Juan Cole

Obama’s Speech: Is Era of ‘Perpetual War’ Closing?

Obama’s Speech: Is Era of ‘Perpetual War’ Closing?

JUAN COLE: President Obama’s inauguration speech is sure to trigger panic among the ‘we must have war’ crowd. But does he really mean it?

 Tabsir

For ‘Tribal Areas’ Read ‘Wild West’: Myth and Reality

For ‘Tribal Areas’ Read ‘Wild West’: Myth and Reality

KHALED FATTAH, TABSIR: There is a lazy shorthand in much Western reporting on the Middle East, particularly when it comes to describing the influence of tribes

 Mondoweiss

If Hagel Is Obama’s Choice ‘Let Battle Commence’

If Hagel Is Obama’s Choice ‘Let Battle Commence’

MONDOWEISS: Whispers from Washington suggest that President Obama is set to nominate Chuck Hagel as Defense Minster. There will be sparks

 Juan Cole

A Brief Middle East History Lesson for Mitt Romney

A Brief Middle East History Lesson for Mitt Romney

JUAN COLE: The Presidential candidate appears to be entirely clueless about the recent history of US involvement in the region. Heres’ some help.

 Mondoweiss

U.S To Israel and Vice Versa: ‘We Don’t Trust You’

U.S To Israel and Vice Versa: ‘We Don’t Trust You’

ADAM HOROWITZ: A joint military exercise, widely regarded as a precursor to a strike on Iran, has been dramatically scaled back. Why?

 Jonathan Cook

‘Destroy Your Government’: Advice to Palestinians

‘Destroy Your Government’: Advice to Palestinians

JONATHAN COOK: The more that Israel’s international reputation plummets the more generous are Western powers. What should Palestinians do?

 Ramzy Baroud

Starving and Broke: Yemen’s Renewed ‘War on Terror’

Starving and Broke: Yemen’s Renewed ‘War on Terror’

RAMZY BAROUD: The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is largely rooted in the fact that the country is an open field of competing interests…

 Juan Cole

For Egypt in 2012, Read the United States in ’60s?

For Egypt in 2012, Read the United States in ’60s?

JUAN COLE: The Egyptian electorate seems to have a strong leaning for ‘law and order’. Very similar to the U.S electorate in the 1960s

 Juan Cole

‘Give Muslims A Hiroshima’: Pentagon’s Curious Class

‘Give Muslims A Hiroshima’: Pentagon’s Curious Class

JUAN COLE: The Pentagon has launched an investigation into a class on Islam which characterises all Muslims as radical, violent extremists

 Mondoweiss

Muslim Disillusion Could Cost Obama Dear

Muslim Disillusion Could Cost Obama Dear

ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: A multitude of events have piled up and support for Obama is running at an all time low.

 Mondoweiss

The ‘Alien Spiritual Claims’ Heaped on Jews

The ‘Alien Spiritual Claims’ Heaped on Jews

PHILIP WEISS, MONDOWEISS: I will not allow meaning to be defined by fantasies about someone else’s olive trees thousands of miles away

 Mondoweiss

Iran War Game: Pentagon Is Worried

Iran War Game: Pentagon Is Worried

ANNIE ROBBINS, MONDOWEISS: The Israelis are playing down the consequences of an attack. American ‘top brass’ aren’t buying it.

 James M. Dorsey

The $750,000 Guantanamo ‘Pitch’ to Cooperate

The $750,000 Guantanamo ‘Pitch’ to Cooperate

JAMES M. DORSEY: The $744,000 pitch outside a $39 million penitentiary-style building is intended to reward the most cooperative of the 120,171 inmates.

 Ramzy Baroud

Israel Bangs Drum for War: Why Follow?

Israel Bangs Drum for War: Why Follow?

RAMZY BAROUD: History repeats itself, when we fail to learn its lessons. Israel might want to take such chances, but why should the rest of the world?

 Rob L. Wagner

“Three Months at Most”: How Long Could Iran Close Straits of Hormuz?

“Three Months at Most”: How Long Could Iran Close Straits of Hormuz?

ROB L. WAGNER: As tensions increase all parties are beginning to make calculations regarding the effect of a possible conflict in the Arabian Gulf.

 Richard Silverstein

Israel Minister: Cyber Attacks are “An Act of War”

Israel Minister: Cyber Attacks are “An Act of War”

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: Ayalon mischaracterized U.S. cyberpolicy, but then why let facts get in the way when you’re fighting a jihad against Israel’s delegitimization, right?

 Steve Royston

Saudi Arabia: A Glimpse Through the Myths

Saudi Arabia: A Glimpse Through the Myths

STEVE ROYSTON: Received wisdom portrays a backward, oppressive society, dominated by religious extremists and a monarchy whose main mission is self-preservation.

 Juan Cole

Democracy: More Valued by Arabs than Americans?

Democracy: More Valued by Arabs than Americans?

JUAN COLE: Al Qaeda’s vision for the Arab World has been comprehensively rejected. It appears that Arabs – in particular, young Arabs – are prepared to put their lives on the line, not for a Caliphate, but for parliamentary democracy.

 Juan Cole

Top Ten Myths about the Libyan Revolution

Top Ten Myths about the Libyan Revolution

JUAN COLE: It is worthwhile reviewing the myths about the Libyan Revolution that led so many observers to make so many fantastic or just mistaken assertions about it.

 Juan Cole

‘All Very Messy’. The Top Five Crises in the Arab Spring

‘All Very Messy’. The Top Five Crises in the Arab Spring

JUAN COLE: Protestors are out on Tahrir Square again, there is a television ‘debate’ in Syria about democracy, the Americans are working on Saleh while vacillating on Libya and protestors are out on the street in Morocco. A busy week in the region then.