Steve Royston

Kingmakers, Invention of the Modern Middle East

Kingmakers, Invention of the Modern Middle East

STEVE ROYSTON: Book Review: Here you’ll find the Britons and Americans – proconsuls, agents provocateurs, spies, politicians – that shaped the Middle East.

 James M. Dorsey

Fake Soccer Websites ‘Key’ To Iran Cyber-Attack

Fake Soccer Websites ‘Key’ To Iran Cyber-Attack

JAMES M. DORSEY: The creators of the Stuxnet virus, which allegedly did significant damage to Iran’s nuclear programme, used fake soccer websites to smokescreen their handiwork

 Steve Royston

23rd November: A Red Letter Day for Bahrain

23rd November: A Red Letter Day for Bahrain

STEVE ROYSTON: Tomorrow sees the publication of a report into the events of February and March of this year. Could it draw a line under those tragic events?

 David Roberts

Big Claims By ‘WSJ’ on Iran & Bahrain. But Proof?

Big Claims By ‘WSJ’ on Iran & Bahrain. But Proof?

DAVID ROBERTS: The Wall Street Journal has published a very curious piece indeed on the relationship between Iran and Bahrain. It’s long on allegation but very short on proof.

 Chris Keeler

Is Syria Set to Become ‘the new Libya’?

Is Syria Set to Become ‘the new Libya’?

CHRIS KEELER: Non-violent protest appears to be nearing its end in Syria and there are signs that groups are organising an armed resistance against the regime.

 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.

 David Roberts

Kuwait Reaps the Sectarian Gulf Whirlwind

Kuwait Reaps the Sectarian Gulf Whirlwind

DAVID ROBERTS: Kuwait’s Parliament is undergoing another crisis. What are the key issues which so frequently flare-up and cause such anguish?

 SlimGulfie

Bahrain: Five Burning Questions Needing Answers

Bahrain: Five Burning Questions Needing Answers

SLIMGULFIE: Over half a million Bahrainis who share the same religion are now thoroughly divided by their two sects. It’s heartbreaking.

 Mondoweiss

An Inconvenient Truth: Ehud Barak Off Message

An Inconvenient Truth: Ehud Barak Off Message

MONDOWEISS: If Iran ever acquired nuclear weapons would it launch an attack on Israel? “Not on us and not on any neighbor.” The speaker? Ehud Barak…

 Omar al-Issawi

People of the Book: Damning the Exodus of Christians

People of the Book: Damning the Exodus of Christians

OMAR AL ISSAWI: The latest round of sectarian strife in Egypt is not about sectarian confrontation. It is about ignorance.

 Jonathan Cook

Egypt’s Direction Unnerves Israel and the U.S.

Egypt’s Direction Unnerves Israel and the U.S.

JONATHAN COOK: The political sands are shifting a little too quickly in the Middle East for Israel and the United States. Will they be able to keep up?

 Juan Cole

Top Ten Arab Spring Advances this Week

Top Ten Arab Spring Advances this Week

JUAN COLE: The Arab Spring is still producing some positive reforms and questioning of past corrupt practices, and even major governmental change.

 David Roberts

Iran: Problems on the Horizon for Gulf States

Iran: Problems on the Horizon for Gulf States

DAVID ROBERTS: These events take place in the context of growing Shia power, encapsulated by the notion of a Shia crescent ‘enveloping’ the region…

 Tabsir

Stakes Getting Higher by the Day in Bahrain

Stakes Getting Higher by the Day in Bahrain

GENIEVE ABDO, JASIM HUSAIN, TABSIR: While the mainstream opposition in Bahrain distances itself from Iran, the noises from Tehran are becoming more strident and belligerent

 Juan Cole

‘Our Luck’, A President That Gets Complexity

‘Our Luck’, A President That Gets Complexity

JUAN COLE: President Obama’s speech last night demonstrated clearly the qualities of leadership that those who seek to challenge him simply do not possess.

 David Roberts

Iran’s Next Move after Bahrain “Invasion”

Iran’s Next Move after Bahrain “Invasion”

DAVID ROBERTS: Without wishing to state the obvious, the longer Saudi troops are in Bahrain – the “Invaders” according to Press TV, the greater the risk of Iran’s meddling.

 Steve Royston

Situation Critical for Increasingly Divided Bahrain

Situation Critical for Increasingly Divided Bahrain

STEVE ROYSTON: Since the GCC forces arrived in Bahrain, the Iranian bogeyman has also surfaced with renewed vigour. The Iranians have described the CGG intervention as “interference”.

 Ramzy Baroud

Arab Revolutions Throw Spanner Into Israeli Propaganda Machine

Arab Revolutions Throw Spanner Into Israeli Propaganda Machine

RAMZY BAROUD: The Arab people who have taken to the streets to demand democracy are not playing to Israeli caricatures.

 Ramzy Baroud

From Gulf to Ocean the Middle East is Changing

From Gulf to Ocean the Middle East is Changing

RAMZY BAROUD: The revolution has restored power to the people, an experience many of us will always remember with pride, and a few with fear.

 James M. Dorsey

Iran Postpones Tehran Football Matches

Iran Postpones Tehran Football Matches

JAMES DORSEY: Iran’s Football Federation has postponed league matches in Tehran to prevent celebrations of the 32nd anniversary of the Islamic revolution turning into anti-government protests.