mai abdul rahman

Palestine: Embrace Neutrality to Unlock Independence

Palestine: Embrace Neutrality to Unlock Independence

MAI ABDUL RAHMAN: Neutrality would allow Palestinians to focus all their energies and resources on social development and nation building…

 James M. Dorsey

Blatter U-Turn Sees Door Closed on FIFA Investigation of Qatar’s World Cup Win

Blatter U-Turn Sees Door Closed on FIFA Investigation of Qatar’s World Cup Win

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”.

 Crossroads Arabia

Nuclear Weapons: The Only Route to Success?

Nuclear Weapons: The Only Route to Success?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: A Saudi commentator suggests the only way to gain respect in international relations is via nuclear weapons. Is he right?

 David Westley

News Analysis: World’s Most Powerful People

News Analysis: World’s Most Powerful People

NEWS ANALYSIS: So how does the Middle East do? Not great, but Saudi’s King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud is in the top 10, at number 7.

 SuhaibWebb

Rap’s Inception ‘Pioneered by Muslims’

Rap’s Inception ‘Pioneered by Muslims’

LAVON L. BROWN, SUHAIBWEBB: A socially engaged group of artists, the Last Poets, infused their work with religious tropes, setting the template for today’s rappers.

 Abu Muhammed

Could Now Be the Time for an American Spring?

Could Now Be the Time for an American Spring?

ABU MOHAMMED: What I miss the most is her promise to be able to live a good life, no matter who I am or was, as an equal to other men.

 Mondoweiss

The Hateful Ideology Behind the Norway Massacre

The Hateful Ideology Behind the Norway Massacre

ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: Many of the ideas that apparently inspired the deranged, mass killer Anders Breivik are, unfortunately, held by people who appear regularly on mainstream media.

 Naseem Tarawnah

‘At least we’re not…’ Jordanians Compare Poorly

‘At least we’re not…’ Jordanians Compare Poorly

NASEEM TARAWNAH: We Jordanians have a problem. We’re always comparing ourselves to others but using the worst of the region as our benchmark.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Three Books That WON’T Help You Understand Iraq

Three Books That WON’T Help You Understand Iraq

M. LYNX-QUALEY: It’s one of those lists again. You know it’s designed to gain a reaction and you can’t help yourself so here I go with my reaction to books on Iraq.

 SuhaibWebb

The Top Terrorist Organisation For the U.S.? Not Muslim…

The Top Terrorist Organisation For the U.S.? Not Muslim…

MUSTAFA OMAR: When it comes to the white-hot issue of terrorists who threaten American citizens perception, unfortunately, is very far from reality.

 Steve Royston

Reasons For, and Against, Working in the MidEast

Reasons For, and Against, Working in the MidEast

STEVE ROYSTON: One year ago I wrote the 10 good reasons to work in the Middle East. I would not change one of them. I have, however, added 10 reasons you may not want to.

 Crossroads Arabia

Strange Timing: Saudi Announces Nuclear Deal

Strange Timing: Saudi Announces Nuclear Deal

CROSSROADS ARABIA: With demand for energy soaring in the Kingdom it’s no surprise that the authorities are looking at nuclear energy. In the wake of the Fukushima catastrophe they will, though, face questions from an uneasy public.

 Steve Royston

Should the British Be Sorry For Past Mistakes?

Should the British Be Sorry For Past Mistakes?

STEVE ROYSTON: If by expressing disapproval of past wrong-doings we are saying we will not condone such acts now, is that apology not worth making?

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Laughter: Is it Really the Best Medicine?

Laughter: Is it Really the Best Medicine?

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: Dictators are particularly sensitive to the corrosive effects of humour. They’ve always taken it very seriously indeed…

 Steve Royston

A Billion Images is Worth a Trillion Words

A Billion Images is Worth a Trillion Words

STEVE ROYSTON: If it is possible to build a Wikipedia in ten years, is it not also possible to build a disciplined, structured resource that delivers images – both moving and static – in a similar manner?

 Juan Cole

Qaddafi Threatens West With Al Qaeda Alliance

Qaddafi Threatens West With Al Qaeda Alliance

JUAN COLE: As the unfolding disaster in Japan distracts the world’s attention Qaddafi’s re-conquest of Libya rolls on. There will be scores to settle…

 James M. Dorsey

FIFA Concedes Traded Votes in World Cup Bids

FIFA Concedes Traded Votes in World Cup Bids

JAMES DORSEY: If Blatter’s admission is correct, those votes would account for seven of the 12 votes that won Qatar its right to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

 David Roberts

Asian Cup Woes A Gift for Qatar 2022 Critics

Asian Cup Woes A Gift for Qatar 2022 Critics

DAVID ROBERTS: Huge queues, chronic transportation, empty seats and a less than fulsome welcome for travelling fans – a very long ‘To Do’ list for Qatar 2022.

 James M. Dorsey

Gloves Off: Blatter “Served Too Long”, Hammam

Gloves Off: Blatter “Served Too Long”, Hammam

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mohamed bin Hammam lashed out on Monday, charging that Blatter had served too long as head of soccer’s world governing body.

 James M. Dorsey

Governments Undermining MidEast Soccer

Governments Undermining MidEast Soccer

JAMES M. DORSEY: In a soccer-crazy world of authoritarian regimes, football offers one of society’s few release valves.