Latest Articles about Middle East
CASPIAN ENERGY PROJECTS: “TIME TO ADVANCE FROM TALKING TO ACTING”
Russia’s monopolistic agreements on energy transit, signed in rapid succession with three Central Asian countries and Austria (see EDM, May 14, 16, 17, 29, 31) sent yet another wake-up call in Washington, sending U.S. officials urgently to assess the situation in the Caspian region. The... MORE
ANTI-AMERICANISM IN PUTIN’S EUROPEAN MANEUVERING
Russian President Vladimir Putin has pursued a rather unconventional strategy preparing for the G-8 summit to be held in Heiligendamm, Germany, later this week. He held a series of meetings with the leaders of smaller European states that prefer to stay clear of the quarrels... MORE
NEW RUSSIAN MISSILES MAY REVEAL INTENT OF EAST-WEST PARTNERSHIP
This week Russian President Vladimir Putin once again expressed the Kremlin's utter rejection of U.S. plans to base missile defense units in Europe. Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, Putin announced, "We are against turning Europe into a... MORE
U.S., EU ENERGY POLICIES IN EURASIA COLLAPSE
Insofar as they existed since 2001 (on the part of the United States) or since 2006 (on the part of a come-lately EU), Western energy policies in Eurasia collapsed in May 2007. During this month, Russia seems to have conclusively defeated all Western-backed projects to... MORE
Jihadis Post Scenario for the Defeat of the United States
On May 14, jihadi forum users Abu Kandahar and Roslan al-Shami posted a five-point scenario for the collapse of the United States and the rise of the Islamic ummah, entitled, "The Next Strikes in the Heart of America, When and How." It appeared on the... MORE
Al-Qaeda’s Media Doctrine: Evolution from Cheerleader to Opinion-Shaper
Al-Qaeda has always regarded media work as a key weapon in its arsenal, although the group has no claim to originating the use of the media as a weapon for the mujahideen. The Afghan Islamist insurgent organizations—especially Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hezb-e-Islami and Ahmad Shah Masoud Jamiat-e-Islami—ran... MORE
Saudi Authorities Crack Down on Forgery Networks
In recent weeks, there has been a vigorous publicized crackdown on document forgery and identification counterfeiting in Saudi Arabia. Such criminal offenses in the kingdom have largely been committed by people working illegally or avoiding deportation. On a number of occasions, however, al-Qaeda militants have... MORE
Outbreak of Fighting in Lebanon Portends Violence to Come
The fighting which broke out recently between Islamist militants and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Barid had been widely predicted. This is not the first fighting to take place between militants from the Palestinian camps and the LAF,... MORE
Expansion of Yemen’s Refining Capacity Raises Terrorism Concerns
On May 16, the Yemeni-Gulf Oil Services Company (YGOSC) announced its intention to build a refinery in the Ras Essa area of Hodeidah Province on the Red Sea coast. Scheduled for completion in August 2009, YGOSC expects the project to increase its refining capacity by... MORE
GAZPROM ACHIEVES AN ANSCHLUSS OF AUSTRIA
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s May 23-24 visit to Austria laid the ground for that country’s integration into Gazprom’s rapidly expanding network of dependencies. By the same token, it dealt a coup de grace to the Nabucco project for alternative gas supplies to Austria and Europe.... MORE