Latest Articles about Middle East
RUSSIAN EXPERTS DIVIDED OVER CLAIMS TO ARCTIC CONTINENTAL SHELF
As Russia staked a high-profile claim to the seabed under the Arctic Ocean, the country’s experts remain divided over the venture’s relevance. The liberal Nezavisimaya gazeta newspaper cited experts as saying that Russia’s polar venture did more harm than good. The expedition actually damaged Russia’s... MORE
Abu Yahya al-Libi: Al-Qaeda’s Theological Enforcer – Part 2
Today, the most lethal strategic danger to al-Qaeda's viability and goals is the same as when Osama bin Laden declared war on the United States in 1996: the threat of a premature, worldwide intra-civilizational conflict between Sunni Muslims and Shiites. Bin Laden has always kept... MORE
PKK Arms Scandal Fuels Turkish Suspicions
U.S. policy in Kurdish northern Iraq seems to be in flux, reflecting differences within the U.S. administration and the growing bitterness in U.S.-Turkish relations since Turkey prohibited the movement of U.S. troops through its territory during the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. Claims last spring... MORE
MOSCOW LOOKS FOR OPENING TO PLAY SOLO IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN “QUARTET”
In the recent weeks, Russia has been remarkably self-assertive, suspending its participation in the CFE Treaty and sinking its flag in the North Pole, staging large-scale strategic exercises and putting gas pressure on Belarus. In the Middle East, however, Moscow has preferred to keep a... MORE
Investigation Reveals Ties Between Turkish al-Qaeda and Iraq
A firefight with U.S. military forces on June 23 near the town of Hawija in northern Iraq exposed the presence of Turkish al-Qaeda operatives. It also revealed their probable role in facilitating a flow of jihadis to Al-Qaeda in Iraq on behalf of al-Qaeda, as... MORE
RUSSIA TIGHTENS CONTROL OVER SAKHALIN-1 OUTPUT
On August 2, during a meeting of a special government commission, the Russian government formally notified Sakhalin-1 consortium stakeholders that they should prioritize the domestic delivery of all natural gas to the Russian Far East, according to a statement from the Russian Industry and Energy... MORE
LUKOIL SEEKING RETURN TO IRAQ WITH RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
On August 8-9, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani encouraged the Russian government and companies to return to Iraq’s oil industry. He conferred with Lukoil president Vagit Alekperov, whose company hopes to return to the West Qurna-2 project in Iraq. Shahristani also held talks in Moscow... MORE
RUSSIAN ADMIRAL ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS NAVAL BUILD-UP
President Vladimir Putin appointed Admiral Vladimir Masorin commander of the Russian Navy in 2005. This year Masorin will turn 60 and, under Russian law, he must retire from active service. However, top generals and admirals may continue to serve in high command positions until age... MORE
RUSSIAN FLAG STAKES ENERGY CLAIM AT NORTH POLE
Russia made big international waves last week with a successful Arctic expedition that combined scientific and geopolitical goals. The research ship Akademik Fedorov and the nuclear icebreaker Arktika left Murmansk on July 24 and on August 2 reached their destination – the North Pole, now... MORE
RUSSIA’S BLACK SEA FLEET PLANS FORCE BUILD-UP AT NOVOROSSIYSK
Admiral Vladimir Masorin, commander-in-chief of Russia’s naval forces, announced ambitious plans to expand the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s forces and missions during his just-completed visit to the fleet’s main base at Sevastopol in Ukraine. The plans focus on developing Novorossiysk as a major naval base... MORE