Left: Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi addressing Islamic scholars at al-Azhar university in Cairo, December 22, 2015. Two Muslim Presidents. Two speeches celebrating the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s birth. Two very different … [Read more...] about Sisi and Rouhani on Crisis in Islam
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Malaysia: Over the Edge?
Southeast Asia’s multi-ethnic player, Malaysia, with its carefully balanced Malay majority but dynamic Chinese and Indian minorities, is in crisis. A lack of resolution could not only jeopardize the country’s 30 million people but destabilize the … [Read more...] about Malaysia: Over the Edge?
Dancing with Tyrants*
Left: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal. The communist leadership of China; President Putin of Russia; Turkey’s Erdogan, King Salman of Saudi Arabia. Should Israel deal with such regimes? They are all wholesale … [Read more...] about Dancing with Tyrants*
Abbas’ Belligerent “Christmas Message”
Left: The Christmas tree in Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, December 2015 In his “Christmas Message", like Arafat before him, PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas portrayed Palestinian terrorists as victims of Israeli … [Read more...] about Abbas’ Belligerent “Christmas Message”
Characteristics of Palestinian “Popular Activists” Confronting the IDF (Oct 3 – Nov 22, 2015)
Left: Cartoon from the website of Fatah's information unit accusing Israel and the United States of executing Palestinian children (website of Fatah's information department, December 12, 2015). The latest ongoing Palestinian terrorist attacks … [Read more...] about Characteristics of Palestinian “Popular Activists” Confronting the IDF (Oct 3 – Nov 22, 2015)
Iran to Increase its Involvement in Syria
Growing Iranian involvement in the war in Syria is about to be officially requested by Basher Assad in Tehran later this month. To assure his safe arrival in and departure through Iraqi airspace, his plane will be guarded by "four strategic Russian … [Read more...] about Iran to Increase its Involvement in Syria
Conversion to Islam – a Personal Story
A fearful twist on the boy meets girl story: Except this time it is a Muslim girl. No, she was not the one in the terrorist murders of 14 people in San Bernardino. But she was a smart, beautiful. fanatic Pakistani Muslim from a wealthy, … [Read more...] about Conversion to Islam – a Personal Story
No Brexit please!*
There’s not much good news from Europe these days. It’s clear that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has bitten off more than she can chew with her big, big welcome mat for any and all migrants. The Hungarians and the Poles have different ideas, don’t … [Read more...] about No Brexit please!*
U.N. Resolution Will Not Stop ISIS Funding
Left: Security Council first ever meeting at Finance Ministers’ level. UN Photo/Evan Schneider Today’s U.N. Security Council’s resolution to curb the funding of ISIS is essentially the same as resolution 2199 that was adopted earlier this year, and … [Read more...] about U.N. Resolution Will Not Stop ISIS Funding
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*