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The Great Benghazi Forgery: So Who’s Really Behind It?

Juan Cole — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:08:24 +0000

JUAN COLE: There was a sustained attempt prior to the last U.S election to portray Barack Obama first as a latter day Jimmy Carter then as a Richard Nixon figure. Who did this?

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Islam & Terror: ‘Conversations With My Young, Muslim Son’

Common Ground News Service — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:17:09 +0000

NAZISH YARKHAN, CGNEWS: 'Do people call you a terrorist?, 'How Do you Feel about the Boston bombing?' These difficult conversations are important.

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The Morality of Killing: What’s So Special About Drones?

Steve Royston — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:00:35 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: Is killing via a missile fired remotely by a drone any different morally from killing by poison gas or a nuclear weapon?

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A True Treasure Trove: Casablanca’s Vinyl Record Shops

The View From Fez — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:38:32 +0000

Vinyl records are a rarity these days and many are collectors’ items. The shop we discovered held a treasure trove of recordings from the golden age of Egyptian music. Artists such as Umm Kulthum, Abd al-Halim Hafiz, Farid al-Atrash, etc., as well as some of the foundational Moroccan musicians from the mid-twentieth century, artists like [...]

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Modesty: The Stick That’s Used to Enforce Invisibility

Shelina Zahra Janmohamed — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:01:09 +0000

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Too often modesty is used as an excuse to silence women. We must not allow this situation to continue.

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At Last: Women Enter Public Discourse in Lebanon

Common Ground News Service — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:32:41 +0000

NADIA AKL, CGNEWS: Until recently women, in spite of their clear achievements across many sectors, have been invisible in public discourse. That's changing

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Israel’s Samson Complex: Will Anyone ‘Pick Up the Phone?’

Jonathan Cook — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:39:05 +0000

JONATHAN COOK: Here we go again with another re-heated so-called peace initiative. But the foundations on which it's built are familiar and fragile

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Islamophobia is ‘Competition Racism’: A Clear Road to Fascism

Juan Cole — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:48:11 +0000

ANNE-RUTH WERTHEIM, INFORMED COMMENT: It's very important to identify and call out racism but it's equally important to understand what forces underpin it.

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Beinart v Dershowitz On Israel, Hawking and Zionism

Mondoweiss — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:57:04 +0000

MONDOWEISS: The heat surrounding Stephen Hawkin's withdrawal from a conference in Israel added heat to a debate between two prominent commentators last week

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Unsustainable: The Bell Tolls For Subsidies in Saudi Arabia

Crossroads Arabia — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:53:40 +0000

CROSSROADS ARABIA: The Herbert Stein Law runs: “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.” The tautology is starting to surface in Saudi Arabia.

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The Quirky Joy of Camel Dressage: Return to Umm Al Quwain

Alexander McNabb — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:04:17 +0000

ALEXANDER MCNABB: Not one of the UAE's tourist hotspots Umm Al Quwain has some unique pleasures and holds fond memories for us.

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Thomas Friedman in Yemen: ‘An Innocent Abroad’?

Tabsir — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:13:51 +0000

DANIEL M. VARISCO: I felt the ghost of Mark Twain speaking to me as I read about Tom Friedman's latest adventures in Yemen.

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Arab Writers at PEN: It’s Not Just About Politics

M.-Lynx-Qualey — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:18:16 +0000

M. LYNX-QUALEY: At major international writer events there seems to be an overwhelming focus on the politics of the region. Understandable but we're neglecting a fuller picture

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Persuasion, Not Laws, Needed to Encourage Spoken Arabic

Steve Royston — Sat, 11 May 2013 05:51:30 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: It's a debate with no end, apparently. How to encourage 'guest workers' to become more fluent in Arabic. Is legislation necessary?

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In China Or Israel: ‘Something There Is That Doesn’t Love a Wall’

Richard Silverstein — Sat, 11 May 2013 05:31:44 +0000

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: Benjamin Netanyahu waxed enthusiastic about the inspiration that the Great Wall of China has provided for him.

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‘Safe to Speak’ For Journalists in the Middle East? Not Yet.

Mich Cafe — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:46:08 +0000

MICH CAFE: I've personally known several journalists who have been assassinated. It's still a very dangerous occupation in the Middle East.

