Op-Eds on Settlements
July 30, 2009 3 min. read

Two prominent publications ran op-eds on settlements, with one writer slamming the settler movement and another editorial board citing the Obama Administration for mismanagement of the issue. Tel Aviv University Professor Asher Susser wrote a damning op-ed in Haaretz today, condemning the settler movement for considering itself guardians of the State of Israel. The settlers […]

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Joint Iran-Russia Military Excercise a Threat to Israel
July 30, 2009 2 min. read

The Iranian and Russian governments pegged an upcoming military exercise as an anti-pollution and search and rescue operation. However, the joint maneuver, involving 30 naval units from the two countries, is likely a show of strength and joint cooperation in order to warn countries intending on striking either nation. Israel recently made its own overtures […]

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India-Pakistan: Keeping up with the Jones'
July 30, 2009 5 min. read

A meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani and Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh at the Non-Aligned Summit (NAM) resumed cooperative talks since they had stalled after the Mumbai atrocities. The summit marked a breakthrough in Indian-Pakistani relations when both sides decided to bracket issues of terrorism from future peace talks, by signing an agreement that identifies […]

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Prison Abuse Reported in Iran
July 30, 2009 2 min. read

Today both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times carried stories on the prison abuse going on in Iran.  The New York Times reported: Some prisoners say they watched fellow detainees being beaten to death by guards in overcrowded, stinking holding pens. Others say they had their fingernails ripped off or were forced […]

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Somalis Flee to Yemen
July 29, 2009 1 min. read

Rather than remain in increasingly treacherous Mogadishu, Somalis by the thousands are willing to brave the dangerous waters of the Gulf of Aden in hopes of escaping to Yemen. It seems fair to say that when Yemen seems like an appealing option, things are pretty terrible.

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Nigeria's Taliban Threat
July 29, 2009 1 min. read

Fighting in northeastern Nigeria continues as police and military clash with a radical Islamist group that claims to be “Nigerian Taliban.” At least 250 have died in the violence. These conflicts are particularly problematic for Nigeria, which is already deeply divided between fundamentalist Islamists on the one hand, who support the nationwide imposition of Sharia […]

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India launches nuclear submarine
July 29, 2009 2 min. read

India launched its first nuclear submarine, Arihant, on July 26 joining the ranks of only five other nations capable of developing their own nuclear submarines. The 6000 ton vessel is powered by an 85 megawatt nuclear reactor and is capable of firing Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM). Arihant was completed with the assistance of Russia, […]

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Review: Myths, Illusions, & Peace
July 29, 2009 6 min. read

Assumptions and a lack of patience have sunk prospects of obtaining a stable Middle East, according to a new book co-written by one of the architects of U.S. policy towards the region over the last 20-years. Myths, Illusions, & Peace, the sweeping Middle East analysis work released last month from White House Special Assistant Dennis […]

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Sore Losers, Hated Heads of State, and Kim Jong Il's BFF in the News
July 29, 2009 2 min. read

– Two of the runner-ups in July’s Indonesian presidential election, Megawati Sukarnoputri and Jusuf Kall, will challenge the election results before the nine judges of the Constitutional Court of Indonesia.  They claim the voter list contained up to 23 million duplicate names, but neither has provided any evidence to support their claims.   Although there […]

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Airport Trouble
July 29, 2009 3 min. read

Despite being born and raised in Pakistan, I must confess I know almost nothing about how this country operates. I am surprised, every day, especially if I happen to come in contact with any government agency. For example, a friend of mine left for England yesterday. I drover her to the Islamabad airport and told […]

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On the Ground in Gaza
July 29, 2009 2 min. read

New York Times Correspondent Taghreed El-Khodary describes the current situation in the Gaza Strip in an interview with Middle East Progress. Her account provides an interesting look at the mentality of many Gazans, some of which remain pleased with the overall situation because of the infrastructure set up by Hamas to provide social services. However, […]

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About That Rugby Challenge
July 29, 2009 1 min. read

Despite what you might have read, England will be hosting the 2015 Rugby World Cup. It will be nice to see the Springboks pummel the hosts on their own soil, the birthplace of the game.

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