game

Kuwait and Iran Playing the ‘Expel-A-Diplomat’ Tit-for-Tat Game

DAVID ROBERTS: It’s not the best of times between Iran and several of its neighbours at the moment. The rhetoric is rising and several members of the Kuwaiti parliament are joining in with gusto.