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Infographic: Dubai gets Inventive for Expo 2020

David Westley — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:19:08 +0000

DAVID WESTLEY: Dubai has been one of the most surprising cities in the world, rising up from the sand in a state of constant re-invention.

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Dubai’s Top 5 Restaurants: A Personal Choice

thehedonista — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:42:31 +0000

SARAH WALTON: I'm often asked what are my favourite restaurants in Dubai - well then, here they are.

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Thriving: The ‘Hate All Muslims Industry’ Is ‘In Full Flow’

Ramzy Baroud — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:14:28 +0000

RAMZY BAROUD: The anti-Muslim brigade who take to the media at every possible opportunity received another boost with the Boston bombing.

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Salalah Musings: Of Weekends, Sharks and Pantomimes

Susan Al Shahri — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:08:45 +0000

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: I'm really busy with academic commitments but there are some things in Dhofar that need to be written about

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The UAE and ‘Big Culture’: What Role For Expats?

M.-Lynx-Qualey — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:23:42 +0000

M. LYNX-QUALEY: My visit to the Abu Dhabi Book Fair caused me to muse on the issues of 'localisation' and the role that expats play in such a heavily skewed population

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New AFC Boss: The Clock is Ticking for Reform Agenda

James M. Dorsey — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:07:37 +0000

JAMES M. DORSEY: Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa immediately following his election last week pledged that he will pursue reform vigorously. Let us see.

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‘Cover Up Now’: Oman’s Islamists Target School Girls

Dhofari Gucci — Sun, 05 May 2013 12:48:06 +0000

DHOFARI GUCCI: A disturbing propaganda campaign is being spread throughout schools in Dhofar.

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Academic Pacing: It Simply Doesn’t Work in the Middle East

Abu Muhammed — Sun, 05 May 2013 11:14:43 +0000

ABU MOHAMMED: It's a system of teaching that creates more problems than it solves. It's time to call time on 'academic pacing'.

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The Rise and Rise of Solar Power: Everyone’s Getting It

Juan Cole — Sat, 04 May 2013 08:53:27 +0000

JUAN COLE: The precipitous fall in the cost of generating solar power has resulted in traditionally oil-dependent nations such as Saudi Arabia investing heavily in it for domestic power production.

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‘Sauce, Goose, Gander’: Political vs Family Ties in Public Debate

Mondoweiss — Sat, 04 May 2013 08:34:19 +0000

PHILIP WEISS, CGNEWS: Josh Landis's marriage to a Syrian Alawite was judged fair game in a discussion on his views on the political situation. Why only him?

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True Multi-Cultural Hero: The Surprise That Is St George

Shelina Zahra Janmohamed — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:08:51 +0000

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: He's been adopted by the English right-wing as a symbol of racial purity. He actually stood for nothing of the sort.

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Salafyo Costa: Confronting Religious Prejudice in Egypt

Common Ground News Service — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:12:26 +0000

SOPHIE ANMUTH, MARWA NASSER, CGNEWS: Religious prejudice has real consequences as has been seen recently in Egypt. One group confronts it head on

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Dubai’s International City: Where Freehold Isn’t So Free

Alexander McNabb — Thu, 02 May 2013 07:18:40 +0000

ALEXANDER MCNABB: If the smell of the nearby sewage disposal plant isn't enough to get your back up the introduction of new 'systems' certainly will.

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‘A Clash of Civilisations?’: It’s More a Blend in Reality

Common Ground News Service — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:07:44 +0000

MICHAEL YOUNG, CGNEWS:

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The History of Palestine: ‘We Must Seize Our Narrative’

Ramzy Baroud — Wed, 01 May 2013 08:13:59 +0000

RAMZY BAROUD: Palestine's history has traditionally been told through the prism of an accepted Israeli or Western narrative. It's time for Palestinians to tell their own story.

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Brotherhood’s Battle With Judiciary: ‘A Matter of Revenge’

Juan Cole — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:36:48 +0000

JUAN COLE: The Muslim Brotherhood's history with the Egyptian judiciary is defining how they are working, or not, with them today.

