The Following piece was published in Tehran Bureau: www.tehranbureau.com by MEA CYRUS in London 25 SEPTEMBER, 2010 Taste for controversy increases president’s own risks. [ comment ] There is considerable confusion as to why President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said what he did in New York, clearly suggesting that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 were a devious […]
France is facing few hard choices regarding its Muslim population. Yesterday, Five French nationals were kidnapped off the shores of Nigeria by Al-Qaeda wing in North Africa. The group claimed responsibility and expressed its clear intention of targeting France’s interest and French nationals. The group made no specific demands as of yet. This, while officials […]
The issue of Syrian cooperation with the IAEA has returned to the headlines as the UN General Assembly convenes this week. While Barak Obama’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian front, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s incendiary remarks have garnered the most attention, nuclear proliferation has also come to the fore with Syria right in the middle. In remarks […]
One of the themes that repeatedly pops up when trying to “figure out” Syria is the contrast between where Syria has been, and where it is going. You see this division everyday. Old, decrepit services fighting for space on the road with modern buses. Older, covered women sharing the sidewalks with girls in plunging neck […]
Last week, Prime Minister Hariri publicly dismissed his case against Syria in the assassination of his father. His opinion on the matter carries no formal weight, but for the people of Lebanon, Mr. Hariri’s actions are indeed significant. It was his father that was killed and if he can look past the issue in order […]
Jamal Mubarak, the eldest son of the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, is drawing political activists to the streets of Cairo. And they are not out for his support. Yesterday, adjacent to Abideen Palace, hundreds of Egyptians gathered to show their disapproval of what is looking to be preparatory statement by the ruling party of Hosni […]
To continue its freeze on settlement building, Israel is proposing a deal. Not with the Palestinians but rather with Americans. Israel is asking for the release of Jonathan Pollard, the convicted Israeli spy who received a life sentence in 1987 for turning presidential directives of the US policy towards Iran to Israel. A close aid […]
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Israel, and it appears that she did not pass up an opportunity to speak to the Israeli people. However, she used that opportunity to both say nothing and reaffirm what everyone knows — Israelis would prefer Clinton over Obama, hands down. On the saying nothing, in an interview […]
As I return to Syria after a few weeks away I have been suddenly reminded of the many challenges to Internet access here. The slow-as-molasses connections speeds, the months long process to set up home accounts, and of course the censor’s prohibition of using certain sites. As I sit in my local internet cafe I […]
Hello All! I’m sure everyone has been losing sleep over a lack of Syria posts on the FPA wall lately. An evil and cowardly computer issue combined with international bus travel has conspired to keep yours truly away from posting. Well, allow me to put all of you at ease. As of now you can […]
Nothing can smooth the relationship between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Abraham Afi louzoun, Director of the Israeli Federation of Soccer declared Israel will try and block Qatar from its bid to host the 2022 Soccer World Cup. Citing inability of Israeli fans to attend the championship, due to the animosity that they will face […]
Anyone reading this blog knows that Israelis are becoming ever-more jaded by the peace process and more conservative by the day. Anyone reading also knows that I often take a very critical view of religious intervention in public policy, even in a religious state. Well, new interesting survey results are out, and it appears that […]
Popular from Press
