Added on 01/03/2012
James M. Dorsey
Abdelaziz Bouteflika , Al Qaeda , Algeria , Algiers , East Africa , Egypt , Elections , Electricity , Football , Libya , Middle East , Mohamed , North Africa , oil and gas cities , President , Soccer , Social Media , spy chief , Syria , Tunisia , Yemen , Zine El Abedine Ben Ali

JAMES M. DORSEY: The ban on football matches taking place during election week deprives Algerians of a useful pressure valve
Added on 01/03/2012
Michael J. Totten
Algeria , Arab Spring , Army , Bashar al-Assad , Ben Ali , Budapest , Cairo , Democracy , East Africa , Eastern Mediterranean , Egypt , Iran , Islam , Islamist party , Lebanon , Libya , Mediterranean , Middle East , North Africa , North Atlantic Treaty Organization , Prague , Prime Minister , Sahara , Sharia Law , Syria , Tripoli , Tunisia , United States

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Largely forgotten in the West, Tunisia is where the great movements and ideas of the Arab Spring are fighting a huge battle.
Added on 07/02/2012
James M. Dorsey
Afghanistan , Africa , Al Qaeda , Ali Abdullah Saleh , Arab League , Atlantic coast , Beijing , Benghazi , Central Asia , China , Damascus , Djibouti , East Africa , Egypt , Europe , International Criminal Court , Libya , Middle East , Muammar Qaddafi , North Africa , Pakistan , President , Russia , Security Council , Sinai desert , Social Media , Somalia , Sudan , Syria , the Hague , United Nations , United Nations Security Council , United States , Yemen

JAMES M. DORSEY: China’s veto of the U.N’s resolution condemning Syria is a watershed moment for its involvement in the Middle East.
Added on 04/02/2012
James M. Dorsey
Al Ahly , Al Ahly SC , Al Masri , Cairo , East Africa , Egypt , Egypt Protests , Football , Hosni Mubarak , Italy , London School of Economics , Middle East , Muslim Brotherhood , North Africa , Poet , Port Said , Port Said stadium , President , Serbia , Soccer , Supreme Council of the Armed Forces , Tahrir Square , Tear gas , The Guardian , Twitter , Ultras Ahlawy , Ultras White Knights

JAMES M. DORSEY: Growing sentiment that the brawl in which 74 people were killed was provoked is putting wind in the sails of militant soccer fan groups.
Added on 18/01/2012
Common Ground News Service
Baghdad , CEO , Cyprus , East Africa , Iraq , Iraqi government , Israel , Middle East , North Africa , Sabah , Singer

NAAVA MASHIAH, CGNEWS: I have a love of Arabic music and poetry to an extent that baffles my father. Not unusual really since we’re Israeli Jews
Added on 17/01/2012
James M. Dorsey
2022 World Cup , Africa , Al Mannai , Alcohol , Atlantic coast , Barak Obama , Ben Ali , CBS News , CEO , CEO of Qatar , constitutional law , Doha , East Africa , Emir , Energy , Europe , FIFA , Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani , Middle East , Mohammed Abdul Wahhab , Noora Al Mannai , North Africa , Olympics 2020 , President , Qatar , Qatar Airways , Qatar University , Saudi Arabia , Tunisia , United States , Zine El Abedine Ben Ali

JAMES M. DORSEY: The debate will determine Qatar’s effort to become a global sports hub, and its positioning as a forward-looking sponsor of change.
Added on 12/01/2012
James M. Dorsey
2022 World Cup , Africa , airline , Al Ahly , Al Mannai , Asia , Bashar al-Assad , Brazil , CEO , CEO of Qatar , Doha , East Africa , Egypt , FIFA , Fifa World Cup , Iran , Japan , Latin America , Libya , Middle East , Noora Al Mannai , North Africa , Olympics 2020 , President , Qatar , Qatar 2022 , Qatar Airways , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Television network , The Wall Street Journal , Tunisia , Twitter , Yemen

