Common Ground News Service

The Other Peace Process: The One That’s Alive

KADI ZAHALKA, RABBI DR RON KRONISH: The so-called political peace process has been going nowhere for a long time. There is an alternative

 Steve Royston

Cool Thinking Not Grandstanding Needed in Bahrain Now

Cool Thinking Not Grandstanding Needed in Bahrain Now

STEVE ROYSTON: The problems facing Bahrain are formidable and the tension is increasing as Ashoura approaches. Some thoughts on how to deal with these issues.

 Rob L. Wagner

Morsi’s Election: The Opportunity for the U.S.

Morsi’s Election: The Opportunity for the U.S.

ROB L. WAGNER: There’s no doubt that alarm bells were ringing in Washington with the news of Morsi’s election. It does, though, present an opportunity

 Steve Royston

Bahrain and Iran – Danger or Distraction?

Bahrain and Iran – Danger or Distraction?

STEVE ROYSTON: Should the Iranian threat – whether in terms of moral support or actual intervention – be one of Bahrain’s principal concerns?

 Steve Royston

Bahrain: Reconciliation In Need After Bassiouni

Bahrain: Reconciliation In Need After Bassiouni

STEVE ROYSTON: The report is magisterial, dispassionate and distressing. Accounts of torture, violence and intimidation are not surprising.

 Steve Royston

Palestinian Hope – Voices for a Lost Cause?

Palestinian Hope – Voices for a Lost Cause?

STEVE ROYSTON: “This military occupation has lasted for over 64 years and is an affront to humanity and civilised values. It is high time that the international community took some responsibility.”

 Steve Royston

Is it the Right Time For a New Bahraini Flag?

Is it the Right Time For a New Bahraini Flag?

STEVE ROYSTON: It may not seem a high priority item at this particularly sensitive point in Bahrain’s history but flags play a pivotal role in defining a nation’s sense of identity.

 Steve Royston

Situation Critical for Increasingly Divided Bahrain

Situation Critical for Increasingly Divided Bahrain

STEVE ROYSTON: Since the GCC forces arrived in Bahrain, the Iranian bogeyman has also surfaced with renewed vigour. The Iranians have described the CGG intervention as “interference”.

 James Gray

Comment on Rebuilding Business Confidence the Next Battleground by James Gray

The challenge is greater because much of the promotion was through fairly broad based PR which leaves each country very exposed to negative events which grab the headlines and in effect demolish all progress which had been made. I faced this promoting Northern Ireland. The PR firms will now seek yet more resources to counter the negative messages but are unlikely to succeed. Besides this approach is not based on experience of attracting inward investment. Investors are clever ; they are not greatly swayed by PR or branding ; they want information and support. If countries want to succeed long term they need to devote resources to a sustained business to business contact campaign , building relationships with potential investors and superb engagement with investors already on the ground… win the minds of businesses not journalists. James Gray jamesgcca@gmail.com

 Steve Royston

Bahrain: Retaining Reason in a Battle of Emotions

Bahrain: Retaining Reason in a Battle of Emotions

STEVE ROYSTON: It’s 4am. Outside my window there’s a full moon , the harbinger of madness. Cocks are crowing and the thak-thak-thak of nearby helicopters has woken me.

 Jonathan Cook

Publish it Not – Israel and the Sultans of Spin

Publish it Not – Israel and the Sultans of Spin

JONATHAN COOK: Most freelancers forced into this position would either have learned to tailor their reporting to what was expected by the news desks or have headed off to another conflict zone. I stayed…