Crossroads Arabia

Saudi’s ‘Dear Diary’ Day: US Now Top Oil Producer

Saudi’s ‘Dear Diary’ Day: US Now Top Oil Producer

CROSSROADS ARABIA: It’s a significant moment that’s certainly not lost on the government and people of the Kingdom

 Jonathan Cook

‘Oil in the West Bank’: Guess Who’s Claiming It?

‘Oil in the West Bank’: Guess Who’s Claiming It?

JONATHAN COOK: It’s clear that Israeli policy is to ensure that any possibility of a future Palestinian state being economically viable remains very remote

 Steve Royston

Why Are There So Few Good Books About Saudi Arabia?

Why Are There So Few Good Books About Saudi Arabia?

STEVE ROYSTON: A recently published book on the Kingdom seems to be designed to pander to all of the usual Western prejudices. Why so?

 Steve Royston

The Trench Revisited: Another View of Saudi, Oil and Progress

The Trench Revisited: Another View of Saudi, Oil and Progress

The Trench is the second in a quintet that explores the corruption of society by oil, and of those who extracted it, exploited it and enriched themselves in the process.

STEVE ROYSTON: The Trench is the second in a quintet that explores the corruption of society by oil, and of those who extracted it, exploited it and enriched themselves in the process.

 Francis Matthew

China and Middle East Oil, A Strategic Interest

China and Middle East Oil, A Strategic Interest

China is taking a close interest in the Arab world as a source of its oil. It cares little about the politics of the region and cares less about who is in charge of Syria, but it desperately wants secure supplies of oil since 51 per cent — an astonishingly high quantity — of all its crude imports come from the Middle East.

FRANCIS MATTHEW: China is taking a close interest in the Arab world as a source of its oil. It cares little about the politics of the region and cares less about who is in charge of Syria, but it desperately wants secure supplies.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Elias Khoury’s ‘Beautiful Letter’ to Bab Al Shams

Elias Khoury’s ‘Beautiful Letter’ to Bab Al Shams

M. LYNX-QUALEY: The novelist Elias Khoury has written a letter to Palestinians who began building a village on land seized by Israel. A haunting, elegiac letter

 Common Ground News Service

Corruption ‘On the Increase’ Across Arab World

NADA AKL, CGNEWS: Corruption is so deeply ingrained in societies across the Arab world that promoting transparency seems an almost hopeless task

 Juan Cole

2012: Top 10 Developments in the Middle East

2012: Top 10 Developments in the Middle East

JUAN COLE: It’s been another extraordinary year across the Middle East. Here is my take on the most significant changes this year

 Ahmed-Al-Omran

Riyadh’s DQ: The Oasis that Became A Ghetto

Riyadh’s DQ: The Oasis that Became A Ghetto

AHMED AL OMRAN: It was supposed to be a model to inspire the development of modern Riyadh. So what’s gone wrong with Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter?

 Mich Cafe

The ‘Immortal Olive Tree’: Part of Every Palestinian

The ‘Immortal Olive Tree’: Part of Every Palestinian

MICH CAFE: More than 7,500 olive trees belonging to Palestinians were damaged or destroyed last year by Israeli settlers. A well-thought through assault

 Rob L. Wagner

The ‘Educational Revolution’ That Is Transforming Saudi Arabia

ROB L. WAGNER: Free education overseas for Saudi nationals is having a massive effect on Saudi society.

 Francis Matthew

Flexibility: Islamists First Great Test in the Face of RealPolitik

Flexibility: Islamists First Great Test in the Face of RealPolitik

FRANCIS MATTHEW: Now that they have been elected into power they are being forced to demonstrate their commitment to pluralism. This is a challenge they did not plan for.

 Steve Royston

Healthcare in Saudi, the US and UK: Who does it Right?

Healthcare in Saudi, the US and UK: Who does it Right?

STEVE ROYSTON: In one respect he is fortunate: Saudi has abundant resources to throw at these problems, unlike the US and the UK, where health services are competing for funds.

 Crossroads Arabia

Could Saudi Arabia become a Net Oil Importer?

Could Saudi Arabia become a Net Oil Importer?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: If the rate continues as it is going, Saudi Arabia could be a net importer of oil in 17 years’ time. That’s plausible, based on the figures, but unlikely…

 Susie of Arabia

Jeddah: The Sculptural Capital of the Arab World

Jeddah: The Sculptural Capital of the Arab World

SUSIE OF ARABIA: It’s a little known fact but the original work of some of the world’s most famous sculptors is scattered throughout the Saudi port city.

 Mondoweiss

Is Rachel Corrie the ‘Anne Frank’ Of Our Time?

Is Rachel Corrie the ‘Anne Frank’ Of Our Time?

JENNIFER LOEWENSTEIN, MONDOWEISS: Both individuals wrote diaries about their experience of oppression. Only one, however, is globally celebrated.

 Crossroads Arabia

Saudis’ Water Consumption ‘Unsustainable’

Saudis’ Water Consumption ‘Unsustainable’

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Advances in solar power and nuclear plants will help Saudis address their energy issues but water consumption is a major issue.

 James M. Dorsey

Arab Springs Eternal: Evolution of a Revolution

Arab Springs Eternal: Evolution of a Revolution

JAMES M. DORSEY: The civil war in Syria dominates the news the wave of protests in the smaller cities of Arab states foretells a groundswell of mass demonstration.

 Susan Al Shahri

The Great and Not-So-Great About Ramadan

The Great and Not-So-Great About Ramadan

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: As the Holy Month draws to a close I find myself contemplating the various aspects of a modern day Ramadan

 Francis Matthew

China’s Influence Based on ‘Failure to Engage’

China’s Influence Based on ‘Failure to Engage’

FRANCIS MATTHEW: Arab concerns are largely irrelevant to the Chinese as Beijing looks to reinforce its self-perception as the premier Asian power.

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