JAMES M. DORSEY: Alcohol has been banned on the Pearl Qatar, dubbed the ‘Arab Riviera’. It’s the latest manifestation of internal discord.
Added on 11/01/2012
Common Ground News Service
Al Ahram , Amina Wadud , East Africa , Editor-in-Chief , Egypt , Feminism , Islam , Malaysia , Middle East , non-profit , North Africa , The American Muslim , Women , Women's issues

FATEMEH FAKHRAIE, CGNEWS: I see no contradiction in being both a Muslim and a feminist. Unfortunately, many other people do…
Added on 27/12/2011
James M. Dorsey
African Champions League , Algeria , Captain , Champion’s League , Democracy , East Africa , Egypt , Egypt Protests , Football , Hosni Mubarak , Interpol , Libya , Middle East , Moammar Qaddafi , Morocco , Niger , North Africa , North Atlantic Treaty Organization , Saadi Al Qaddafi , Soccer , South Sudan , Sudan , Tunis , Tunisia , Yemen , Zambia

JAMES M. DORSEY: A study has revealed that 5 North African nations experiencing upheaval in 2011 have seen football teams improve markedly.
Added on 20/12/2011
Common Ground News Service
Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi , Ali Abdullah Saleh , Congress , Democracy , East Africa , freelance journalist and editor , Gulf Cooperation Council , Iraq , Middle East , North Africa , President , Prime Minister , Yemen , Yemeni government

ABUBAKR AL-SHAMAHI, CGNEWS: The incoming government in Yemen have a very long ‘to do’ list. What, though, should be their immediate priorities?
Added on 19/12/2011
James M. Dorsey
2022 World Cup , Asian Football Confederation , British parliament , Crown Prince , Damien Collins , East Africa , Energy , FIFA , Fifa World Cup , France , Good Governance Committee , Hamad al-Thani , Hassan al Thawadi , heart disease , Japan , Korea , Michel Platini , Middle East , Mohammed bin Hammam , Nicolas Sarkozy , North Africa , Olympics 2020 , President , Prime Minister , Qatar , Qatar 2022 , Russia , Sepp Blatter , Soccer , Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani , The Financial Times , The Huffington Post , Theo Zwanziger , Tokyo , UEFA , United States

JAMES M. DORSEY: Sepp Blatter, a month after opening the door to an investigation of the Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid, has declared “case closed”.
Added on 04/12/2011
James M. Dorsey
Ala'a Hubail , Ali Said , Australia , Bahrain , Bahrain government , Basketball , British Embassy , British police , East Africa , Egypt , Eid Al-Adha , Football , Formula 1 , Gulf Cooperation Council , Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa , Hassan al-Dirazi , Libya , Manama , Martial law , Middle East , Mohammed Hubail , national basketball team player , national soccer team goalkeeper , North Africa , Political systems , Soccer , Syria , Tareq al-Fursani , the Bahrain Grand Prix , Tunisia , Yemen

JAMES M. DORSEY: Military court sentences goalkeeper, plus two other sportsmen, despite pledge by the King to move trials to civilian courts.
Added on 03/12/2011
Steve Royston
Arabian Peninsula , Bahrain , Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry , East Africa , GCC , Gulf Daily News , Iran , Israel , Middle East , Mossad , North Africa , Northern Ireland , Rome , Saddam Hussain , Tony Blair

STEVE ROYSTON: Should the Iranian threat – whether in terms of moral support or actual intervention – be one of Bahrain’s principal concerns?
Added on 01/11/2011
James M. Dorsey
2022 World Cup , Bahrain , Bloomberg , Cristiano Ronaldo , Dubai , East Africa , English Premier League , Europe , FIFA , Football , Los Angeles , Middle East , North Africa , Portugal , President , Qatar , Qatar Investment Authority , Soccer , soccer official , Spain , the English Premier League , Turkey , United Arab Emirates

