David Roberts

Syria in Balance: Broken Borders, Unbroken Alliances

Syria in Balance: Broken Borders, Unbroken Alliances

DAVID ROBERTS: Russia is unfazed about alienating swathes of the Middle East not to mention the majority of Syrians, believing in time their position can be reasserted

 James M. Dorsey

FIFA Corruption Probe Set to Examine Qatar Bid

FIFA Corruption Probe Set to Examine Qatar Bid

JAMES M. DORSEY: The recently announced investigation by FIFA into allegations of past corruption will inevitably put Qatar 2022 in the spotlight again.

 David Roberts

U.S Power: The Ultimate Guarantor for Gulf States

U.S Power: The Ultimate Guarantor for Gulf States

DAVID ROBERTS: The Saudi authorities have been actively promoting a union of Gulf states but with little success. There’s a clear reason why.

 Juan Cole

Conspiracy: The Irrational Fear That Drives SCAF

Conspiracy: The Irrational Fear That Drives SCAF

JUAN COLE: There seems to be no rational explanation why SCAF has moved now against parliament. That leaves only the irrational.

 David Roberts

Qatar Fire: Out Come The Shia Bogeymen

Qatar Fire: Out Come The Shia Bogeymen

DAVID ROBERTS: There has been some utterly dreadful reporting of the recent fire in a mall in Qatar. One particular report, however, stands out

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar 2022: Report Puts Focus on Worker’s Rights

Qatar 2022: Report Puts Focus on Worker’s Rights

JAMES M. DORSEY: The publication of a new report examining worker conditions in Qatar ups the ante for the authorities.

 David Roberts

Euro 2012 PR Disaster: Lessons for Qatar

Euro 2012 PR Disaster: Lessons for Qatar

DAVID ROBERTS: Qatar had better develop a very thick skin and employ some very smart PR people to deal with the storm that faces them.

 Juan Cole

Ten Good Reasons NOT To Arm Syrian Rebels

Ten Good Reasons NOT To Arm Syrian Rebels

JUAN COLE: Mitt Romney is flip-flopping on whether ‘Muslims Are Bad’ or that the U.S should supply them with sophisticated weapons.

 Francis Matthew

Another Way Needed for Syria: Annan Plan DOA

Another Way Needed for Syria: Annan Plan DOA

FRANCIS MATTHEW: If the opposition wants to win over the army or security forces, it must distinguish between supporters of Al Assad’s regime, and Alawites in general.

 Editor, MEP

Villaggio Fire: Eyewitness Account

VIDEO: Al Jazeera’s Tarek Bazley was in the shopping centre with his two children when the fire broke out, but they escaped unharmed.

 Editor, MEP

Qatar 2022: Villaggio Tragedy Adds to Critic Arsenal

Qatar 2022: Villaggio Tragedy Adds to Critic Arsenal

JAMES DORSEY: Critics are asserting Qatari building standards are shoddy and cast doubt on the safety standards of stadiums…

 Alexander McNabb

Qatar’s Villaggio: No Whitewashing of the Truth

Qatar’s Villaggio: No Whitewashing of the Truth

ALEXANDER MCNABB: Qatar’s authorities are under pressure to act and the arrest of two major public figures is an interesting development

 David Roberts

Initial Conclusions on the Qatar Mall Tragedy

Initial Conclusions on the Qatar Mall Tragedy

DAVID ROBERTS: It’s too early to say what exactly happened but it’s possible to make some educated observations on the Villagio tragedy

 Christina Hebert

Qatar’s Villaggio: After the Inferno, The Questions…

Qatar’s Villaggio: After the Inferno, The Questions…

CHRISTINA HEBERT: As the smoke clears and the ashes cool in what remains of Doha’s most luxurious mall, people all over the world are asking, how could this happen?

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar’s Women Athletes Spotlight Religious Differences

Qatar’s Women Athletes Spotlight Religious Differences

JAMES DORSEY: The participation of Qatar’s women athletes opens up differences between it and the Islamic thinking in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

 Common Ground News Service

The Forgotten Legacy of Muslim Women In Sport

The Forgotten Legacy of Muslim Women In Sport

MARIUM SATTAR, CGNEWS: As we approach London 2012 it’s time to remember those Muslim women who led the way in sport

 Juan Cole

Facebook Value Endures Beyond IPO in Middle East

Facebook Value Endures Beyond IPO in Middle East

JUAN COLE: Facebook does not seem important in Egypt’s presidential race. You wonder if the young are interested: Most plausible candidates are rather ancient…

 James M. Dorsey

Trade Unions Reject Qatar’s ‘Labour Rights’

Trade Unions Reject Qatar’s ‘Labour Rights’

JAMES DORSEY: According to the ITUC “workers are dying in Qatar as they build World Cup stadiums, suffering large scale exploitation every day.

 David Roberts

A Non-Starter: The Many Obstacles to Closer GCC Union

A Non-Starter: The Many Obstacles to Closer GCC Union

DAVID ROBERTS: There will be fine talk and likely a positive joint statement will be issued but no firm action will be agreed.

 Crossroads Arabia

Labour: Qatar Trade Union Gets the Go Ahead

Labour: Qatar Trade Union Gets the Go Ahead

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Qatar is to allow the formation of trade unions. In addition, it will end the current system of sponsorship for foreign workers.