Juan Cole

‘Bye Bye, America, Hello, Russia’: Arab World Turns

‘Bye Bye, America, Hello, Russia’: Arab World Turns

An Egyptian delegation heading to Moscow just after the United States cut $300 million out of its aid package to Cairo to punish the July 3 military coup there has raised speculation that Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s military junta is shopping for a new superpower patron. In the 1960s at the height of the Cold […]

 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?

 Jonathan Cook

‘No Christmas, New Year Parties. Jewish Symbols Only’

‘No Christmas, New Year Parties. Jewish Symbols Only’

JONATHAN COOK: A heavy hand is being applied to those hotels and hostelries in Nazareth that seek to make Christian residents and visitors welcome

 Juan Cole

Malala: A Heroine Who Represents the Majority

Malala: A Heroine Who Represents the Majority

JUAN COLE: The Taliban are widely despised among the population of rural Pakistan. The biggest threat facing girls in this environment is a government that doesn’t care

 The View From Fez

Mali Islamist Threat That Could Engulf Morocco

Mali Islamist Threat That Could Engulf Morocco

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: While international attention is focused on Syria events in the Maghreb are threatening to spin out of control

 Jonathan Cook

Nazareth Machinations: The Long Game to “Jews Only”

Nazareth Machinations: The Long Game to “Jews Only”

JONATHAN COOK: … Expropriations would become a staple of life over the next three decades as more than 70 per cent of the land belonging to Palestinians was nationalized

 Rob L. Wagner

Muslims: The Victims of ‘The New McCarthyism’

Muslims: The Victims of ‘The New McCarthyism’

ROB L. WAGNER: The odious campaign by Michelle Bachmann against Huma Abedin marks the real beginning of a potentially disastrous period in U.S history

 Mondoweiss

The Long and Tortured History of Islamophobia

The Long and Tortured History of Islamophobia

ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: Deepa Kumar has written a detailed study of Islamophobia which links it inextricably to the cause of Empire

 David Roberts

The Death of Crown Prince Nayef, What Next?

The Death of Crown Prince Nayef, What Next?

DAVID ROBERTS: That the Saudi Royal family has suffered another key death within a year is concerning but can come as no surprise.

 Juan Cole

The U.S/Israeli Plan for Iran: It’s Doomed

The U.S/Israeli Plan for Iran: It’s Doomed

JUAN COLE: It’s well worth looking at previous situations where major powers tried to use economics to bring Iran to heel.

 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

Aqaba: To Boldly Go Where No King Has Gone Before

Aqaba: To Boldly Go Where No King Has Gone Before

JUAN COLE: Klingons and Romulans wandering through the souk in Aqaba? Could be sooner than you think if King Abdullah’s ambitious plans come to fruition.

 Crossroads Arabia

‘Time for Arabs to Stop Blaming America’: Commentator

‘Time for Arabs to Stop Blaming America’: Commentator

CROSSROADS ARABIA: We know America is far from perfect but it seems to be the source of all evil for many Arabs. One Arab man has had enough and has spoken out.

 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.

 Steve Royston

Middle East Turmoil – Questioning Assumptions

Middle East Turmoil – Questioning Assumptions

STEVE ROYSTON: Amid the frenzy in the Middle East and beyond about the future of Egypt, many people seem to be working on a set of assumptions that are worth questioning.

 The Moor Next Door

Why the West Supports Autocracy & Democracy

Why the West Supports Autocracy & Democracy

TMND: The dominant official American attitude toward democratic reform in Egypt is concerned with the possibility that the Muslim Brothers might sweep the polls.

 Steve Royston

Is it Time to give Saudi Arabian Youth its Voice?

Is it Time to give Saudi Arabian Youth its Voice?

STEVE ROYSTON: Respect for the elderly is deeply ingrained in Arab society. Saudi Arabia, however, faces a major demographic challenge – a hugely youthful population.