… at least, for now. Iraq's Parliament arrived at a resolution to put off the resolution of the Kirkuk issue until later so the rest of the country can vote on time. (On time now meaning before January 31, 2009 – the squabbling over jurisdiction of Kirkuk will need to be resolved by March 2009). […]
Transparency International recently released their 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index. Iraq is in the bottom (most corrupt) 3 for the second year in a row – #178 of 180 countries. Qatar is the least corrupt Arab country, according to the table, at #28. (The US is #18). Correction: As the report is titled Corruption Perceptions Index, […]
Yesterday, Saudi Arabia's National Day, was marked by some unexpected commentary from the King and perhaps expected but still bold commentary from others. The King said: “Unfortunately, the image of Islam is being tarnished by none other than Muslims themselves,” the monarch declared. He spoke clearly and repeated the word “unfortunately” several times. “If we […]
John Nagl, co-author of the Counterinsurgency Field Manual, has an interview on the security climate in Iraq at the World Politics Review.
Khalil al Anani calls for an Egyptian feminist movement in the Daily Star.
The New York Times has another installment of their ‘Generation Faithful‘ series on youth in the Middle East. This edition focuses on Dubai, a city that “has everything money can buy, but it does not have a unifying culture or identity.” Dubai in its current form is a young city; the UAE came into being […]
Away from the political scene, but deeply influenced by it, there were recent incidents when people were injured and some lost their lives. It may not have caught the headlines outside the country, but these individuals were fighting over flags, flyer's and posters. Over symbols. Whenever I have a meeting or an interview I made […]
Yesterday's kidnapping of a dozen tourists and their Egyptian guides in southern Egypt raises three important questions whose answers have serious consequences: 1. Who did it and why? Al Jazeera English has compiled a helpful lift of attacks against tourists in Egypt since 1992. The attacks that were not isolated incidents were politically motivated, mostly […]
In an interview with BBC, General Petraeus, the outgoing commander of US troops in Iraq, states that he probably will not ever use the word ‘victory’ in discussions about Iraq. Further (and this is what I like about our military leaders), he argues that honesty is the best policy when it comes to reports about […]
The LAT reports that Iraqi (primarily Sunni) men are being held in prisons for considerable time periods (in years) without having access to counsel. This is upsetting, and counterproductive for purposes of national reconciliation/progress/peace. The US government is currently sponsoring a legal aid clinic to help secure representation for these men, but as negotiations for […]
The "Lebanese Resistance Martyrs" mass was held on Sunday in the Faoud Chehab stadium in Jounieh commemorating slain Lebanese Forces supporters. "I fully apologize for any mistakes we committed when we carried out our national duties during the war," Geagea said, adding that he asked for forgiveness from God and for those they had hurt. […]
Efforts are underway to reach a Christian-Christian reconciliation between Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and al-Marada Movement leader Suleiman Frangieh. Reconciliation efforts intensified after two people were killed and three wounded in clashes Wednesday between the LF and Marada in the town of Bsarma in the northern Lebanese province of Koura. [Naharnet] In the upcoming […]
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