Tag Archives: Middle East

Juan Cole Identifies the Top Ten Good Stories from the Middle East for 2008

Iraqi ParliamentTop Ten Good News Stories in the Muslim World, 2008 (That Nobody Noticed)By Juan Cole / January 1, 2009 We all too often focus only on negative developments, and while it is understandable for people to keep their eyes … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hamas Rockets, Smart Bombs and Israeli Politics

‘Even smart bombing is bound to cause civilian casualties and much of the Israeli bombing is less than smart. So, of course, when the body count of Palestinian civilians exceeds the body count of Israeli civilians (as it always does) … Continue reading

Posted in Rag Bloggers | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fisk: Obama Needs More Than Empty Rhetoric for Lasting Progress in the Middle East

A Palestinian demonstrator holding a Palestinian flag flees as an Israeli soldier holds a position behind him. Photo: GETTY.How can anyone believe there is ‘progress’ in the Middle East?By Robert Fisk / December 27, 2008 A test of Obama’s gumption … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

New Gaza War : The Neighborhood Bully Strikes Again

“A loud-mouthed bully?”: Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem December 21, 2008. Photo by Gali Tibbon / Pool / Reuters.‘Once again, Israel’s violent responses, even if there is justification for them, exceed all proportion … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Israel Coiled for Potential Iran Strike

‘While its preference is to coordinate with the US, defense officials have said Israel is preparing a wide range of options for such an operation.’By Yaakov Katz / December 4, 2008 The IDF (Israel Defense Forces)is drawing up options for … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Arabs Are Skeptical Since Obama Appointed Rahm

Obama inspires Arab dreams – and despairBy Hasan al Subaihi / November 19. 2008 Shabaan Abdel Raheem is a popular Egyptian singer who has developed a style inherited from the musicians of the Egyptian countryside. Abdel Raheem worked as a … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Much Work to Do to Bring Peace to the Middle East

MIDEAST: For Peace, the U.S. Will Have to ChangeBy Cherrie Heywood / November 5, 2008 RAMALLAH, West Bank – Barack Obama has been elected U.S. President at a time when the number of extremists has risen dramatically since the U.S. … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

And Obama and McCain Really Think They’re Going to Win in Afghanistan

Why does the US think it can win in Afghanistan?By Robert Fisk / September 20, 2008 The Taliban are better trained, and – sad to say – increasingly tolerated by the local civilian population Poor old Algerians. They are being … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Dealing a Blow in the Oil and Gas Markets

Russia takes control of Turkmen (world?) gasBy M K Bhadrakumar From the details coming out of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan and Moscow over the weekend, it is apparent that the great game over Caspian energy has taken a dramatic turn. In … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Settling International Disputes by Peaceful Means

End the Occupation of Iraq — and Afghanistanby Marjorie Cohn / July 29, 2008 So far, Bush’s plan to maintain a permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq has been stymied by resistance from the Iraqi government. Barack Obama’s timetable for … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

BushCo Is Desperate for Results, Even in Failure

The M.E.K. [the Mujahideen-e-Khalqhas, Iranian dissident group] has been on the State Department’s terrorist list for more than a decade, yet in recent years the group has received arms and intelligence, directly or indirectly, from the United States. Some of … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Brewing Storm in Northern Iraq

Vetoing the law came after protests by Kurdish and some Shiite MPs, who boycotted the vote over a secret ballot on Kirkuk’s provincial council seats. (Reuters photo)Election Law Polarizes KirkukBy Afif Sarhan / July 24, 2008 KIRKUK — The controversial … Continue reading

Posted in RagBlog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment