Middle East

Egypt is facing its severest crisis since the January-February 2011 revolution against dictator Hosni Mubarak as the country moves toward nation-wide protests on June 30. The elected president, Muhammad Morsi, has been extremely destabilizing for Egypt. His high-handed and erratic policies have polarized the country. Even many supporters of political Islam have been put off […]

Qatar

Millennials take over Qatar, but Real Change has Yet to be Accomplished

Juan Cole

The quirky Emir of Qatar since the mid-1990s, Sheikh Hamad b. Issa al-Thani, stepped down in favor of his fourth son, Tamim, 33, this morning. It is a historical step and insofar as it might form a precedent in the Gulf Cooperation Council of 6 Gulf sheikhdoms heretofore mainly ruled by old men, it is […]

al-Qaeda

The Syrian War comes to Lebanon as Sidon Explodes into Violence

Juan Cole

The Syrian civil war spilled over onto Lebanon dramatically on Sunday and again on Monday morning when violent clashes broke out between the Salafi militia of Sheikh Ahmad Asir in Sidon and the Lebanese army and Shiite Hizbullah fighters. The army maintains that the Salafis (hard line Sunni Muslims influenced by Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabism) attacked […]

Syria

Obama’s New Syria Strategy is Nixon’s Vietnam Negotiation Tactics Redux (Meyer)

Juan Cole

Carlyn Meyer writes in a guest column for Informed Comment For better or worse, Obama came of age well after the Vietnam war. Had he lived through the daily body counts, he may have stood strong against arming the Syrian opposition. The President’s new ‘strategy’ is to get enough arms to the ‘right people’ in […]

UAE

Climbing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – World’s Tallest Building (Video)

Juan Cole

Joe McNally videos the climbers climbing the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building:

Egypt

Egypt’s Morsi Provokes Anger, Astonishment with appointment of Governor from former Terrorist Group

Juan Cole

As Egyptians demonstrated against him again on Friday, in preparation for big rallies on June 30, President Muhammad Morsi has shot himself in the foot with a series of ill advised appointments of provincial governors. Morsi continues to demonstrate that he is politically tone deaf and that his decision-making takes place in a small circle […]

Iran

Iran’s New President is on a Collision Course with the Supreme Leader (Kadivar)

Juan Cole

Mohsen Kadivar writes at IslamiCommentary A key was the symbol of Hassan Rowhani’s presidential campaign, but what, if any, doors to real power will it unlock? Mohsen Kadivar “This is the victory of wisdom, a victory of moderation and a victory of commitment over extremism,” Iranian president-elect Hassan Rowhani declared on TV shortly after election […]

Morocco

The Struggle over the Qur’an in Morocco (Video report)

Juan Cole

In Morocco, as in most Muslim countries, there is a lively contest over the meaning of the Qur’an and Islam. The official government-approved Qur’an contains some commentary of a moderate, Sunni, sort, intended to combat narrow-minded Wahhabi interpretations emanating from Saudi Arabia. (The reporter confuses some technical terms here; “warsh” is not commentary but a […]

Iran

Iran’s Pres. Rouhani News Conference: Transparency on Nukes and Talks with US

Juan Cole

CNN profiles Iran’s new president Hassan Rouhani and interviews Hillary Mann Leverett: The USG Open Source Center translated the first news conference held by newly elected President Hassan Rouhani of Iran. Some excerpts are presented below, ordered in pyramid form with the most important first (out of the sequence of hte original). Iranian President-Elect Addresses […]