Francis Matthew

GCC and Korea: When Silence is not Golden

GCC and Korea: When Silence is not Golden

It is disturbing that the crisis in North Korea is moving forward with very little comment from the Arab world.

FRANCIS MATTHEW: It is disturbing that the crisis in North Korea is moving forward with very little comment from the Arab world.

 James M. Dorsey

World Cup Hosts Qatar, Russia Back Under the Spotlight

World Cup Hosts Qatar, Russia Back Under the Spotlight

JAMES M. DORSEY: Three major investigations into corruption in global soccer are putting the credibility of major soccer associations and World Cup 2022 host Qatar to the test.

 Mondoweiss

Iran: It’s War in 2013, Says Former Diplomat

Iran: It’s War in 2013, Says Former Diplomat

IRA GLUNTS, MONDOWEISS: War, according to Aaron Miller, is inevitable unless something extraordinary happens in the next year.

 Richard Silverstein

U.S., Israel Iranian Delusions Continue

U.S., Israel Iranian Delusions Continue

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: What if we can’t find alternates? What if Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Libya can’t fill the gap? What if the oil price goes through the roof?

 Steve Royston

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

STEVE ROYSTON looks at the arts, society, education, politics, business, technology and the environment as we move into 2012, the Year of Fear’.

 Steve Royston

Bahrain: Reconciliation In Need After Bassiouni

Bahrain: Reconciliation In Need After Bassiouni

STEVE ROYSTON: The report is magisterial, dispassionate and distressing. Accounts of torture, violence and intimidation are not surprising.

 Michael J. Totten

Libya: People are People, Even When World’s Apart

Libya: People are People, Even When World’s Apart

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Two years ago I spent time in Libya. It seems like a good time to revisit my experience of a kind people but an overarching, clamping presence.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Sarkozy’s Rabbit Chasing: The Wikileaks Trivia that Fascinates…

Sarkozy’s Rabbit Chasing: The Wikileaks Trivia that Fascinates…

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: We secretly love the utterly trivial gossip that even diplomats exchange. My favourite? Sarkozy’s rabbit chasing…

 Matt J. Duffy

Wikileaks – Where is the UAE Media?

Wikileaks – Where is the UAE Media?

MATT J. DUFFY: I suggest that one—or preferably all—of the UAE’s press outlets compile a simple report analyzing the leaked cables. The report should be published without a byline so no single reporter can be sued.

 Osama Al Sharif

Wikileaks: It’s all about damage control for the U.S.

Wikileaks: It’s all about damage control for the U.S.

OSAMA AL SHARIF: It is not what diplomats do which will change, but the way they do it. In the age of digital information it is proving difficult, almost impossible, to keep anything hidden.