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“If You Only Ever Read Five Arabic Books, Read These”

M.-Lynx-Qualey — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:29:50 +0000

M. LYNX-QUALEY: So you've decided that there's only enough time in your life to read five Arabic books (translated). Here's a little help deciding which five.

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Expat Life: Things I Would / Would Not Miss

Steve Royston — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:57:59 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: There’s been a lot of coming and going in the Gulf. In some countries going has been more frequent than coming.

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Egypt’s Culinary Treasure: The Delight That Is Feteer

thehedonista — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:23 +0000

SARAH WALTON: How did I not know of it before? The heavenly taste of freshly baked feteer is a treat worth celebrating.

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Banished: The Man Who’s ‘Too Handsome’ For Saudi Arabia

Tabsir — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:16:47 +0000

DANIEL M. VARISCO: He's a danger to Saudi society. Women in the Kingdom must be protected from his dazzling good looks. All hail Handsome Omar!

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Therapeutic Value of Insults: Getting It Off Your Chest

Crossroads Arabia — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:04:45 +0000

CROSSROADS ARABIA: French judges could be showing all of us the way forward in dealing with the petty frustrations of daily life

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‘Cousin Marriage’ in Dhofar: Dangers Are Ignored

Susan Al Shahri — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:51:17 +0000

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: Its practice is still extremely common in the south of Oman. The obsession with keeping the tribe pure comes at a price though.

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Keeping the Balance: Qatar’s Rulers Walk Tightrope

David Roberts — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:38:40 +0000

DAVID ROBERTS: Qatar's been punching above its weight in foreign affairs but its rulers are mindful of the voices of its small local population

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Zarooni’s Hard Lesson: Don’t Mess With ‘Brand Dubai’

Alexander McNabb — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:40:35 +0000

ALEXANDER MCNABB: The success of Dubai's Godolphin Stables has been one of the pillars that has built Dubai's reputation. The doping scandal comes as a huge shock.

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Diplomacy Undone: Rice’s Disastrous Moroccan Blunder

The View From Fez — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:22:59 +0000

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: As the plot to a Hollywood movie it would have been thrown out as incredible. But fact beat fiction this week in Morocco

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A Starbucks, A Golf Course and a Pub: The ‘Guantanamo Zoo’

Ramzy Baroud — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:29:45 +0000

RAMZY BAROUD: Barack Obama promised to close Guantanamo Bay but still it remains open. And what a bizarre place it has become.

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Savvy: Young Egyptians Embrace New ‘E-Opportunities’

Common Ground News Service — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:22:57 +0000

MOHAMED EL SAYED, CGNEWS: The natural entrepreneurial spirit of many young Egyptians is being fashioned and directed in novel ways.

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“Arabs! I Hate Arabs”: An Independence Day Encounter

Mondoweiss — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:32:12 +0000

MONDOWEISS: A drunken racist comment at an ATM showed how the expression of hatred against Palestinians is accepted within Israeli society.

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“We Win or Die”: Syrian Conflict Is a Matter of Existence

Syria News Wire — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:10:48 +0000

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: A new documentary examines both sides of the conflict through the eyes of its combatants. It's a grim story.

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Obama Telephones Putin: Regional Implications of Boston

Juan Cole — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:45:56 +0000

JUAN COLE: It's clear that reverberations from the Boston bombings will spread to Chechnya and beyond. How will it impact the U.S view of Syria?

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‘The Tripoli I Know’: Shisha, Ice Cream and Friends

Common Ground News Service — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 06:51:53 +0000

AISHA HABLI, CGNEWS: It has a reputation as a place of conflict, where feuds and sectarian scores are settled. That's not my experience

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Expensive Kingdom: Why Projects Cost So Much More in KSA

Crossroads Arabia — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 06:04:46 +0000

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Corruption, nepotism, the ridiculous cost of real estate in Saudi Arabia. These are just some of the reasons projects in the Kingdom cost so much

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Saudi Student in Boston: “I Did What Everyone Else Did. I Ran”

Rob L. Wagner — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:41:25 +0000

ROB L. WAGNER: She thought is was just an accident - a pipe had fallen - but the basic human instinct to get away took over

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Boston Bombings Unleash ‘Fresh Wave of Islamophobia’

Mondoweiss — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:25:35 +0000

ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: It began even before we discovered that the two perpetrators were indeed of Muslim extraction. It's set to be very ugly again.

