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…

 Joseph Mayton

New, Independent Media Empowering Women

New, Independent Media Empowering Women

JOSEPH MAYTON: Our main supporters are women… The women who want to write – and read -about “real” news stories…

 Jonathan Cook

God-TV helps Israel oust Bedouins

God-TV helps Israel oust Bedouins

JONATHAN COOK: The involvement of extremist Christian groups like God-TV will turn this into a religious confrontation – much harder to resolve…

 Steve Royston

Is it Time to give Saudi Arabian Youth its Voice?

Is it Time to give Saudi Arabian Youth its Voice?

STEVE ROYSTON: Respect for the elderly is deeply ingrained in Arab society. Saudi Arabia, however, faces a major demographic challenge – a hugely youthful population.

 Osama Al Sharif

2010: a Year of Failings and Frustrations

2010: a Year of Failings and Frustrations

OSAMA AL SHARIF: 2010 has established that the region has failed to learn from its past. Failing to resolve conflicts does not mean that they simply go away.

 David Westley

Incubation City: Missing Piece of the UAE puzzle

Incubation City: Missing Piece of the UAE puzzle

DAVID WESTLEY: Over the years Dubai has started a host of cities acting as hubs. What it has failed to do is start something as simple as “Incubation City”.

 Michael J. Totten

Wikileaks: History Lessons for the Stupid

Wikileaks: History Lessons for the Stupid

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Surely somewhere there’d be references to a war for oil in Iraq if the war was, in fact, about oil.

 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.

 Prince El Hassan bin Talal

Looking Back on ‘the Year that Was’ in the Middle East

Looking Back on ‘the Year that Was’ in the Middle East

HRH PRINCE EL HASSAN BIN TALAL: It was a year which began with much promise and, whisper it, hope around the Middle East. It ends, however, with feelings that are all too familiar…

 Ramzy Baroud

Insisting on Their Humanity: Palestinian Plight

Insisting on Their Humanity: Palestinian Plight

RAMZY BAROUD: It is the very balance between destruction and rebuilding, despair and hope, occupation and perseverance that makes the Palestinian people powerful.

 Steve Royston

Is Saudi Encouraging its own Brain Drain?

Is Saudi Encouraging its own Brain Drain?

STEVE ROYSTON: Could it be that the next wave of migration will come from the very class of people that Saudi Arabia sees as its future?

 Remona Aly

A Novel Approach to Improving the Perception of Islam

A Novel Approach to Improving the Perception of Islam

REMONA ALY: A bold initiative by young Muslim professionals to improve Britons’ view of Islam has sparked much debate. It may also be a template worth copying.

 Alexander McNabb

Total Confusion: The UAE National Identity Card

Total Confusion: The UAE National Identity Card

ALEXANDER MCNABB: The ‘application application’ has been removed. Typing centres have been closed. And the clock is ticking towards the end of year deadline.

 Ramzy Baroud

WikiLeaks Indicts, & Vindicates, U.S. Diplomats

WikiLeaks Indicts, & Vindicates, U.S. Diplomats

RAMZY BAROUD: Despite their high number, the documents raise many questions, but answer few. Since more are coming, one must wait and see…

 Osama Al Sharif

Urgent: Fresh Arab Approach towards Iran, Palestine

Urgent: Fresh Arab Approach towards Iran, Palestine

OSAMA AL SHARIF: Focus on Iran or Afghanistan should not be at the expense of the Palestine Question, which remains crucial to peoples of the region.

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar WC 2022: A Middle East Game Changer?

Qatar WC 2022: A Middle East Game Changer?

JAMES M. DORSEY: So deep-seated is soccer passion that governments would be acting at their own peril and would likely conclude that they have no alternative but to allow their teams to play Israel.

 Arianna Huffington

Facebook, Twitter Driving Change in the MidEast

Facebook, Twitter Driving Change in the MidEast

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: No longer is our best hope for change governments. If change happens, it’s going to be social media fuelling the transformation.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Does it Matter how Women get to Power?

Does it Matter how Women get to Power?

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: We don’t hold women to male standards. Marriage is seen as an acceptable way to assert status. The woman need not have any of her own intrinsic merit, women are judged less on their talents

 Naseem Tarawnah

Praying for Rain in Jordan, Forecast Not Good…

Praying for Rain in Jordan, Forecast Not Good…

NASEEM TARAWNAH: There’s one overriding topic of conversation in Jordan these days – rain or rather its absence. Each day without rain and the prayers are becoming more desperate.

 Steve Royston

GCC Youth and the False Goal of ‘Being Management’

GCC Youth and the False Goal of ‘Being Management’

STEVE ROYSTON: The parents of many in the GCC instill in their sons and daughters (particularly sons) the idea that the only respectable career is management.