Latest Articles about Middle East
WILL WESTERN PRAGMATISM TOWARD MOSCOW OUTLAST THE G-8 SUMMIT?
For several months the so-called Russian backslide on democracy has dominated public discussions during the run up to the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg. Would Western leaders address the "backslide" during the July 15-17 summit? Civic and political activists opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s... MORE
ST. PETERSBURG G-8 SUMMIT: MOMENT OF TRUTH IN RUSSIA-WEST RELATIONS
Most analysts have already predicted that the summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) most industrialized nations that will convene in St. Petersburg on July 15-17 will likely be long on pomp and short on content. But this does not mean that the high-profile meeting... MORE
Jihadis Adapt to Counter-Terror Measures and Create New Intelligence Manuals
Islamist websites are filled with security manuals and training information for jihadi militants. These manuals are often posted on forums sympathetic to violent Islamists, and the visitors to the forums are able to ask questions to different jihadi security experts regarding fighting tactics and intelligence... MORE
Russia Threatens Hit-Squads after Murder of its Diplomats in Iraq
The brazen Baghdad kidnapping of four Russian embassy employees took place on June 3, only 400 meters from the Russian embassy. Violating the security protocols of the embassy, an embassy vehicle stopped at a local grocery store (on an unauthorized alcohol run, according to Kommersant... MORE
The Resiliency of Yemen’s Aden-Abyan Islamic Army
Yemen has had a long reputation of producing fighters for foreign wars. This tradition, as the current trial of a number of Yemenis for traveling to Iraq to fight illustrates, is still intact (al-Hayat, June 4). The 1980s were no exception, as Yemen contributed a... MORE
FRADKOV PROPOSES MULTIPLE JOINT VENTURES WITH MONGOLIA
During a visit to Mongolia this week, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov reiterated earlier pledges to strengthen economic ties with Ulan-Bator, once Moscow's closest ally in Asia. Russia and Mongolia can achieve a breakthrough in trade and economic ties, Fradkov said. Both sides have drafted... MORE
Iraqi Insurgent Groups Respond to al-Maliki’s Reconciliation Initiative
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki hopes to put an end to the terrorism that has enveloped Iraq by offering a comprehensive national security plan. The plan was announced on the heels of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death by a coalition air strike. A key component of... MORE
Florida African-American Group Inspired by al-Qaeda Ideology
On June 23, seven members of the obscure Seas of David group were arrested by federal and local security officials in a low-income housing project in the Liberty City section of Miami and in Atlanta. The arrests were part of a four month operation and... MORE
EVERYTHING READY FOR A CONTENT-FREE G-8 SUMMIT
The final countdown to the 2006 G-8 summit has begun. After months of heated debates, miles of memos, and tons of paperwork, after many rounds of preparatory talks among shrewd “sherpas” and many moments of hesitation about whether to boycott the event or just skip... MORE
SIBERIA HOSTS MAJOR MILITARY EXERCISE, BUT KOREAN MISSILE TESTS SUGGEST FLAWED PLANNING
Russia's Siberian military district held major war games this summer, officially to explore avenues for military reform as well as better ways to confront terrorism. However, the simultaneous North Korean missile tests provided a stark reminder that Russia’s eastern region could face far graver challenges... MORE