In a thought provoking essay titled "The P-Word" published in the American Thinker blog, Ben Cohen offers a précis of the history of a multi-ethnic multi-cultural Middle East. He suggests that a solution to the present Syrian cataclysm would be "to … [Read more...] about Northeastern Syria; The Kurdish Minority and The Oil Card
Muslim Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood’s Ongoing Violence in Cairo & Sinai
While the world's attention is on Obama's twists and turns on Syria, there are important developments in Egypt. It appears that the military, with help from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, is busy successfully suppressing the Muslim … [Read more...] about The Muslim Brotherhood’s Ongoing Violence in Cairo & Sinai
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?
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
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”?
The “New Democratic Normal” – The Muslim Brotherhood
As with so many other issues, U.S. policy and diplomacy ("dim-plomacy"?) of the handling of post-Morsi Egypt is reaching to a new low. The Jerusalem Post reported on August 6, that President Obama will meet with representatives of Egypt's Muslim … [Read more...] about The “New Democratic Normal” – The Muslim Brotherhood
Needed: Intelligence Quality Control
When the only way to save Americans diplomats is by closing the embassies and air-lifting the staff out under the cover of darkness, it is clear that the intelligence systems have failed. Had proper methods to filter, synthesize, and analyze the … [Read more...] about Needed: Intelligence Quality Control