Latest Articles about Middle East
IRAN BLAMES “FOREIGN POWERS” FOR RECENT ETHNIC UNREST
Last week’s protests by Azeris in several major cities of Iran caught official Tehran off guard. Based on their response, Iranian officials fear domestic unrest could destabilize the ruling regime in Tehran. Leaders were quick to play up ethnic harmony inside Iran and argue that... MORE
MOSCOW GROOMS ACCUSED TERRORIST GIORGADZE FOR ROLE IN GEORGIA
The Russian government has announced its decision to grant political asylum to Igor Giorgadze, former chief of Georgia's state security, the presumed organizer of the 1995 assassination attempt that injured then-president Eduard Shevardnadze in the State Chancellery in Tbilisi. Indicted in Georgia on terrorism charges... MORE
RUSSIA, EUROPE DRAW BATTLE LINES IN THEIR DISPUTE OVER ENERGY
After the discussions at the latest Russia-European Union summit laid bare the growing disagreements between Moscow and the European bloc over how to guarantee "energy security" to the Old Continent's countries, the leaders of the pro-Western GUAM grouping (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) launched an initiative... MORE
RUSSIAN REGIONS CONTINUE TO RESIST KREMLIN CENTRALIZATION POLICY
On May 14, Sergei Mironov, speaker of the Federation Council, dismissed four members of the upper house of the Federal Assembly. The sacked MPs represented one northern and two Siberian regions (Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and Khakassia) and one region in the Far... MORE
Al-Qaeda Doctrine: The Eventual Need for Semi-Conventional Forces
Earlier in 2006, Terrorism Focus published three articles on al-Qaeda's doctrine for what the United States government has taken to calling the "Long War." In recent weeks, Western media reporting on developments in the Iraq and Afghan insurgencies seems to make a fourth article relevant.... MORE
Assessing al-Qaeda’s Position in Iraq
There is a confusing portrait emerging from Iraq regarding al-Qaeda's position inside the country. Recent reports present contradictory views on the level of al-Qaeda support, success and long-term prospects. One picture depicts continuous violent attacks, the defiance of key al-Qaeda-affiliated Iraqi insurgent groups and Abu... MORE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND KAZAKHSTAN SEEN AS “RELIABLE”
Russia has secured renewed pledges of allegiance from Kazakhstan, its "most reliable partner" in Central Asia. Speaking after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's southern Black Sea resort of Sochi on May 20, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said a strong Russia was important... MORE
RUSSIA’S RETENTION OF GUDAUTA BASE — AN UNFULFILLED CFE TREATY COMMITMENT
In the run-up to the Conference to Review the Operation of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), Moscow is urging the 1999-adapted treaty's ratification despite its own non-compliance with its commitments. The continued functioning of its base at Gudauta in Georgia is one... MORE
READING PUTIN’S MILITARY TEA LEAVES
Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual speech to the Federal Assembly on May 10 was notable for its emphasis on military affairs. Putin outlined new and increasing threats from the arms race, stated that terrorism and other conflicts were coming closer to Russia, and cited America's... MORE
Bin Laden’s African Folly: Al-Qaeda in Darfur
Could a United Nations peacekeeping mission face al-Qaeda's fighters in Darfur? According to Osama bin Laden, if a UN force deploys in the region, al-Qaeda will attack UN troops. On April 23, al-Jazeera television broadcast a bin Laden audiotape in which he called for al-Qaeda... MORE