"A wolf in sheep’s clothing: While Qatar strengthens economic ties with the U.S., its policy of supporting Hamas has advanced moves that could have led to the creation of an Islamic Middle East, resembling the Islamic State of ISIS, hostile to the … [Read more...] about How Qatar’s Policy Endangers U.S. Interests in the Middle East
Qatar
US Intervention Lets Qatar Off the Hook*
When Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt broke diplomatic relations with Qatar and imposed various sanctions on that minuscule but incredibly wealthy emirate, they presented the Qatari government with thirteen "non-negotiable" demands.The … [Read more...] about US Intervention Lets Qatar Off the Hook*
Paris Accord – a distraction*
The international furor over US withdrawal from the environmental agreement is obscuring genuinely significant developments in our region. In several previous columns, I have emphasized important news and developments that have been largely … [Read more...] about Paris Accord – a distraction*
Increasing Militarization of the Middle East *
Left: Definition of Middle Eastern countries: Central Intelligence Agency Recent developments in the Middle East show a disturbing trend to add to all the other disturbing trends that have emerged in the region since the "Arab Spring" began in 2011. … [Read more...] about Increasing Militarization of the Middle East *
Obama’s Millennial Problems
President Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address to Congress, along with calling Ukraine a Russian "client state", which infuriated the Ukrainians, referred to conflicts in the Middle East "...that date back millennia" It's not clear what … [Read more...] about Obama’s Millennial Problems
The Volcano of Islamic Terrorism*
Terrorism has dominated the history of Islam, as demonstrated by the murder of three of the first four caliphs who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad: Umar ibn Abd al-Khattab (644 C.E.), Uthman Ibn Affan (656 C.E.) and Ali ibn Abi Talib (661 C.E.). … [Read more...] about The Volcano of Islamic Terrorism*
The Middle East Poker*
Left:U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and foreign ministers from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Europe in Vienna, November 14, 2015 in a bid to step up diplomatic efforts to end the four-year-old conflict … [Read more...] about The Middle East Poker*
Qasem Soleimani – A Portrait*
Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' ((IRGC) Qods Force, is "the instigator of Iranian subversion and terrorism in the Middle East and around the Globe," writes. Dr. Raz Zimmet*, who studied … [Read more...] about Qasem Soleimani – A Portrait*
Weekly Briefing, May 2-9, 2015
U.S. Counterterrorism at Risk - Rachel Ehrenfeld - Three days after American jihadists Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi’s attempted to kill the participants of the Mohammed Cartoon competition in Garland, Texas, was foiled, Defense Secretary Ash Carter … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing, May 2-9, 2015
Syria breaking up – Lebanon next?*
Left - Members of al Qaeda's Nusra Front in Lebanon. The already extremely complex Middle East may be on the verge of becoming even more so. At this point, the Sh'ia northern arc of Iran, Iraq, Assad and Hezbollah is in confrontation with the … [Read more...] about Syria breaking up – Lebanon next?*