The old cliché has it that history is written by the victors. But the victors' historians, too, are human. In an effort to write a narrative that the rest of us can follow, they pick up what we diginiks call a "thread". Until someone identifies a … [Read more...] about Hold Your Horses!
Middle East Conflicts
Syria: Obama’s Historic Retreat (Cont.)
The end of summer 2013 marked the official end of the U.S. superpower status. Were Osama bin Laden alive today, he would probably not bother to attack the U.S. Yesterday's ACD blog proved to be prescient. As anticipated, Obama, the stillborn Nobel … [Read more...] about Syria: Obama’s Historic Retreat (Cont.)
Canadian Heading MB Office in Syria
Syria's Muslim brotherhood (MB) announced on August 9, 2013, its official return to open political activity in Syria. Hassan Hachimi was named the newly elected leader of the Syrian Brotherhood. Hachimi's election was surprising because the … [Read more...] about Canadian Heading MB Office in Syria
Islamic Dawaa: The Obama Connection?
In a recent report on Egyptian television Tahani al-Gebali -- the former Chancellor of and present advisor to the Constitutional Court of Egypt -- made the astounding claim that, "the reason the United States cannot fight the international … [Read more...] about Islamic Dawaa: The Obama Connection?
How Ready is Obama to Face Assad and Iran?
The international media is rife with speculation about apossible Western intervention in response to last Wednesday's chemical attack on civilians by the Syrian government. We've had "all wind and no rain" on Syria after previous gas attacks. This … [Read more...] about How Ready is Obama to Face Assad and Iran?
The Brotherhood as Seen from Cairo and Jeddah
Cairo Islamist Clash with Society By Azmi Ashour*, Al Aharam The rapid fall in Egypt of Islamists from grace and power has ended the threat of religious authoritarianism in the country, but not respect for faiths. In mediaeval Europe, the clash … [Read more...] about The Brotherhood as Seen from Cairo and Jeddah
Another Reformist Shoe Drops in Iran
The Western media continues to extol as good news the election of Iran's "reformist" President Hassan Rowhani. Now, the U.S. and the West, still in denial about who really rules Iran (certainly not Rowhani), have been given another "sign" that Tehran … [Read more...] about Another Reformist Shoe Drops in Iran
A View from the Scorching Summer, Following the Arab Spring
The dominant country, in one of the most important regions of the world, experienced several years of tumultuous unrest, mass demonstrations, brutality, murders and chaos. This was followed by a parliamentary election, won by an extremist right wing … [Read more...] about A View from the Scorching Summer, Following the Arab Spring
The Frog and the Scorpion in the Middle East
The Obama administration's apparent focus on returning the Muslim Brotherhood to political participation in Egypt and keeping the Syrian conflict from metastasizing is deceptive. The administration's real effort is being put into making peace … [Read more...] about The Frog and the Scorpion in the Middle East
Egypt: “Mind” or “Mouth”?
It's impossible to tell whether it is an infection from the hysterical Mideast Arabic and English commentaries on radio and TV. Or is it twaddle the result of misunderstanding of the complexity of the issues? Whatever, our talking heads are more than … [Read more...] about Egypt: “Mind” or “Mouth”?