Latest Articles about Middle East
Bin Laden Seizes Opportunities in his June and July Speeches
Osama bin Laden's speeches on June 30 and July 1 are notable because they portray his confidence and focus, command of the al-Qaeda organization and steady application of a strategy that seeks to prompt U.S. actions that spread U.S. military and intelligence forces in a... MORE
Statement to the Saudi Mujahideen Summons Iraq Returnees
On June 30, a media organization called al-Basha'ir (The Glad Tidings) issued a statement on the Lahdud forum (https://www.la7odood.com/vb) entitled, "who we are, what we want and what our relation is to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula." Such media services have arisen in other arenas... MORE
RUSSIA TURNS THE OTHER CHEEK ON NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCH
Moscow’s muted reaction to North Korea’s missile launches on July 4 comes as somewhat of a surprise. North Korea endangered Russian commercial vessels, the Russian Navy in the Sea of Japan, and Russian citizens in the Far East. Its calm response to the missile tests... MORE
GAZPROM EYES CENTRAL ASIA IN ITS DRIVE TOWARD “GLOBAL MARKET LEADERSHIP”
Russia's natural gas giant Gazprom has plans to expand to Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Iran in pursuit of “global market leadership,” Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller announced at the company's annual shareholders meeting on June 30. Gazprom is exploring hydrocarbon reserves in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and... MORE
WHAT “HOLY ALLIANCE” DOES PUTIN WANT TO AVOID?
Kidnappings and executions in war-torn Iraq are hardly a novelty, but last month Moscow had its first brush with the problem. On June 3, one Russian diplomat was shot dead and four others kidnapped; on June 19, the Mujahideen Shura Council, a grouping linked to... MORE
GAZPROM’S SEGP PROJECT, ROSUKRENERGO CONFLICT WITH EU PRIORITIES IN HUNGARY
One day before U.S. President George W. Bush’s recent visit to Hungary, that country’s Economics Minister Janos Koka and Gazprom chairman Alexei Miller signed on June 21 non-binding agreement that could open the way for Gazprom’s expansion via Hungary deeper into European Union territory. Hungarian... MORE
RUSSIA’S EVOLVING CHECHNYA STRATEGY: MANAGED NORMALITY
Russia’s current campaign strategy in Chechnya relies on security agencies and the local government to the region as having a normal, controlled security environment. Russian security structures operating in Chechnya continue to find large weapons caches, making much of the attending publicity to show that... MORE
Violence and Rebellion in Iranian Balochistan
The escalating insurgency in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan and neighboring regions receives extensive media coverage. Aside from the need to root out radical Islamist opposition movements tied to al-Qaeda and the Taliban, Pakistan faces a series of domestic threats based on ethnic, sectarian and... MORE
Jihad Without Rules: The Evolution of al-Takfir wa al-Hijra
The September 11 attacks precipitated the uncovering of extensive al-Takfir wa al-Hijra (Excommunication and Exile) networks across Europe specialized in logistical support to terrorist groups. While the obscure group had been previously encountered by law enforcement, many were surprised at the extent and reach of... MORE
CSTO SUMMIT: MILITARY BLOC NOT YET CEMENTED
Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Alexander Lukashenka of Belarus, Robert Kocharian of Armenia, Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan, Imomali Rahmonov of Tajikistan, and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan met on June 23 in Minsk for a dual summit of the Collective Security Treaty... MORE