James M. Dorsey

Iran Bans Women from Cinemas Showing Cup

Iran Bans Women from Cinemas Showing Cup

JAMES M. DORSEY: Khamenei and other hard-line government officials and clerics argue that the presence of women at men’s sporting events violates Islamic law.

 Mondoweiss

Why Obama has an Obligation to Confront Israel

Why Obama has an Obligation to Confront Israel

PHILIP WEISS: The Goldstone Report lays bare the humiliations of the Gaza people. By failing to deal with this issue Obama is failing in his constitutional duty.

 James M. Dorsey

Dismal Saudi Play in Asian Cup Sparks Debate

Dismal Saudi Play in Asian Cup Sparks Debate

JAMES M. DORSEY: A three-time Asian champion and finalist in six of the last seven Asian Cup tournaments, Saudi Arabia failed to advance in Qatar, losing all three matches it played.

 Ramzy Baroud

Generalizing Tunisia: What’s the (Real) Story

Generalizing Tunisia: What’s the (Real) Story

RAMZY BAROUD: Understanding Tunisia as just another “Arab regime”, another possible podium for al-Qaeda’s violence, is convenient but also unhelpful…

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

Social Media is Catalysing Arab World Change

Social Media is Catalysing Arab World Change

EMAN AL-NAFJAN: Leaders throughout the Arab World are suspicious of new media. Their citizens are using tools not simply to communicate concerns, but campaign for change.

 James M. Dorsey

MidEast Nations Fight For FIFA Tournaments

MidEast Nations Fight For FIFA Tournaments

JAMES M. DORSEY: Middle Eastern nations are competing to stack up successful bids to host major soccer events in an effort to position themselves as regional hubs for sport.

 The Moor Next Door

Bouazizi’s Self-Immolation Spreads to Mauritania

Bouazizi’s Self-Immolation Spreads to Mauritania

TMND: Thus far, four Algerians and an Egyptian and a Mauritanian each have lit them selves on fire in protests meant to recall Bouazizi…

 David Roberts

Tunisia & the C21st Gossip Super-highway, Twitter

Tunisia & the C21st Gossip Super-highway, Twitter

DAVID ROBERTS: The first thing that struck me was how often trending tweets were (completely) wrong. Twitter is great for disseminating information extraordinarily quickly.

 James M. Dorsey

Soccer: A Potential Flashpoint for Jordanian Society

Soccer: A Potential Flashpoint for Jordanian Society

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mounting tension in Jordan is unlikely to produce the same result as protests in Tunisia, but promises to make soccer an increasing flashpoint…

 Zeinobia

Tunis: Going, Going Gone, All the President’s Men

Tunis: Going, Going Gone, All the President’s Men

ZEINOBIA: Egyptian Chronicles reports on the fate of the “regime men”, Ben Ali’s right arms in the former Tunisian government.

 Juan Cole

Wikileaks: U.S. Knew Tunis Gov. Rotten

Wikileaks: U.S. Knew Tunis Gov. Rotten

JUAN COLE: Cables show that the U.S. was fully aware of the debilitating level of corruption in Tunisia, and its anti-democratic implications.

 Steve Royston

After Tunisia: Choosing the Society We Want

After Tunisia: Choosing the Society We Want

STEVE ROYSTON: It’s about building societies in which people are not afraid to think for themselves, and are free to express themselves without fear of censorship or persecution…

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar Gains Upper Hand in Battle for FIFA

Qatar Gains Upper Hand in Battle for FIFA

JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar is flexing its muscle, rejecting calls by Sepp Blatter to move the tournament to winter or co-host it with other Gulf states.

 James M. Dorsey

Protests & Cessation Threats Set Stage for Change

Protests & Cessation Threats Set Stage for Change

JAMES M. DORSEY: A wave of protests across the Arab world sets the stage for the redrawing of the political map of the Mideast and North Africa.

 Osama Al Sharif

Sudan: How the South was Lost

Sudan: How the South was Lost

OSAMA AL SHARIF: The modern history of Sudan is dominated by immature political and religious agendas that ignored the country’s racial, religious and economic complexities.

 David Roberts

Qatar World Cup in Jan? No Surprise There…

Qatar World Cup in Jan?  No Surprise There…

DAVID ROBERTS: So Sepp Blatter has begun the softening up for the first ever Winter World Cup. It makes sense, you know….

 Ramzy Baroud

Declaration of Palestine: Revisiting Hope & Failure

Declaration of Palestine: Revisiting Hope & Failure

RAMZY BAROUD: The Palestinian leadership needs to embrace partners of old, from the time before Oslo, the “peace process”, the Roadmap and all the other broken promises…

 Sara Reef

…And Our Survey Says: It’s Good to Talk

…And Our Survey Says: It’s Good to Talk

SARA REEF: A major survey conducted across 55 countries to test the state of relations between the Muslim world and the West…

 Juan Cole

Oil Price Rise means a Happy 2011 in Tehran

Oil Price Rise means a Happy 2011 in Tehran

JUAN COLE: While U.S consumers bemoan oil price rises it’s smiles all round in Iran. The OPEC chair is in no hurry to do anything about spiraling costs.

 David Roberts

He Who Got Slapped: Ahmadinejad

He Who Got Slapped: Ahmadinejad

DAVID ROBERTS: Under a section titled ‘He who got slapped’ someone from the US Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan reported the confrontation…