Lucy Emmerson

Syria: Growing Pressure on Assad to Stand Down Falling on Deaf Ears

Syria: Growing Pressure on Assad to Stand Down Falling on Deaf Ears

LUCY EMMERSON: There are still more who believe that a regime which has killed in excess of 2,200 peaceful protesters in the past 6 months cannot stand

 David Westley

The End of Eid, The Start of the Beginning

The End of Eid, The Start of the Beginning

DAVID WESTLEY: This year, the return to ‘normality’ will be significantly harder to achieve for those countries that have gone through their Arab spring; the pathway to success is still far from clear.

 Ramzy Baroud

Israel’s ‘Nice Little War’: Gaza, Egypt in Range of Fire

Israel’s ‘Nice Little War’: Gaza, Egypt in Range of Fire

RAMZY BAROUD: Why is Israel bent on discrediting Egypt, exploiting the most sensitive period of its modern history, and destabilizing the border area?

 Lucy Emmerson

Libya: The Battle for Credibility Has Just Begun

Libya: The Battle for Credibility Has Just Begun

LUCY EMMERSON: The Libya that emerges from this conflict will be in dire need of rebuilding and there are those who doubt the NTC is up to the job…

 Michael J. Totten

Ex Brotherhood Members Speak Out

Ex Brotherhood Members Speak Out

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: What exactly is the Muslim Brotherhood’s ‘game-plan’ for Egypt? One way of finding out is to talk to former loyalists…

 Lucy Emmerson

Mubarak: Trial of Century Must Be Beyond Reproach

Mubarak: Trial of Century Must Be Beyond Reproach

LUCY EMMERSON: As Saleh, Al-Assad and Gadaffi watch this trial, the message must be clear: no one is above the law, everyone will someday be held to account.

 Michael J. Totten

The Struggle for Egypt’s Soul Has Only Begun

The Struggle for Egypt’s Soul Has Only Begun

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: I’ve spent a lot of time with the key players in Egypt’s developing democracy. It’s very clear that the real battle for the country’s – and the region’s – future has just begun.

 Jaco Stoop

Egypt’s Youth: Losing Touch With the People

Egypt’s Youth: Losing Touch With the People

JACO STOOP: Demonstrators need to develop a new strategy to achieve their goals. Without grassroots support, demonstrations will not be tolerated

 Ramzy Baroud

The Shifting, Complex Narratives that are Syria

The Shifting, Complex Narratives that are Syria

RAMZY BAROUD: There is no simple linear reading of the events that have overwhelmed Syria in recent months. The country is deeply embroiled in so many vital, strategic regional issues.

 Tabsir

‘Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls, Ali Abdullah Salih’

‘Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls, Ali Abdullah Salih’

TABSIR: It looks like Yemen’s President has finally reached the end of the road but he’s giving new definition to the phrase ‘clinging to power’.

 Juan Cole

Goodbye Bin Laden. Now It’s Time to Exit Iraq

Goodbye Bin Laden. Now It’s Time to Exit Iraq

JUAN COLE: Post Osama, President Obama should do us all a favour and now remove U.S. troops from Iraq.

 Mishaal Al Gergawi

Paranoia and Control in the Gulf Economy

Paranoia and Control in the Gulf Economy

MISHAAL AL GERGAWI: Incubation is the most innovative role governments can play, sparking industries whose high start up costs are a barrier to entry.

 Ramzy Baroud

For the love of Egypt: Why Besieged Gazans Danced in the Street

For the love of Egypt: Why Besieged Gazans Danced in the Street

RAMZY BAROUD: The lives of the people of Gaza have been deeply entwined with Egypt since the Palestinian Nakba of 1948. In spite of their current plight Gazans have been riveted and inspired by recent events in Egypt.

 Syria News Wire

Citizen Journalists Provide Main Reporting on Syria

Citizen Journalists Provide Main Reporting on Syria

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: With well-respected wire journalists expelled by the authorities in Damascus the only on-the-ground reports that are emerging are via mobile phones and YouTube. There’s much room for speculation and rumour.

 Zeinobia

Syrians Protest in Front of the Ministry of Interior

Syrians Protest in Front of the Ministry of Interior

ZEINOBIA: Writer Belal Fadl was right when he said yesterday that no one can appreciate how brave those who participated in the protests are, save those who know Syria.

 David

Comment on Why Bahrain Trumps Dubai – Demographics by David

Not very constructive Obaid, although clearly the damage done to bahrain’s reputation is now aof a level of magnitude worse than it was. Even should the status quo remain, Bahrain is now going to be a simmering mass of anger for a long time to come, and the shia population is going to feel even more oppressed.

I do not understand why the army moved in, it seemed something positive was coming out of the troubles, an explosion of creativity. Now the future of the country looks much more uncertain, even if the state clamps down and managesnto exert it’s authority.

Bahrain has a long road ahead of it.

 Jonathan Cook

Israeli Military to Cash in on Egyptian Revolution

Israeli Military to Cash in on Egyptian Revolution

JONATHAN COOK: Israel has always presented itself as ‘the villa in the jungle’. The military in ‘the villa’ see an opportunity to secure additional U.S. largess.

 Common Ground News Service

‘Business As Usual’ Not Possible for Israel

‘Business As Usual’ Not Possible for Israel

KHALED DIAB:The change convulsing the Middle East is being viewed fearfully by Israel. But there’s an opportunity for it to improve its relationships…

 Mondoweiss

‘Where Now?’: Options Discussed in Tahrir Square

‘Where Now?’: Options Discussed in Tahrir Square

AHMED MOOR, MONDOWEISS: Having been picked up in Tahrir Square and beaten up by the Mukhabarat last week Ahmed Moor returns and reports on the mood among protesters.

 Mondoweiss

It’s ‘Ruined’: ‘Tell the world he’s killing us’

It’s ‘Ruined’: ‘Tell the world he’s killing us’

MONA SEIF, MONDOWEISS: Today was the day everything changed. It was the saddest day, a peaceful revolution and has now been attacked with unspeakable violence.