Month: December 2013

One of the most influential Saudi Arabian princes, Turki al-Faisal – the former Saudi intelligence chief who clearly reflects the Saudi royal government’s view – recently criticized President Barack Obama for weakness in the Middle East. Although not friendly with Saudi Arabia, the Israeli government is similarly disenchanted with Obama’s regional performance. Prince Turki’s comments … Continue reading “Ignore Saudi and Israel Goading for Mideast Warmongering”

There’s no question what the big foreign policy issue for the Obama administration is going to be in 2014: Iran. How the US navigates the small space between war and peace in the volatile Middle East is going to determine the fate of our overextended and nearly bankrupt empire, and Tehran – the epicenter of … Continue reading “The Big Issue of 2014: Iran”

At least 35 people were killed and 34 more were wounded in today’s violence. Clashes continued in Anbar province, while Baghdad was vexed with a number of attacks.

Kabul, Afghanistan is "home" to hundreds of thousands of children who have no home. Many of them live in squalid refugee camps with families that have been displaced by violence and war. Bereft of any income in a city already burdened by high rates of unemployment, families struggle to survive without adequate shelter, clothing, food … Continue reading “Afghan Street Children Beg for Change”

At least 45 people were killed today, and another 122 were wounded across. Iraq. Clashes related to a security operation took place in three Anbar province towns. Scattered violence occurred across central and northern Iraq.

I’m feeling a bit out of sorts today – actually, quite rocky – so what you’re reading isn’t an actual column. However, I just want to note for the record that the big story everyone is talking about – the New York Times piece detailing the real on-the-ground story of what happened in Benghazi – … Continue reading “You Read It Here First”

No one who watches global events could forget the January 2011 democracy protests in Cairo, so big and massive that Western mainstream media were sending reporters in droves. For days, we watched in awe as young Egyptians took to the streets in their major cities, literally putting their lives on the line for a new … Continue reading “2013: The Year Democracy Caught a Cold”

As has been widely reported, the American Studies Association, the umbrella organization of academics devoted to the study of US literature, history and culture, recently voted to join the movement to boycott Israeli academic institutions. In the days since that historic vote, numerous high-profile US supporters of the Jewish state have vehemently decried the scholarly … Continue reading “Israel Has Been ‘Singled Out’ in the US for a Very Long Time”

At least 29 people were killed and 55 others were wounded in attacks that targeted mostly Iraq security forces.

At least 33 people were killed and 52 more were wounded in fresh violence. In the most chilling event, Iraqi forces arrived at the home of a member of parliament to arrest him.