JAMES M. DORSEY: A Dubai bank has launched the region’s first alternative soccer fund modelled on European funds – amid rising fan opposition.
Added on 23/10/2011
James M. Dorsey
Afghanistan , Al Qaeda , Al Shabab , Ayman al-Zawahiri , Basketball , East Africa , Food and Drink , Hamas , handball , Hizballah , Islamist , James M. Dorsey , Lebanon , Middle East , Nanyang Technological University , North Africa , Osama Bin Laden , Palestinian Territories , President , recruitment tool , S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies , Singapore , Soccer , Somalia , Taliban , UN Court , United Nations , woman athlete

JAMES M. DORSEY: While Al Qaeda is attempting to portray a gentler face, distributing aid to famine victims, Al Shabab, are ensuring strict adherence to a ban on women’s sports.
Added on 16/10/2011
James M. Dorsey
Abdullah , Adel Al-Jubeir , Africa , Atlantic coast , Bahrain , Bashar al-Assad , East Africa , Egypt , Europe , Gilad Shalit , Hamas , Hizballah , Human Rights Watch , Iran , Iraq , Islamist government , Israel , Libya , Mahmoud Abbas , Manama , Massachusetts , Mexico , Middle East , North Africa , Obama administration , Oil , Palestine Authority , Palestinian Territories , President , Quds Force , Salesman , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Texas , Tunisia , Turkey , United States , US government , Washington , Yemen

JAMES M. DORSEY: The people power movement has the most to lose and could find itself in the grinder as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran jockey for power.
Added on 30/09/2011
James M. Dorsey
Abdullah , Abu Dhabi , Arab Spring , Bahrain , Banking , Dubai , East Africa , Egypt , fencing , GCC , Gulf Cooperation Council , handball , Jordan , Kuwait , Libya , Manama , Middle East , Morocco , North Africa , Oil , oil prices , Oil wealth , Oman , Pandora's box , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , Sultan Qaboos bin Said , Syria , Tunisia , United Arab Emirates , Yemen

JAMES M. DORSEY: Their reluctance to be proactive rather than reactive has so far shielded the GCC from the revolt. The question is for how long, and what’s the price?
Added on 24/09/2011
James M. Dorsey
Bashar al-Assad , Democracy , East Africa , Egypt , Facebook , Indonesia , Iran , Middle East , mobile telephony , North Africa , Philippines , President , Russia , Social Media , Syria , Tunisia , Twitter , United States , Zine El Abedine Ben Ali

JAMES M. DORSEY: Autocrats – and their advisers – around the region have clearly underestimated the power of social media. But how significant has it been in effecting real change?
Added on 02/09/2011
James M. Dorsey
Al Ahli Benghazi , Al Ahly , Colonel , East Africa , Egypt , Hosni Mubarak , Islamic Republic of Iran , James M. Dorsey , Libya , Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , Middle East , military commander , Moammar Qaddafi , Nanyang Technological University , Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore , North Africa , North Atlantic Treaty Organization , President , Saadi Al Qaddafi , Saadi’s association , Saif al-Islam , Soccer , The Los Angeles Times , United States

JAMES M. DORSEY: At face value, Saadi and Saif’s different positions appear to be at best a surprising reversal of roles with Saadi, described as “notoriously ill-behaved”.
Added on 25/08/2011
James M. Dorsey
Africa , Ahmet Davutoglu , Arab League , Atlantic coast , Bashar al-Assad , Brazil , China , Colonel , East Africa , Electricity , India , Iraq , James M. Dorsey , Libya , Middle East , Moammar Qaddafi , Nanyang Technological University , North Africa , North Atlantic Treaty Organization , Oil production , President , Russia , S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies , Saddam Hussein , Security Council , South Africa , Syria , Tripoli , Turkey , United Nations , United Nations Security Council , United States

JAMES M. DORSEY: China and Russia could quietly establish relations with Syrian protesters if and when Mr. Assad is forced to relinquish power.