Time to face the big Jordanian issue – Identity
NASEEM TARAWNAH: As a people, we need to find ways of putting aside the rage and the blame. History has shown us little good ever comes from either.
Edward Said – A Threat or an Asset?
SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Public intellectuals reflect the conscience of society and should not be regarded as a threat, but as part and parcel of the community.
The Tale of Egyptian artist Chafik Charobim
In the Cairo house once belonging to famous Egyptian artist Chafik Charobim … filled with beautiful things… … and beautiful guests… … there was a dinner party. Everything was so… … delicious. The artist’s vivacious daughter, Marion… … had not only her father’s book… but also many of his original works. Oh lucky girl…..
A Word Association Game – Yemen?
ALICE HACKMAN: Say ‘Yemen’ to most people in the West and the word ‘terrorism’ comes immediately to mind. But yet this beautiful country has a lot to offer.
Reform in Saudi Arabia: A Battle of the Fatwas
JAMES M. DORSEY: Abdullah appears to be gaining the upper hand in his battle to push through sweeping legal reform and codification of Saudi law to meet World human rights standards.
Talk but Any Progress on Horizon for Saudi Women?
AMERICAN BEDU: A forum held recently in Jeddah addressed issues of real concern to Saudi women. But will anything concrete come from the ‘talk fest’?
Women in Saudi: The Employment Dilemma
STEVE ROYSTON: Difficulties facing women who wish to enter the workforce are only part of what the Saudi leadership recognizes is a slow burn of discontent.
WikiLeaks Indicts, & Vindicates, U.S. Diplomats
RAMZY BAROUD: Despite their high number, the documents raise many questions, but answer few. Since more are coming, one must wait and see…
Recruitment Changes on the Cards for Qatar; as is Inflation…
DAVID ROBERTS: Clearly, to build the stadiums and the infrastructure for the competition, Qatar will need yet more workers from abroad.
There are Bad Days, and then there are…
ALEXANDER MCNABB: Adding to that, we have finally had it confirmed that, in the UAE, ‘freehold’ actually means ‘usufruct’. What the hell is ‘usufruct’..?
Urgent: Fresh Arab Approach towards Iran, Palestine
OSAMA AL SHARIF: Focus on Iran or Afghanistan should not be at the expense of the Palestine Question, which remains crucial to peoples of the region.
Meet Al Qaeda’s Greatest Nemesis – David Letterman!
JAMES MULLAN – American propaganda efforts in their so-called ‘War on Terror’ have been superseded by Hollywood. Are we surprised?
Qatar WC 2022: A Middle East Game Changer?
JAMES M. DORSEY: So deep-seated is soccer passion that governments would be acting at their own peril and would likely conclude that they have no alternative but to allow their teams to play Israel.
Facebook, Twitter Driving Change in the MidEast
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: No longer is our best hope for change governments. If change happens, it’s going to be social media fuelling the transformation.
The Professor Detention Debate & Twitter’s Embrace
AHMED AL-OMRAN: The arrest of Mohammed al-Abdulkarim, a Saudi law professor, has unleashed a fierce debate among the Kingdom’s social media community, and revealed why Twitter is such a phenomena in the Kingdom.
Does it Matter how Women get to Power?
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: We don’t hold women to male standards. Marriage is seen as an acceptable way to assert status. The woman need not have any of her own intrinsic merit, women are judged less on their talents
Praying for Rain in Jordan, Forecast Not Good…
NASEEM TARAWNAH: There’s one overriding topic of conversation in Jordan these days – rain or rather its absence. Each day without rain and the prayers are becoming more desperate.
GCC Cooperation Key to Tomorrow’s Challenges
SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Recently I attempted to capture some of these aspirations. On Twitter, I asked: “What do Gulf citizens want from the summit?”
GCC Youth and the False Goal of ‘Being Management’
STEVE ROYSTON: The parents of many in the GCC instill in their sons and daughters (particularly sons) the idea that the only respectable career is management.
The Future’s Coming, Please Tell the UAE’s Telcos
ALEXANDER MCNABB – Technology has allowed us to speak to each other in ways unimaginable five years ago. The telco operators in the Middle East, however, don’t appear to have caught on yet.
