Juan Cole

The End of the ‘Turkish Model’? Erdogan Loses It

The End of the ‘Turkish Model’? Erdogan Loses It

JUAN COLE: He has accomplished much but has been caught in a swirl of corruption allegations and is soundingly increasingly shrill

 Ramzy Baroud

Scratch, Scratch: The Western Itch To Intervene Is Insatiable

Scratch, Scratch: The Western Itch To Intervene Is Insatiable

RAMZY BAROUD: You can be sure that whatever turmoil is happening in the Middle East the hands of the West will be present

 James M. Dorsey

Millitant Football Fans To The Fore Again in Egypt Protests

Millitant Football Fans To The Fore Again in Egypt Protests

JAMES M. DORSEY: Militant football fans are arguably Egypt’s largest civic group. They’re preparing to confront President Morsi as they previously did Mubarak

 Mich Cafe

‘Help Now’: Syrian Refugee Crisis ‘Unprecedented In Its Scope’

‘Help Now’: Syrian Refugee Crisis ‘Unprecedented In Its Scope’

MICH CAFE: If Americans diverted the money they spent in a month on ice-cream to the UN Syrian refugee fund the target would be met.

 James M. Dorsey

Brutality Back-Fires: Arab Spring’s Lesson for Erdogan

Brutality Back-Fires: Arab Spring’s Lesson for Erdogan

JAMES M. DORSEY: Once again battle-hardened football fans are taking the lead in confronting a regime. We’ve been here before.

 Ramzy Baroud

Turkey’s Dilemma: Fence-Sitting Not A Viable Option

Turkey’s Dilemma: Fence-Sitting Not A Viable Option

'Confused’ may be an appropriate term to describe Turkey’s current foreign policy in the Middle East and Israel in particular. The source of that confusion - aside from the appalling violence in Syria and earlier in Libya – is Turkey’s own mistakes.

RAMZY BAROUD: Turkey’s attempt to re-position itself as a fulcrum between East and West has come unstuck…

 James M. Dorsey

Game On: Turkey Fights Gulf For Sports Hub Mantle

Game On: Turkey Fights Gulf For Sports Hub Mantle

JAMES DORSEY: A battle between Turkey and the states of the Arabian Gulf to be the de-facto sports hub of the Middle East is underway

 Ramzy Baroud

Turkey and Israel: A Thaw’s In the Air

Turkey and Israel: A Thaw’s In the Air

RAMZY BAROUD: There are unmistakeable signs that the atmosphere between Turkey and Israel is becoming distinctly warmer

 Juan Cole

2012: Top 10 Developments in the Middle East

2012: Top 10 Developments in the Middle East

JUAN COLE: It’s been another extraordinary year across the Middle East. Here is my take on the most significant changes this year

 mai abdul rahman

UN Palestinian Vote Heralds ‘Birth of New World Order’

UN Palestinian Vote Heralds ‘Birth of New World Order’

MAI ABDUL RAHMAN: It’s not just the scale of the victory but it’s what it tells us about a new, emerging world order that is important.

 Common Ground News Service

Identity, Politics, Secularism: A Heady Mix in Egypt

Identity, Politics, Secularism: A Heady Mix in Egypt

H. A. HELLYER, CGNEWS: The opportunity to gain the views of a noted intellectual, academic and political figure on the future of Egypt was not to be missed.

 Richard Silverstein

Erdogan to Gaza: The Siege Begins to Lift, Slowly

Erdogan to Gaza: The Siege Begins to Lift, Slowly

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: Hard on the heels of Qatar’s high profile visit and investment in Gaza comes news that regional super-power Turkey plans a visit.

 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

 Editor, MEP

Turks Fret Over Possible Syria Action

VIDEO: The Turkish parliament has responded to mortar fire from Syria by backing military action against its neighbour. But many Turks think this is a bad idea.

 Common Ground News Service

Palestine: The Issue that Divides Turkey and Israel

Palestine: The Issue that Divides Turkey and Israel

FAIK TUNAY, CGNEWS: Relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated over the past two years. There is one issue at its heart.

 Juan Cole

Israel Apartheid, Avalon and the Smell of Fear

Israel Apartheid, Avalon and the Smell of Fear

JUAN COLE: Ayalon’s despererate and over-the-top rhetoric smells of fear, fear that when South Africa calls you on Apartheid policies, it legitimizes that critique of the Greater Israel project…

 Francis Matthew

Foreign Powers Take Positions, Eye End Game in Syria

Foreign Powers Take Positions, Eye End Game in Syria

FRANCIS MATTHEW: The continuing fighting in Syria is a golden opportunity for foreign governments to put military forces on the ground in advance of any political end-game.

 Editor, MEP

The Battle for Aleppo

VIDEO: In the last few hours, Syrian state media said the military had retaken the area, killing dozens of rebel fighters. But the rebels deny this.

 Francis Matthew

Romney: A Return to a Black and White Foreign Policy

Romney: A Return to a Black and White Foreign Policy

FRANCIS MATTHEW: US Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is suggesting a dangerous return to a simplistic foreign policy in which foreigners are divided simply into friends and foes.

 The View From Fez

Women’s Health in Morocco: Huge Advances Made

Women’s Health in Morocco: Huge Advances Made

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: A number of international programmes combined with improved education have led to significant improvements for Moroccan women

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