Sultan Al Qassemi

A Compelling Case for a UAE State of the Union Address

A Compelling Case for a UAE State of the Union Address

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: This year is an ideal time for the UAE, the only successful union in the Arab world, to institutionalise a State of the Federation address.

 Michael J. Totten

Assad: Now We Know Exactly Who We’re Dealing With

Assad: Now We Know Exactly Who We’re Dealing With

MICHAEL TOTTEN: There have, according to Bashar Assad, been some ‘mistakes’. The only real mistake by Western powers however is to believe what the President tells them.

 The Moor Next Door

Obama’s Speech: The Key Points Made

Obama’s Speech: The Key Points Made

THE MOOR NEXT DOOR: There was little new in Obama’s ‘Arab Spring’ speech. Nervous light criticism of Bahrain, no reference to Gulf allies and a minor poke of Israel.

 David Roberts

Qatar and Libya: A Match Not Made in Heaven

Qatar and Libya: A Match Not Made in Heaven

DAVID ROBERTS: The feelings felt by Muammar Gaddaffi and his regime in Libya towards Qatar are rather less than brotherly. Has Doha taken the threat seriously enough?

 Omar al-Issawi

People of the Book: Damning the Exodus of Christians

People of the Book: Damning the Exodus of Christians

OMAR AL ISSAWI: The latest round of sectarian strife in Egypt is not about sectarian confrontation. It is about ignorance.

 James M. Dorsey

Arab Leaders Losing Battle to Control the News

Arab Leaders Losing Battle to Control the News

JAMES M. DORSEY: Embattled regimes have failed in their effort to choke off independent reporting to ensure that their version of events dominates the news.

 Steve Royston

Middle East Blogs – Ten Sites CNN Missed

Middle East Blogs – Ten Sites CNN Missed

STEVE ROYSTON: My only quibble about CNN’s list is that it picks up exclusively on Arab writers and – with the honourable exception of Mahmood the Bahraini Blogfather – most of the writers seem relatively young.

 American Bedu

How do you Accurately Define a Muslim?

How do you Accurately Define a Muslim?

AMERICAN BEDU: It’s a topic that seems, more often than not, to generate more heat than light but here’s my attempt to define a Muslim.

 Common Ground News Service

Of the People, By The People, For the People

Of the People, By The People, For the People

MAHMOUD AMIN HISHMEH, CGNEWS: For too long Arabs have listened to the views of outsiders on what a ‘new Middle East’ should look like. Now they’re creating it for themselves.

 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.

 Ramzy Baroud

Libya Woes An Opportunity to Extend U.S Influence?

Libya Woes An Opportunity to Extend U.S Influence?

RAMZY BAROUD: There is a lot of discussion and political calculation bouncing around the corridors of power in Washington about Libya.

 James M. Dorsey

U.S. bets on EU, Turkey to Add Sting to Syria Sanctions

U.S. bets on EU, Turkey to Add Sting to Syria Sanctions

JAMES M. DORSEY: The Obama administration has been working hard behind the scenes to enlist the EU and Turkey in efforts to isolate Syria.

 Juan Cole

Top Ten Arab Spring Advances this Week

Top Ten Arab Spring Advances this Week

JUAN COLE: The Arab Spring is still producing some positive reforms and questioning of past corrupt practices, and even major governmental change.

 Common Ground News Service

The #1 Victim of Al Qaeda Attacks? Muslims

The #1 Victim of Al Qaeda Attacks? Muslims

HUSSEIN ABDALLAH, GGNEWS: Al Qaeda’s strategy of violence has made them less and less relevant to the people effecting change throughout the Arab world.

 Juan Cole

Saif ‘Admits’ Qaddafis are Brutal Foreign Occupiers – of Libya

Saif ‘Admits’ Qaddafis are Brutal Foreign Occupiers – of Libya

JUAN COLE: This slick interview with the glib comparisons is typical of the way they think they can get away with anything, anything at all.

 Omar al-Issawi

Niqab Ban Lifts Veil on Problems East and West

Niqab Ban Lifts Veil on Problems East and West

OMAR AL ISSAWI: Playing the victim, engendering sympathy and hurling accusations of conspiracy, persecution and discrimination will only get a cause so far…

 Michael J. Totten

No Big Sleep for the MidEast’s Remaining Thugs

No Big Sleep for the MidEast’s Remaining Thugs

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Now that the Arab revolt is slamming hard into Bashar al-Assad’s Baath Party in Syria, no dictator will be able to sleep without consuming copious amounts of pills.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Anti-Islam Sentiment Fuelled by European Leaders

Anti-Islam Sentiment Fuelled by European Leaders

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: With France’s anti-burqa law and less than encouraging words from European leaders, Muslims are feeling under pressure.

 Omar al-Issawi

Libya and Stalemate: What a Complete Mess

Libya and Stalemate: What a Complete Mess

OMAR AL-ISSAWI: NATO Chiefs are probably pulling their hair out at the incompetence of the rebels for whom they’re providing air support. It’s not a civil war, it’s just a mess.

 Tabsir

Stakes Getting Higher by the Day in Bahrain

Stakes Getting Higher by the Day in Bahrain

GENIEVE ABDO, JASIM HUSAIN, TABSIR: While the mainstream opposition in Bahrain distances itself from Iran, the noises from Tehran are becoming more strident and belligerent

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