Francis Matthew

GCC and Korea: When Silence is not Golden

GCC and Korea: When Silence is not Golden

It is disturbing that the crisis in North Korea is moving forward with very little comment from the Arab world.

FRANCIS MATTHEW: It is disturbing that the crisis in North Korea is moving forward with very little comment from the Arab world.

 James M. Dorsey

Syrian Football Victory ‘a Unifier’? Afraid Not

Syrian Football Victory ‘a Unifier’? Afraid Not

JAMES M. DORSEY: This weekend’s Syrian victory over Iraq in a soccer match is being seized by the regime as ‘a great national achievement’.

 James M. Dorsey

Ahmadinejad looks to Soccer to Boost Image

Ahmadinejad looks to Soccer to Boost Image

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is following in the footsteps of deposed autocrats by associating himself with one of Iran’s greatest passions: soccer.

 Steve Royston

Wasted Potential: Let’s Revolutionise Education

Wasted Potential: Let’s Revolutionise Education

STEVE ROYSTON: The ‘Education Industry’ as I call it is failing to deliver and everywhere you look there is clear evidence of same. I have some ideas

 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…

 James M. Dorsey

Questions Continue to Surround Bin Hamman

Questions Continue to Surround Bin Hamman

JAMES M. DORSEY: The appointment by Qatari and UAE soccer bodies of individuals who worked with Mohammed bin Hamman raises more questions

 Rob L. Wagner

Is Saudi Arabia’s Auto Industry a Non-Starter?

Is Saudi Arabia’s Auto Industry a Non-Starter?

ROB L. WAGNER: As the authorities in Saudi Arabia seek to diversify the country’s economy what’s the future for one of their key strategic moves?

 Juan Cole

The U.S/Israeli Plan for Iran: It’s Doomed

The U.S/Israeli Plan for Iran: It’s Doomed

JUAN COLE: It’s well worth looking at previous situations where major powers tried to use economics to bring Iran to heel.

 Crossroads Arabia

Stop Now: Saudi Oil Guzzling is ‘Out of Control’

Stop Now: Saudi Oil Guzzling is ‘Out of Control’

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Saudi citizens consume more than four times the amount of oil as their U.S counterparts. It can’t go on.

 Juan Cole

Ten Ways the Iranians Are Beating Sanctions

Ten Ways the Iranians Are Beating Sanctions

JUAN COLE: The last crackpot Neocon plan cost America $1 trillion and nearly 5,000 soldier’s lives. The latest one is meeting resistance.

 Common Ground News Service

The U.S. and Muslim Brotherhood: A Match Made in Heaven?

The U.S. and Muslim Brotherhood: A Match Made in Heaven?

MOHAMED EL-SAYED, CGNEWS: A very unlikely relationship indeed is beginning to take shape.

 Rob L. Wagner

“Three Months at Most”: How Long Could Iran Close Straits of Hormuz?

“Three Months at Most”: How Long Could Iran Close Straits of Hormuz?

ROB L. WAGNER: As tensions increase all parties are beginning to make calculations regarding the effect of a possible conflict in the Arabian Gulf.

 Mondoweiss

The Hateful Ideology Behind the Norway Massacre

The Hateful Ideology Behind the Norway Massacre

ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: Many of the ideas that apparently inspired the deranged, mass killer Anders Breivik are, unfortunately, held by people who appear regularly on mainstream media.

 Steve Royston

Reasons For, and Against, Working in the MidEast

Reasons For, and Against, Working in the MidEast

STEVE ROYSTON: One year ago I wrote the 10 good reasons to work in the Middle East. I would not change one of them. I have, however, added 10 reasons you may not want to.

 Steve Royston

Egypt: A Role Model for the ‘Have Nots’

Egypt: A Role Model for the ‘Have Nots’

STEVE ROYSTON: Regional fallout from the events in Tunisia and Egypt is expected. But other countries around the world have been watching.

 James M. Dorsey

FIFA Concedes Traded Votes in World Cup Bids

FIFA Concedes Traded Votes in World Cup Bids

JAMES DORSEY: If Blatter’s admission is correct, those votes would account for seven of the 12 votes that won Qatar its right to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

 James M. Dorsey

Gloves Off: Blatter “Served Too Long”, Hammam

Gloves Off: Blatter “Served Too Long”, Hammam

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mohamed bin Hammam lashed out on Monday, charging that Blatter had served too long as head of soccer’s world governing body.

 James M. Dorsey

Iran Bans Women from Cinemas Showing Cup

Iran Bans Women from Cinemas Showing Cup

JAMES M. DORSEY: Khamenei and other hard-line government officials and clerics argue that the presence of women at men’s sporting events violates Islamic law.

 Steve Royston

Building Entrepreneurship in the Middle East

Building Entrepreneurship in the Middle East

STEVE ROYSTON: Creating an entrepreneurial culture in a country, as Professor Daniel Isenberg pointed out, requires determination, and a lot of money