Is Syria The New Libya?
After the relatively peaceful revolution in Tunisia, many were shocked by the escalated violence utilized by the Mubarak regime in Egypt. Yet after the vicious response to protests by Qaddafi in Libya, hindsight has perhaps redefined the definition of a peaceful revolution. Rather than adopting the mass protest styles that resulted in regime collapse in … Read more
Guest Post: Will Parties Solve Jordan’s Political Glitches?
I’m fascinated by Jordanian politics, particularly in terms of the role that political parties play in the country. To a foreigner such as myself, the IAF, the Communist Party, and the dozen or so other political groups active in Jordan all take on a sort of captivating mystique. You know they’re there, but you can’t … Read more
Clinton: Intervention in Syria? Are You Crazy?
As the unrest continues in Syria, with upwards of 55 people killed by the Syrian security forces, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has ruled out intervention in the country. Clinton says that a number of US Congress members view Assad as a reformer and that intervention would thus be counterproductive. Take out the fact that … Read more
Quick Notes on Saudi Arabia
While all the hoopla has continued throughout the Middle East, Western media has focused (as have I) in on the situation in Libya, as it is more a war zone than a simple sea of turmoil. Consequently, protests and uprisings in other countries have been left alone. Michael Collins Dunn reminds us of the revolutionary … Read more
International Intervention on Crazy Qaddafi?
Over the last three days Colonel Qaddafi has given two speeches and his supposedly sane son Seif gave one of his own. The latest Qaddafi tirade was disturbing and humorous. Talking to perhaps fifteen people, Qaddafi crowed on about hallucination pills, talked about himself in third person and more often than not seemed genuinely lost. Here in … Read more
What is America Doing?
After Hosni Mubarak resigned after thirty years of American supported dictatorial rule, US President Obama made a speech glorifying democracy and freedom. Unfortunately for Obama and the American dominated power system in the region, the hypocrisy of supporting the Egyptian people after snubbing their rights for thirty years is only highlighting the sustainability of America’s seemingly poorly … Read more
Egyptian Waves in Palestine
The democratic tsunami in the Middle East that started in Tunisia and gained incredible momentum in Egypt is now inundating the cities of Sudan, Algeria, Yemen, Iran, Bahrain, and Jordan. Is it possible that the revolutions and protests that are “plaguing” the Middle East will reach Palestine? The Palestinian Authority, much like Israel, was initially very … Read more
Like Frogs That Refuse To Jump Out Of A Pot Of Hot Water
America is losing its grip on the Middle East. This, of course, has been apparent for a while now to those who spend their free time tracking the rise of the resistance movement or the sandy foundations of American regional policy. The rise of Hezbollah (vis-a-vis March 14) and Hamas (vis-a-vis Fatah) as well as the … Read more
Abbas: The New Mubarak?
The clashes in Tahrir Square over the past 24 hours are a clear sign of the desperation of a faltering, falling regime. Pro-government ‘protesters’ arrived at Tahrir Square yesterday and initiated clashes with the protesters demanding Mubarak’s resignation. The pro-Mubarak forces apparently rode in on camels and horses, wielding sticks, rocks, knives and swords, attacking … Read more
The Spread of Natural Change?
Not to harp on the idea of some sort of revolutionary fever catching hold in the Middle East after Tunisia popular upheaval, but I came across two articles today that made me wonder if Tunisia has the potential to mark the beginning of some sort of longer-term change in the way Middle Eastern autocrats rule … Read more
