Susan Al Shahri

Polygamy: It’s A Disaster For Women

Polygamy: It’s A Disaster For Women

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: Polygamy is still relatively common in Dhofar but I don’t know any woman enduring this situation who’s happy with their lot.

 Juan Cole

El Baradei Drops Out: “It’s as if Mubarak had Never Been Overthrown”

El Baradei Drops Out: “It’s as if Mubarak had Never Been Overthrown”

JUAN COLE: The Egyptian military have absolutely no intention of handing power to any civilian administration until they’ve done the right deal.

 Mondoweiss

Israel’s Push for War with Iran is ‘Relentless’

Israel’s Push for War with Iran is ‘Relentless’

ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: The Israelis are doing all in their power to scuttle ‘back channel’ discussions to ease tension between the U.S and Iran.

 Juan Cole

The Top Five Foreign Policy Changes That Face the United States in 2012

The Top Five Foreign Policy Changes That Face the United States in 2012

JUAN COLE: Many of the dangers to which I pointed in last year’s list still exist, of course, but a whole host of new difficulties has emerged.

 James M. Dorsey

Turkish Soccer: High Debt, Unorthodox Economics

Turkish Soccer: High Debt, Unorthodox Economics

JAMES M. DORSEY: Turkish soccer faces the same risks as the country’s economy, it operates on the same principles: high debt, unorthodox monetary policy.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

What High Heels Say About Economic Cycles

What High Heels Say About Economic Cycles

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Usually, in an economic downturn heels go up as consumers turn to more flamboyant fashion as a means of escape…

 Juan Cole

‘All Praise to George W. Bush’: The Top Ten Myths of the Arab Spring

‘All Praise to George W. Bush’: The Top Ten Myths of the Arab Spring

JUAN COLE: So much that is misinformed, over-hyped and simply plain wrong has been written about the Arab Spring. So let’s sort the wheat from the chaff.

 Jonathan Cook

Israel Backs Itself Into Dangerous Cul-De-Sac

Israel Backs Itself Into Dangerous Cul-De-Sac

JONATHAN COOK: 2011 marked the point at which the Palestinians called Israel’s bluff and revealed Oslo to be nothing more than a stalling tactic. What does the upcoming year hold?

 Juan Cole

Democratic Progress Despite Arab Upheavals

Democratic Progress Despite Arab Upheavals

JUAN COLE: Events are moving quickly in the region, and here are some notable developments with implications for democracy in the Middle East.

 Ramzy Baroud

Turkey Foreign Policy Falls Over Syrian ‘Abyss’

Turkey Foreign Policy Falls Over Syrian ‘Abyss’

RAMZY AL BAROUD: However, the Syrian uprising in March leading the country down the road to civil war – has forced Turkey to abandon its ‘zero-problems’ foreign policy.

 Steve Royston

Istanbul Postcard: Still Arguing After 18 Centuries

Istanbul Postcard: Still Arguing After 18 Centuries

STEVE ROYSTON: Spiritually, today’s Istanbulus are not so different from their Byzantine predecessors – they still delight in debate and intrigue.

 Juan Cole

Gingrich’s Crusade: It’s not an ‘Arab Spring’, it’s ‘an anti-Christian Spring’

Gingrich’s Crusade: It’s not an ‘Arab Spring’, it’s ‘an anti-Christian Spring’

JUAN COLE: In their quest to find an ABM (‘Anyone But Mitt’), the American Right have hit upon Gingrich. Let’s hear what he has to say about the MidEast.

 David Westley

News Analysis: World’s Most Powerful People

News Analysis: World’s Most Powerful People

NEWS ANALYSIS: So how does the Middle East do? Not great, but Saudi’s King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud is in the top 10, at number 7.

 James M. Dorsey

Bad Timing For Dubai’s First Soccer Hedge Fund

Bad Timing For Dubai’s First Soccer Hedge Fund

JAMES M. DORSEY: A Dubai bank has launched the region’s first alternative soccer fund modelled on European funds – amid rising fan opposition.

 Rob L. Wagner

The Powerful, Deep Hold of Black Magic Across the Islamic World

The Powerful, Deep Hold of Black Magic Across the Islamic World

ROB L. WAGNER: A recent ruling by the Shoura Council in Saudi Arabia has brought the issue of black magic to the fore again. Its influence is huge.

 The Moor Next Door

Game On in Tunisian Election Campaign

Game On in Tunisian Election Campaign

THE MOOR NEXT DOOR: With a week to go before Tunisia’s national election anticipation is mounting. With more than 100 parties contesting which of them is set to emerge victorious?

 James M. Dorsey

Arab Spring First Casualty in New Power Struggle

Arab Spring First Casualty in New Power Struggle

JAMES M. DORSEY: The people power movement has the most to lose and could find itself in the grinder as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran jockey for power.

 Rob L. Wagner

Unfazed: Israeli Boycott Little Noticed in Turkey

Unfazed: Israeli Boycott Little Noticed in Turkey

ROB L. WAGNER: Shopkeepers easily transition from Turkish to Russian, Polish and German. Yet Hebrew, once among the languages, is virtually non-existent.

 thehedonista

The Joys and Chores of Buying ‘Dubai Kitsch’

The Joys and Chores of Buying ‘Dubai Kitsch’

THE HEDONISTA: ‘No photos’, ‘No Fixed Price’, ‘Come back later?’ Ah yes, the recurrent phrases heard buying ‘Dubai Kitsch’. So what’s the best way to go about it?

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

‘No Government Support’ for Arabic Literature

‘No Government Support’ for Arabic Literature

M. LYNX-QUALEY: Unlike most Western governments there is little appetite among any Arab government for the translation and promotion of literature. It’s a great shame.