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Syrian Refugee And Family Receive Kindness of Strangers

Mich Cafe — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:25:31 +0000

MICH CAFE: It's a touching story that has captured hearts around the world - the story of one woman and her family's flight from Syria to Turkey

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Massacres: The Line That Leads from Deir Yassin To Gaza

Ramzy Baroud — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:50:34 +0000

RAMZY BAROUD: The telling of Palestine's recent massacres has generally been in the hands of Israeli writers and historians. Time for a change

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Good Business: The Guru Season is Now

Steve Royston — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:01:34 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: This is motivational speaker season when a stream of "gurus" come on paid gigs to bestow their wisdom $80-$150 a time.

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GCC and Korea: When Silence is not Golden

Francis Matthew — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:31:39 +0000

FRANCIS MATTHEW: It is disturbing that the crisis in North Korea is moving forward with very little comment from the Arab world.

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No World Cup in Qatar Trade Unions Demand

Editor, MEP — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:12:41 +0000

JAMES M. DORSEY: International trade unions have called on world soccer body FIFA to deprive Qatar of its right to host the 2022 World Cup.

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Boston Cool: Measured Response Required

Steve Royston — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:30:22 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: So Boston, it seems, has had its 9/11. Not on the scale of the New York attacks, of course. But the shock will be almost as deep.

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Syria’s ‘Florence Nightingales’: U.S Medics Go To Front

Common Ground News Service — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:16:24 +0000

KIRAN ANSARI, CGNEWS: Tired of watching the horror unveil on television a group of American medics have decided to take direct action

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Accept It: The Arabic Language Is Bound To Change

Crossroads Arabia — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:07:43 +0000

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Complaining about the changes that affect language is as pointless as complaining about the time the sun rises. It's ultimately pointless.

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Mumbo Jumbo in Oman: Black Magic Still A Force

Dhofari Gucci — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:18:18 +0000

DHOFARI GUCCI: I know of a recent, rather unpleasant incident which occurred in Dhofar. It's a reminder that even in the early 21st century black magic lives on in Oman

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‘Come and See A Skeleton’: Response to Issawi’s Invite

Mondoweiss — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:46:56 +0000

IRA GLUNTS, MONDOWEISS: The Palestinian hunger striker Samer Issawi sent a letter to prominent Israelis inviting them to see him in prison. There have been radically different responses.

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Egypt Division = Ongoing Despair in Gaza

Ramzy Baroud — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 07:00:04 +0000

RAMZY BAROUD: It seemed unthinkable a Muslim Brotherhood government could impose worse conditions on Gaza than Mubarak.

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‘Un-Layshed’: New Multimedia Project Targets Teens

M.-Lynx-Qualey — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 06:03:22 +0000

M. LYNX-QUALEY: A new initiative is designed to encourage teens and young adults, a notoriously unreceptive group, to discover the joy of reading.

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‘Funny, Touching, Poignant’: The Voice of Moroccan Children

The View From Fez — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:37:54 +0000

A few days ago The View from Fez wrote about a project being run by SOS Children, a UK-based international charity which supports orphaned and abandoned children worldwide. One of the interesting things about the way they operate is that their Africa project, Our Africa seeks to give young Africans the power to show Africa the way [...]

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Salalah Dining: An Experience But For All the Wrong Reasons

Susan Al Shahri — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:19:48 +0000

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: Wa-hoo, McDonald's has opened in Salalah. You're in trouble if the the fast food eatery sets the standard in your home town.

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‘Who’s The Victim Now?’: The Shame of My Holocaust Stories

Common Ground News Service — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:02:21 +0000

NOA MA'AYAN, CGNEWS: There we were, three women sitting removed from their natural environment chatting about their lives in a beautiful setting

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Interview: Catching up with Amr Diab

Rachel McArthur — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:47:32 +0000

RACHEL MCARTHUR: Amr Diab needs no introduction. The Egyptian superstar has fans everywhere from the GCC to Europe, the United States and Australia.

