Latest Articles about Middle East
A Mujahideen Bleed-Through From Iraq? Part Two – A Look at Lebanon
Lebanon always has been a country whose people are more loyal to family, clan, tribe, and faith than to the concept of Lebanon as a united nation-state. Since 2003, this existing internal divisiveness has been sharpened by the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq and... MORE
EU’S French Presidency Rushes Partnership Talks with Moscow
In St. Petersburg on October 28 French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner gave the green light for a quick resumption of EU-Russian negotiations on a new partnership agreement. Kouchner spoke on behalf of the European Union’s French presidency and was flanked in St. Petersburg... MORE
FRANCE READY TO LEAP ON THE SOUTH STREAM BANDWAGON
French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner said on October 28 that France, the current holder of the EU presidency, was interested in both the Nabucco and South Stream gas projects and was willing to join either. Kouchner suggested, moreover, that Russia be included in... MORE
Destruction of Turkish Outpost by PKK Leads to Counterterrorism Reforms
Click Here for a Interactive Map The PKK’s October 3 attack on the Aktutun military outpost sparked a controversy over whether Turkish counterterrorism strategy is on the right track. In its three decades old battle against the PKK, the Aktutun attack marked the first time... MORE
Is al-Qaeda Seeking Allies in Latin America?
U.S. officials have warned of a real danger Islamist extremists could form alliances with wealthy and powerful Latin American drug lords to launch new terrorist attacks against the United States. According to recent remarks made by Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis in the U.S.... MORE
Rumors of Assassination Attempt on Shaykh Nasrallah as Hezbollah Reconciles with Opponents
During the past week a rumor that Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Shaykh Hassan Nasrallah had survived a poisoning attempt quickly spread in both regional and global media. The report was originally disclosed by Iraqi website Almalaf on October 22. According to Almalaf, Hezbollah’s leader was in critical... MORE
RUSSIA, CHINA ESTABLISH STRONGER ECONOMIC TIES
Leaders of Russia and China hailed what they described as a bilateral strategic partnership, while the countries’ state-run energy giants are struggling to work out a compromise on energy prices. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, following a meeting in Moscow with his Chinese counterpart Wen... MORE
ECONOMIC “HAPPY TALK” FAILS TO SWAY DOUBTERS
Following on the heels of two of Russia’s top economic officials, the country’s top two leaders (readers can decide for themselves which is No. 1) have made statements aimed at calming the fears of both ordinary Russians and foreign investors. With the ruble having lost... MORE
MEDVEDEV’S ADDRESS IS RETURNED FOR REVISIONS
A major presidential performance had been scheduled for last week in the Kremlin, but it was postponed indefinitely at the last possible moment and without any convincing explanation. President Dmitry Medvedev was due to present his first annual address to the Federal Assembly on October... MORE
OFFICIALS OFFER REASSURANCES, BUT SOME FEAR A REPEAT OF 1998
In interviews over the weekend, top Russian economic officials sought to downplay fears that the global financial crisis would lead to a devaluation of the ruble and other dire consequences for Russia. Some observers, however, say Russian officials are playing down what lies ahead, and... MORE