After the fall of Saddam Hussein, the United States found itself battling a tough and stubborn Shiite insurgency. This resistance was led by a young militant named Muqtada al-Sadr, and before long, Middle East analysts and scholars began drawing comparisons to another Shiite resistance leader, Hizballah’s Hassan Nasrallah. Before the US-led invasion of 2003, the […]
Observers are assessing the outcome of the Secretary of State Mrs. Clinton’s trip to the Middle East. The Itinerary of the secretary was, first, the attendance of U.S.-Islamic World conference, second, stops in various Arab cities to promote and gather support for tougher sanctions against Iran. The result: mission unaccomplished. About a year ago, the […]
Sometimes I feel like I could run the show better at the Israeli Foreign Ministry than its current occupants. Last month, the Israeli government managed to apologize to Turkey after Turkish media depicted Israelis in an anti-Semitic context. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon refused to shake the hand of a Turkish ambassador, leading Israeli officials […]
In the past few days the Dubai Chief of Police released CCTV footage of a hit team that took the life of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh on January 19, 2010. This footage has sparked an international man hunt for the 11 people identified by their passport photos. Mabhouh was a senior member of Hamas and one of […]
Every year, February 11-or 22 Bahman in the Persian calendar-is celebrated with great fervor in Iran, because this is the day when the 1979 revolution succeeded in toppling the dictatorship of Western-backed shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The annual holiday is a deeply significant and symbolic date for the regime as it provides them with the […]
The video depicting the death of Neda Agha-Soltan during the June 2009 protests in Iran has won the George Polk Award for Journalism. This video is the first anonymous video to win the award.
Vice President Joe Biden is on his way to the region, making stops for meetings with Israeli and the Palestinian Authority officials. The administration has focused on shuttle diplomacy to resume peace talks and pressure Israel to halt settlement activity. Special Envoy George Mitchell has been at the epicenter of this strategy, but Secretary of […]
Presidential campaign is underway in Sudan. The president Omar al-Bashir has allowed presidential election in what observers believe is an attempt to garner support and legitimacy in the face of the International Criminal Court indictment for his role in the Darfur conflict. Coming to power after a coup in 1989, Al-Bashir is promising new measures […]
This Valentine’s Day will mark the fifth anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s death. The former Prime Minister and 22 others were killed in an explosion near the Beirut seaside on February 14, 2005. Hariri is often described as a strangely popular, larger-than-life figure in Lebanon. Making his fortune in business, Hariri’s popularity extended across sectarian lines. […]
Roger Cohen’s latest op-ed in the New York Times condemns the Obama administration and Israel for failing to achieve progress in the peace process. Even though President Barack Obama has attempted to establish a new paradigm for working with Israel and its neighbors, the administration has stumbled into the same old habits, according to Cohen. […]
Sec. of State Hillary Clinton released a statement today on the Middle East peace process after meeting with Quartet Envoy Tony Blair. Clinton reiterates the long-held U.S. position and outlines Blair’s goals, which lack shock value. The statement reads: “I spoke today with Quartet Representative Blair to discuss developments in the Middle East. This Administration has, […]
The Daily Nite Owl, a live blog from Iran has confirmed violent clashes between police and opposition protestors. 6:40 PM (Tehran Time) I will stop liveblogging now. There are still reports of small protests in Tehran and other cities, but people are largely returning home. Here’s a brief summary of the day’s events in Iran: […]
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