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From Arab Awakening to ‘Political Stupor’

Francis Matthew — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 06:05:36 +0000

FRANCIS MATTHEW: The Arab world is suffering from a lack of secular inspiration: No secular leader or thinker is inspiring the crowds.

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Margaret Thatcher, 1925 – 2013: A Life in Quotes

Editor, MEP — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:50:04 +0000

Margaret Thatcher's memorable words — from her 1979 victory, to her remarks at the end of the Falkland war, to her fight against European integration.

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Reassessing Margaret Thatcher, 1925 – 2013

Steve Royston — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:43:21 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: Margaret Thatcher was a divisive politician, and I found myself on the anti-Thatcher side of the divide.

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Mohamed Salem: ‘Time to Support Arab Comedians’

Rachel McArthur — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:59:44 +0000

RACHEL MCARTHUR: Look out for Mohamed Salem, because chances are you’re going to hear a lot more about him in the coming year.

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Al Jazeera’s Fading Arab Fortunes Lead To New Strategy

James M. Dorsey — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:45:48 +0000

JAMES M. DORSEY: Various reasons - many of them political - have led to a drop in viewership across the Arab world. Time to look elsewhere for new audiences.

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Stiff New Visa Penalties Announced in Saudi Arabia

Rob L. Wagner — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:32:45 +0000

ROB L. WAGNER: Social media channels in the Kingdom have been alive with chit chat surrounding the new visa rules.

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Turkish Cuisine: Is Dubai Ready for ‘Whirlwind Silvena’?

sarah walton — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 05:40:05 +0000

SARAH WALTON: She's a force of nature who looks as if she'll fit in perfectly. But what's her take on the glitz and glamour of Dubai?

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Applying ‘The Rumsfeld Test’ on the Kingdom

David Roberts — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 05:16:35 +0000

DAVID ROBERTS: Reading the runes of Saudi Arabia's possible succession is an art, a science and a mystery wrapped in one.

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The Inter-Connected Magic of the Medina Souk

The View From Fez — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:48:53 +0000

DEREK WORKMAN, THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Everything has its place and everyone has their role. It's an easy reality to overlook with the pace of modern life.

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The Fine Art of Political Insult, Bahrain-Style

Steve Royston — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:29:37 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: Yet another lively debate in the Bahraini parliament this week and the insults were running thick and fast. They follow in a long line distinguished (or not!) company

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Turkey’s Dilemma: Fence-Sitting Not A Viable Option

Ramzy Baroud — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:45:23 +0000

RAMZY BAROUD: Turkey's attempt to re-position itself as a fulcrum between East and West has come unstuck...

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Super Makh: ‘Fearless In the Face of Female Harassment’

Common Ground News Service — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:29:02 +0000

SOPHIE ANMUTH: A cartoon superhero is helping Egyptians confront an issue that is pervasive and corrosive in an accessible manner

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‘A Barbaric Act’: Courage Needed To Reinterpret Law

Crossroads Arabia — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:14:14 +0000

CROSSROADS ARABIA: The proposed paralysis of an individual in revenge for a criminal act ten years ago has created an international uproar. What can the Saudi authorities do?

The post ‘A Barbaric Act’: Courage Needed To Reinterpret Law appeared first on MidEastPosts.com.

Kafka Visits Cairo: Bassem Youssef’s Interrogation

Juan Cole — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:10:50 +0000

JUAN COLE: 'Explain what you meant by this punchline'. Yes, the surreal became real for Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef this week.

The post Kafka Visits Cairo: Bassem Youssef’s Interrogation appeared first on MidEastPosts.com.

High-Fashion and Islam:’Hijabinistas On the Rise’

Common Ground News Service — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:01:21 +0000

KEZIAH RIDGEWAY, CGNEWS: A spate of crimes involving burqa-clad individuals has led to a rise in hate crime but the fightback is coming from an unlikely quarter

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Asmaa’s Mecca Visit: Who Will Make It Happen?

Mondoweiss — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:51:31 +0000

WALAA AL GHUSSEIN, MONDOWEISS: Asmaa lives in a densely populated area, is dangerously ill. She dreams of Mecca...

