Editor’s Choice

 Administrator

Shale Gas: A Real Threat to Saudi Arabia’s Energy Position

Shale Gas: A Real Threat to Saudi Arabia’s Energy Position

SASHA FRANICEVIC: Saudi Arabia has enjoyed pole position in the energy stakes for some time. Recent developments with shale gas provide a major challenge for the Kingdom

 Juan Cole

Why the U.S Should Stay Out of Iraq: Top Ten Reasons

Why the U.S Should Stay Out of Iraq: Top Ten Reasons

JUAN COLE: Nouri Al-Maliki is in Washington pushing for increased U.S involvement in his country’s affairs. I have one word of advice to President Obama – resist!

 Jonathan Cook

Secrecy, Foot-Dragging, Frustration: ‘Peace Process Going Nowhere’

Secrecy, Foot-Dragging, Frustration: ‘Peace Process Going Nowhere’

JONATHAN COOK: We’re stumbling towards a conclusion with which the Israeli authorities would be very happy – a stalled process with the potential added extra of a Palestinian walkout

 Dhofari Gucci

Maghboor: A Little Light Rant Against Oman’s Dowry System

Maghboor: A Little Light Rant Against Oman’s Dowry System

DHOFARI GUCCI: It’s illogical, unfair and costly so maybe it’s time to look anew at the “maghboor’, Oman’s dowry system

 Ramzy Baroud

Lines on the Map ‘Irrelevant’ in Shifting Middle East Map

Lines on the Map ‘Irrelevant’ in Shifting Middle East Map

RAMZY BAROUD: The sectarian genie that was released via the US invasion of Iraq is now running rampant around the Middle East

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

The ‘Society’ Excuse: Sorry, It No Longer Washes

The ‘Society’ Excuse: Sorry, It No Longer Washes

EMAN AL NAFJAN: When women are stopped driving in Saudi Arabia it’s generally a policeman who does the stopping.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Rihanna’s Cultural Heist: An Act Against Womanhood

Rihanna’s Cultural Heist: An Act Against Womanhood

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Rihanna’s plan was to use Muslim culture to ‘enhance her own brand’. She knows nothing of the lives of Muslim women.

 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 […]

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

A Matter of Translation: Aswany Endures Fierce Attack

A Matter of Translation: Aswany Endures Fierce Attack

M. LYNX-QUALEY: He’s arguably Egypt’s best-known novelist but Alaa Aswany has come under ferocious criticism from his ex-translator

 Jonathan Cook

‘Ugly, Blatant Racism’ Playing Out in Israel’s Elections

‘Ugly, Blatant Racism’ Playing Out in Israel’s Elections

JONATHAN COOK: It seems to have fallen under the radar of the news-reporting community but some very unpleasant campaigning has been going on in this week’s elections

 Steve Royston

‘Sex and the Citadel’: Author Lifts Lid on Taboo Subjects

‘Sex and the Citadel’: Author Lifts Lid on Taboo Subjects

STEVE ROYSTON: Shereen El Feki takes on a subject of huge importance in her recently published book.

 Common Ground News Service

The Rouhani/Zarif Twitter Exchange: Improved Dialogue?

The Rouhani/Zarif Twitter Exchange: Improved Dialogue?

MICHAEL FELSEN, CGNEWS: A recent exchange of tweets hints at a more positive future dialogue between two regional superpowers.

 James M. Dorsey

Cutting Egypt’s Military Aid: Washington’s Dangerous Game

Cutting Egypt’s Military Aid: Washington’s Dangerous Game

JAMES M. DORSEY: It’s clear that Washington has embarked on a major re-alignment of its strategic resources in the Middle East.

 Crossroads Arabia

Women Driving in Saudi Arabia: It’s Heating Up Again

Women Driving in Saudi Arabia: It’s Heating Up Again

CROSSOADS ARABIA: Another major protest is being organised for 26th of October and both sides are beginning to air their views

 James M. Dorsey

Sectarian Divisions Being Played Out on the Football Field

Sectarian Divisions Being Played Out on the Football Field

Sectarian divisions fuelling conflict across the Middle East have spilt on to the soccer pitch with Iraq’s decision to boycott the Gulf Cup and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warning the Iraqi government not to interfere in the game. It is hard to separate the divisions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims that governments in Bahrain […]

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

The Influence of The Father: Strong But Varied Views

The Influence of The Father: Strong But Varied Views

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: The influence that ‘the father’ has exerted over leading female politicians has varied considerably

 Dhofari Gucci

Oman’s Eid Holiday Furore: It’s Time to ‘Get Real’

Oman’s Eid Holiday Furore: It’s Time to ‘Get Real’

DHOFARI GUCCI: It used to be ‘holiday heaven’ in Oman. Not any more and it’s no bad thing really.

 Common Ground News Service

Palestine: Educational Boycotts Are ‘A Very Bad Idea’

Palestine: Educational Boycotts Are ‘A Very Bad Idea’

DR DANIEL MOSES, CGNEWS: Ecomomic boycotts are one thing but banning people from both sides speaking to each other for educational purposes is wrong.

 Ramzy Baroud

The Plan To ‘Capture Gaza’ Is Nearing Critical Point

The Plan To ‘Capture Gaza’ Is Nearing Critical Point

RAMZY BAROUD: The ‘pampered men’ of the PNA are in no hurry to take on a ‘national liberation project’. The attack on Gaza continues.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Tawfiq al-Hakim: Let’s Celebrate The ‘First’ Arab Novelist

Tawfiq al-Hakim: Let’s Celebrate The ‘First’ Arab Novelist

M. LYNX-QUALEY: Naguib Mahfouz himself saw him as the originator of the modern Arab novel. His work and his life are deserving of celebration