Naseem Tarawnah

The Fear Business: It’s Thriving in Jordan

The Fear Business: It’s Thriving in Jordan

NASEEM TARAWNAH: Look east, look north, look south, look west – everywhere around Jordan spells trouble with a capital ‘T’.

 Ramzy Baroud

Lines on the Map ‘Irrelevant’ in Shifting Middle East Map

Lines on the Map ‘Irrelevant’ in Shifting Middle East Map

RAMZY BAROUD: The sectarian genie that was released via the US invasion of Iraq is now running rampant around the Middle East

 James M. Dorsey

Cutting Egypt’s Military Aid: Washington’s Dangerous Game

Cutting Egypt’s Military Aid: Washington’s Dangerous Game

JAMES M. DORSEY: It’s clear that Washington has embarked on a major re-alignment of its strategic resources in the Middle East.

 James M. Dorsey

Sectarian Divisions Being Played Out on the Football Field

Sectarian Divisions Being Played Out on the Football Field

Sectarian divisions fuelling conflict across the Middle East have spilt on to the soccer pitch with Iraq’s decision to boycott the Gulf Cup and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warning the Iraqi government not to interfere in the game. It is hard to separate the divisions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims that governments in Bahrain […]

 James M. Dorsey

‘Buy Low, Sell High’: Gulf Investors New Football Strategy

JAMES DORSEY: The recent acquisition by a Saudi Prince of a lower-tier English football team points to a new direction for Middle Eastern magnates

 Ramzy Baroud

‘Arab Spring’ or ‘Islamic Winter’? Simplification Not Useful

‘Arab Spring’ or ‘Islamic Winter’? Simplification Not Useful

RAMZY BAROUD: in the words of Victor Hugo ‘to simplify is to be an idiot’ and when assessing the turmoil affecting the Middle East there is a lot of simplified commentary

 Ramzy Baroud

Is Egypt Heading For an Algerian-Style Catastrophe?

Is Egypt Heading For an Algerian-Style Catastrophe?

RAMZY BAROUD: The parallels between the two countries are uncannily similar. What route will the Egyptian people choose?

 Ramzy Baroud

Scratch, Scratch: The Western Itch To Intervene Is Insatiable

Scratch, Scratch: The Western Itch To Intervene Is Insatiable

RAMZY BAROUD: You can be sure that whatever turmoil is happening in the Middle East the hands of the West will be present

 Mich Cafe

‘Help Now’: Syrian Refugee Crisis ‘Unprecedented In Its Scope’

‘Help Now’: Syrian Refugee Crisis ‘Unprecedented In Its Scope’

MICH CAFE: If Americans diverted the money they spent in a month on ice-cream to the UN Syrian refugee fund the target would be met.

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

Is It Time for Europe to Ban Saudi Men from Driving?

Is It Time for Europe to Ban Saudi Men from Driving?

EMAN AL NAFJAN: So Kuwait is thinking about changing its laws to suit Saudi Arabia. Maybe it’s time for the European Union to take a leaf out of their book

 Susan Al Shahri

Women’s Life in Bahrain: A World Away from Dhofar

Women’s Life in Bahrain: A World Away from Dhofar

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: My first ever trip to another GCC country has been a real eye-opener, particularly when it comes to the place of women in society

 Tabsir

Thomas Friedman in Yemen: ‘An Innocent Abroad’?

Thomas Friedman in Yemen: ‘An Innocent Abroad’?

DANIEL M. VARISCO: I felt the ghost of Mark Twain speaking to me as I read about Tom Friedman’s latest adventures in Yemen.

 Ramzy Baroud

Turkey and Israel: A Thaw’s In the Air

Turkey and Israel: A Thaw’s In the Air

RAMZY BAROUD: There are unmistakeable signs that the atmosphere between Turkey and Israel is becoming distinctly warmer