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How Not To Marry A Child Bride And Treat Women Well

Shelina Zahra Janmohamed — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 01:24:47 +0000

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Perhaps in light of the events in Steubenville, Ohio what's needed is a simple 'How To' and 'How Not To' guide

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Scams and Expense Hitting Mecca Pilgrims in Morocco

The View From Fez — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 01:03:20 +0000

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: There has been a marked increase in the number of scams as well as increased cost, two factors hitting religious pilgrims in Morocco

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Tangled: The CIA’s Confused Middle East Web

Francis Matthew — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:16:17 +0000

FRANCIS MATTHEW: The CIA is in the position of fighting Sunni fighters in Iraq, but supporting them in Syria.

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72 Hours With Obama: He’s Israel’s BFF

Mondoweiss — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 10:47:41 +0000

MONDOWEISS: If you had a desire to see the U.S.-Israeli alliance shine, there wasn't a better place than Jerusalem last week.

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Of Pockets Picked and Broken Legs: My Neighbour’s Beliefs

Tabsir — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 06:54:36 +0000

QASIM RASHID, CHRIS STEDMAN, TABSIR: One of us is Muslim and one is an atheist but we agree on certain fundamentals concerning religion

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Game On: Turkey Fights Gulf For Sports Hub Mantle

James M. Dorsey — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:49:36 +0000

JAMES DORSEY: A battle between Turkey and the states of the Arabian Gulf to be the de-facto sports hub of the Middle East is underway

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Bahrain vs Dubai: To Live and To Do Business

Steve Royston — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:25:57 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: Two years ago I wrote about the comparative advantages of Bahrain and Dubai and came down firmly on one side. What now though?

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The King Speaks Frankly. Maybe a Little Too Frankly

Naseem Tarawnah — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:27:02 +0000

NASEEM TARAWNAH: King Abdullah's recent interview has unleashed a storm of comment. What exactly was he trying to say?

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Emirati Sci-Fi Author ‘In No Hurry’ To Translate

M.-Lynx-Qualey — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:58:27 +0000

M. LYNX-QUALEY: Noura Noman is delighted that her sci-fi novel in Arabic is appealing to primarily teenage audience starved of popular literature in their language

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‘Join Us, Israel’: A Radical Proposal for Arab League

Juan Cole — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:19:57 +0000

JUAN COLE: Throwing money at Palestine is no substitute for diplomacy so here's a radical idea to bring Israel to the negotiating table

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‘Tasty Baghdad’: Dubai’s Treasure Trove of Iraqi Eateries

sarah walton — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:34:22 +0000

SARAH WALTON: My recent experience of the dearth of interesting Middle Eastern restaurants in my home country makes me appreciate Dubai all the more

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Conformity: Don’t Get Caught In Its Snare

Alexander McNabb — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:10:47 +0000

ALEXANDER MCNABB: It stops us from challenging and fully engaging with the world around us. It's the powerful trap of conformity.

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Social Media: Looking Beyond Religion

Crossroads Arabia — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:42:39 +0000

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Too many people try to understand the Arab world by focusing solely on religion. That’s clearly important, but it’s not the whole story...

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Rachel & Rafah: A Legacy of Resistance, Pain & Death

Ramzy Baroud — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:04:54 +0000

RAMZY BAROUD: She is one of many 'martyrs' who've met their demise at the hands of troops in Rafah.

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Declining Fertility Rates ‘A Badge of Modernity’

Tabsir — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 03:41:25 +0000

ANOUAR MAJID, TABSIR: It's a phenomenon that's being observed across the Muslim world as women are marrying later and opting to have fewer children

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Iran-US Relations Thaw, Politics Continues

Francis Matthew — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 06:22:29 +0000

FRANCIS MATTHEW: A technical agreement over the nuclear dispute will only be useful if leaders on both sides want to make a deal.

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Qatar Cup Signals Wider Change to Labour Rights?

James M. Dorsey — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 05:44:34 +0000

JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar's soccer league is next month organizing the region's first cup for foreign workers' teams - and is part of an effort to improve working and living conditions in the country.

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Football: Buying into Globalised Britain

Steve Royston — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:09:55 +0000

STEVE ROYSTON: Many of their forays into football look like bouts of temporary insanity from where I stand. But then I guess it’s more fun than investing in a bank, and no more risky.

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