Zeinobia

The Hunt for Mubaraks’ Wealth Reaches the Suez

The Hunt for Mubaraks’ Wealth Reaches the Suez

ZEINOBIA: Dr. Farouk told Original Dostor that every year part of the revenues went to a “black box” no one knew, and that still no one knows its bank account details.

 Syria News Wire

Heavy Handed Action Fans Flames in Syria

Heavy Handed Action Fans Flames in Syria

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: There is a great danger that in failing to recognise local grievances, Syrian authorities will set in motion a movement that takes its inspiration from Tunisia and Egypt.

 Michael J. Totten

What if Qaddafi Wins? Thinking the Unthinkable

What if Qaddafi Wins? Thinking the Unthinkable

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: With the West refusing to be drawn into the conflict it looks increasingly like Qaddafi could prevail against the rebels. What will be the consequences?

 James M. Dorsey

The ‘Is It All Back to Normal?’ Test: Is the Footy On?

The ‘Is It All Back to Normal?’ Test: Is the Footy On?

JAMES M. DORSEY: Tunisian and Egyptian reluctance to restart football reflects the changing role of soccer and the sense of empowerment felt by fans.

 Juan Cole

MidEast Protesters Target Unfinished Business

MidEast Protesters Target Unfinished Business

JUAN COLE: Progress has been made, but across the Middle East protesters are pushing for governments to follow through on the demands they have made.

 12345

Comment on The Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Will Not Fall by 12345

“Saudi Arabia doesn’t come close to the crimes perpetrated by Hosni Mubarak, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Qaddafi on their people.”

Actually, it does. In fact, they’ve done and continue to do much, much worse. They continually oppress half of the population to an unthinkable degree, treating them as lower than dirt. That alone is worse than anything the aforementioned have done. I cannot understand why the world sits by and lets this policy continue in Saudi Arabia, when the apartheid regime in South Africa was so widely condemned. Gender apartheid is even worse than the apartheid of a race.

Meanwhile they enforce the death penalty for a number of “offences” including nonsense like witchcraft and have public executions. They’re also the world’s largest supplier of terrorists, and just about ever Islamist insurgency worldwide has ties with Saudi Arabia. Let’s not forget that the majority of the 9/11 suicide hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Coincidence? I think not. The youth are indoctrinated with extremist Wahhabi values through their appalling education system which produces terrorists, anti-westernism, discrimination and plain ignorance.

Of course, greedy western nations are also at fault for legitimising this tyrannical regime.

 Rob L. Wagner

The Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Will Not Fall

The Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Will Not Fall

ROB L. WAGNER: Western analysts are engaging in wishful thinking that Saudi Arabia is ripe for a revolution. The Kingdom is no Egypt or Tunisia.

 Mondoweiss

Egypt to Usher in Brave New World the U.S. will find harder to Control

Egypt to Usher in Brave New World the U.S. will find harder to Control

PHYLLIS BENNIS, MONDOWEISS: Do the principles on which the U.S. was founded apply to more than 300 million Arabs?

 Steve Royston

The Crisis in the Arab World – The Long View

The Crisis in the Arab World – The Long View

STEVE ROYSTON: A focus on regeneration will have a longer-lasting effect than quick political fixes that will do nothing to alleviate the lot of the frustrated…

 Tabsir

Ramses II, Mubarak I: Spot the Difference

Ramses II, Mubarak I: Spot the Difference

DANIEL M. VARISCO: His survival as Egypt’s modern day Pharaoh is looking less likely by the hour. How will his legacy stack up?

 Ramzy Baroud

Tunisia: How We Got Here and the Task Ahead

Tunisia: How We Got Here and the Task Ahead

RAMZY BAROUD: In Tunisia that ‘unprecedented anger” has reaped unprecedented results, leaving Tunisia with the great task of rebuilding a civil society.

 Omar al-Issawi

The End of the Age of Mediocrity, the Rise of the Age of the People

The End of the Age of Mediocrity, the Rise of the Age of the People

OMAR AL-ISSAWI: For years I’ve observed with great sadness Arabs who glorified the achievements of a distant past while offering nothing for the future.

 The Moor Next Door

Bouazizi’s Self-Immolation Spreads to Mauritania

Bouazizi’s Self-Immolation Spreads to Mauritania

TMND: Thus far, four Algerians and an Egyptian and a Mauritanian each have lit them selves on fire in protests meant to recall Bouazizi…

 David Roberts

Tunisia & the C21st Gossip Super-highway, Twitter

Tunisia & the C21st Gossip Super-highway, Twitter

DAVID ROBERTS: The first thing that struck me was how often trending tweets were (completely) wrong. Twitter is great for disseminating information extraordinarily quickly.

 Zeinobia

Tunis: Going, Going Gone, All the President’s Men

Tunis: Going, Going Gone, All the President’s Men

ZEINOBIA: Egyptian Chronicles reports on the fate of the “regime men”, Ben Ali’s right arms in the former Tunisian government.

 Juan Cole

Wikileaks: U.S. Knew Tunis Gov. Rotten

Wikileaks: U.S. Knew Tunis Gov. Rotten

JUAN COLE: Cables show that the U.S. was fully aware of the debilitating level of corruption in Tunisia, and its anti-democratic implications.

 Hisham Wyne

Tunisia is a Wake Up Call, but for the Pundits

Tunisia is a Wake Up Call, but for the Pundits

HISHAM WYNE: Tunisa’s revolution has little to do with the ideals of democracy. It’s a simple cry for better quality of life.

 Steve Royston

After Tunisia: Choosing the Society We Want

After Tunisia: Choosing the Society We Want

STEVE ROYSTON: It’s about building societies in which people are not afraid to think for themselves, and are free to express themselves without fear of censorship or persecution…

 James M. Dorsey

Protests & Cessation Threats Set Stage for Change

Protests & Cessation Threats Set Stage for Change

JAMES M. DORSEY: A wave of protests across the Arab world sets the stage for the redrawing of the political map of the Mideast and North Africa.