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Iran: The Hundred Year War
August 19, 2009 1 min. read

[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/DigrJOaQ0EI” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Looks like a documentary worth watching on Iran.  The film unfortunately has not come out on netflix, but hopefully one of these days.

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Myths, Illusions and Peace in the Middle East
August 18, 2009 1 min. read

David Makovsky summarizes the arguments in the book he and Dennis Ross co-authored at MESH.

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The Larijanis Brothers: People to Watch Out in Iranian Politics
August 18, 2009 3 min. read
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All five Larijani brothers have made a mark in the Iranian politics.  In Will Iran’s ‘Kennedys’ Challenge Ahmadinejad?, Robin Wright writes: Over the past 30 years, the five sons of a senior cleric have been a major force in Iran’s power structure, either serving in or running for positions including the presidency and various diplomatic […]

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Roundup: Iraqis to Vote on U.S. Security Pact; Iraqi Gay Men Being Targeted in Attacks; Northern Hostilities Still Going Strong
August 18, 2009 3 min. read

The latest news in Iraq so far this week: Iraqis will have the opportunity to voice their opinion on how well the U.S. has adhered to its compromise on troop withdrawal.  Reuters reported yesterday that the Iraq Cabinet approved the vote and slated it for January 16, the same time as the Parliamentary vote.  If […]

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INSS Assessment on Fatah Conference
August 18, 2009 2 min. read

A new INSS report provides an initial examination of the recent Fatah convention and elections, which ousted numerous old guard party members from the organization’s leadership ranks. Primarily, the article focuses on the effects of the conference on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas who sought to legitimize his term in office through support at the conference. […]

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Problem with Criticizing Iran’s Human Rights Record
August 18, 2009 2 min. read

In his op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Alexander Benard urges the United States to “propose a conversation with Iran about human rights” instead of negotiating with Iran on its nuclear program.  His reasoning is simple: Focusing on Iranian nuclear program will ignite patriotism in Iranian people and they will “in large part rally […]

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Tough talk or the new Cold War?
August 17, 2009 8 min. read

The verbal sparring between Hizballah and Israel has been intensifying as of late, and it seems that every week brings a new threatening exchange between the two regional rivals. According to Danny Ayalon, Israel’s deputy foreign minister: “If, God forbid, one hair falls off the head of any Israeli representative abroad, or of even an […]

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Recession Nearing its End?
August 17, 2009 2 min. read

Figures of the second quarter released by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics provide a promising indication that the economic conditions in the country are rebounding. The Gross Domestic Product in the second quarter rose 1-percent, after dropping 1.4-percent and 3.2-percent in the previous two quarters. Moreover, the Consumer Price Index rose 1.1-percent, primarily due […]

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An Election Promise Kept
August 17, 2009 1 min. read

As discussed in my previous post, Iranian Women: Voices to be Heard, women have played a prominent role in the pre-election campaigning and the post-election protests.  All four candidates made promises to women in the election campaign, including Ahmadinejad, who spoke of empowering women.  It looks like this is one election promise that Ahmadinejad is […]

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Persian Culture and Iranian Psyche
August 17, 2009 1 min. read

There is no denying that Iran has one of the best literary heritages.  From Rumi to Hafez to Omer Khayyam to Saadi, Iran has had its share of great poets.  Though the most influential poet remains Ferdowsi, known for writing the Persian epic, the Shahnameh (known in English as The Book of Kings).  This article […]

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Check Your Visa
August 16, 2009 3 min. read

The Israeli government began issuing two different tourist visas at the border, with one granting entrance to mainland Israel and the other to Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, according to a new post on the U.S. consulate website. Previously, upon entering Israel at a border crossing, a traveller would receive a general visa for Israel and could […]

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When will Iran make the Nuclear Bomb?
August 15, 2009 3 min. read

Apparently never.  The answer comes from applying the “rational actor” game theory to this question.  Game theory is a branch of applied mathematics, often used in the social sciences, to study how people will behave in strategic situations– a situation in which an individual’s success in making decisions depends on the decisions of others (think […]

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