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Archives: Gulf

UN: Saudi Bloc attempt to close Al Jazeera attack on Freedom of Expression

UN: Saudi Bloc attempt to close Al Jazeera is attack on Freedom of Expression

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - Reuters reports that U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, is "extremely concerned by the demand that Qatar close down the…

Turkey’s Erdogan: Saudi demand he close Qatar base is ‘Disrespectful’

TeleSur | - - Erdogan told journalists after Eid al-Fitr prayers that "It (the list of demands from Qatar's neighbors to lift the ban) is a breach of Qatar's sovereignty rights." On…

How Long can Qatar defy its powerful neighbors? It depends on Trump

By Nader Habibi | (Conversation) | - - The recent decision by half the nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and a few other countries to isolate fellow member Qatar came…

Top Reasons Why Qatar Will Survive the Saudi-led Diplomatic Offensive

By Mohammed Nuruzzaman | (Informed Comment) | - - The Saudi – Qatar diplomatic rift is intensifying, showing no sign of immediate solution. Since June 5, the day Saudi Arabia, the UAE,…

Saudi v. Qatar: Will Turkish intervention cause Escalation?

By James M. Dorsey | (Inter Press Service) | - - SINGAPORE (IPS) - Turkey’s parliament is this week fast tracking the dispatch of up to 3,000 troops to Qatar, home to…

Turkey OKs draft Bill to send Troops to bolster Qatar re: Saudis

TeleSur | - - Turkey and Qatar also both supported Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated projects throughout the Arab Spring, drawing strong Saudi ire. Turkey has waded into the geopolitical storm engulfing Gulf Arab states…

Trump’s Ally: Saudi Arabia’s drive for Aristocratic Hegemony in the Middle East

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - Saudi Arabia is making a drive to become a regional hegemon. It has long used its oil wealth to achieve a great deal…

How Iran Deal Could Change the Middle East

By Benjamin Tua | (Foreign Policy in Focus) | - - Washington's rapprochement with Iran has opened the door for major realignments from Israel to Afghanistan. Similar to the dissolution of Yugoslavia…

After Vienna, Arabs, Israel seek massive conventional Arms Deals: US ready to Sell

By Thalif Deen | - - UNITED NATIONS (IPS) - The nuclear agreement concluded last week between Iran and six big powers, the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, is…

Why the Arab Gulf Oil Monarchies should Welcome Iran Deal

By Miriam R Lowi | (Via al-Araby al-Jadeed ) | - - Gulf states, long-time rivals of Tehran, should seize the opportunities for regional peace and security offered by the historic deal,…

Yemen: Saudi Airstrikes kill 58, including dozens of Women and Children

RT | (Video report) -- "Saudi-led coalition warplanes are continuing to pound Houthi targets in Yemen despite the rebels agreeing to UN-backed peace talks. The strikes have killed 58 people across the…

Richest Countries Bomb among World’s Poorest: Yemen already a Forgotten War

VICE News | (Video) | - "For more than six weeks, nine countries led by Saudi Arabia have been carrying out airstrikes on Yemen, the Arab world's poorest nation. Whole neighborhoods have…

Was that a White House- Gulf Arab Summit or an Arms Bazaar?

By Thalif Deen | (Inter Press Service) | - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry chats with Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia on Mar. 5, 2015, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,…

Why Obama is bucking Saudis, Israel on Iran: Deal would much Strengthen US Security

By Brian M Downing | (Informed Comment) | - The dialog between the US and Iran moves ahead, albeit haltingly. Opposition comes from important groups in both Tehran and Washington – as…

Saudi Arabia as the Incredible Hulk: King Salman snubs Obama’s Gulf Summit

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) -- Watching Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia nowadays, is like Kremlin-watching in the old days of the Cold War. It is not as if most…

Report: Attacks on Iraqi Women are a War Tactic

By Leila Lemghalef UNITED NATIONS (IPS) - Iraqi women continue to be subject to physical, emotional and sexual violence, according to a new report by Minority Rights Group International and Ceasefire Centre…

Middle East “Allies” decline to Commit Forces, Resources against ISIL

By Juan Cole US Secretary of State John Kerry's meeting in Jedda with ten Middle Eastern foreign ministers produced a communique on Friday, but little more. The regional states promised to do…

Iraq Crisis: It’s the Oil, Stupid!

By Michael Schwartz via Tomdispatch Events in Iraq are headline news everywhere, and once again, there is no mention of the issue that underlies much of the violence: control of Iraqi oil.…

Why you need an EV: Radicalism in Iraq Menaces the World’s most Important Oil Fields

By Juan Cole The virtual collapse of the Iraqi army and its inability to take back any territory from Sunni forces coordinated by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria brings into…

The Obama Effect? Are Iran/ Saudi-and-GCC no longer on a war footing?

(By Juan Cole) There are signs of a diplomatic thaw between Iran and the Arab oil monarchies of the Gulf. It has just been announced that the ruler of Kuwait, Sabah al-Ahmad…