Omar al-Issawi

Syria: Carrots on the End of a Very Long Stick

Syria: Carrots on the End of a Very Long Stick

OMAR AL-ISSAWI: It’s a ‘plot’, ‘foreign elements’ are at work, the word ‘conspiracy’ is never far from the lips of Syria’s official spokespeople. We’ve heard it all before – from Ben Ali, Mubarak, Gaddafi and Ali Abdullah Saleh.

 Mishaal Al Gergawi

Syria’s Fork of a Future, Where it Could Take Us

Syria’s Fork of a Future, Where it Could Take Us

MISHAAL AL GERGAWI: Should a new Syrian government have a more hedged policy towards Iran, Turkey, GCC, US and Europe, Iran would be dealt a blow.

 Omar al-Issawi

Syria: It’s Crunch Time for President Assad

Syria: It’s Crunch Time for President Assad

OMAR AL-ISSAWI: He has support among sections of society in Syria but Assad needs to show resolute leadership if he is to avoid his country spinning into turmoil.

 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.

 Syria News Wire

Reform Not Regime Change is What Syria Needs

Reform Not Regime Change is What Syria Needs

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: Much heat and little light has been generated by the protests in Syria but authorities shouldn’t be panicked by the reasonable demands.

 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.

 Mich Cafe

When the Lebanese Woman Shed the Veil

When the Lebanese Woman Shed the Veil

MICH CAFE, F. NAJIA: The Lebanese woman’s journey from “the age of the veil” to the relative freedom of “the age of the bikini” was a fairly quick one, but the path to ‘freedom’ was paved not by “circumstances” alone.

 Syria News Wire

#iheartsyria: A New Hashtag That Has Hit A Nerve

#iheartsyria: A New Hashtag That Has Hit A Nerve

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: Tweeting positive stuff about Syria is a depressing business – I seem to hit a reflexive ‘kick me’. That’s why the success of this new hashtag came as a bit of a surprise…

 Syria News Wire

Bad Timing For Vogue’s Syrian First Lady Splash

Bad Timing For Vogue’s Syrian First Lady Splash

NEWS FROM SYRIA: As the region seethes Vogue magazine provides us all with a moment of diversion. It’s unlikely to do the Assads any favours.

 Mich Cafe

Another Blogger Held as Syria Tightens Grip

Another Blogger Held as Syria Tightens Grip

MICH CAFE, F.NAJIA: Syrian Military Security this week arrested another native blogger, Ahmad Abul-Khair, on his way back to Damascus from the coastal city of Banias.

 Juan Cole

Top 10 Middle East Challenges for U.S. Policy, 2011

Top 10 Middle East Challenges for U.S. Policy, 2011

JUAN COLE: The Obama administration has been successful in tightening the financial noose on Iran during 2010, but Iran could fight back like a cornered rat…

 Steve Royston

An Encounter with the True Meaning of Ashura

An Encounter with the True Meaning of Ashura

STEVE ROYSTON – In the two hours I listened, I couldn’t begin to understand the intricacies. But I was struck by the gentle emotion, and parallels to Easter.

 David Roberts

Qatar and Her Neighbours in the Cablegate Releases

Qatar and Her Neighbours in the Cablegate Releases

DAVID ROBERTS: Qatar maintains a close relationship with Iran to safeguard its “trillions of dollars of potential wealth”. Nevertheless, the Head of the Army noted that “we’re neighbours, we’re not friends…”

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Is There or Ain’t There Arabic Science Fiction?

Is There or Ain’t There Arabic Science Fiction?

I am hardly a sci-fi expert, but there do seem to be stirrings on the Arabic science fiction horizon. Of course there is the very popular Egyptian sci-fi author Ahmed Khaled Tawfiq, who has written more than 200 books…

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