Latest Articles about Middle East
Islamists Stay Clear of Terrorism in Oman
A sudden crackdown and arrest of "Islamists" in 2004-05 raised fears about Oman becoming entangled in the vicious cycle of terrorism, much like several other countries in the Persian Gulf region. The trial of the "saboteurs"—who attempted to challenge the status quo like in 1994—and... MORE
Al-Qaeda Employs Assassination Strategy in Karachi
Despite early questions, a suicide car bomb attack occurring just one block away from the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, killing a U.S. diplomat, his Pakistani driver, a Pakistani Ranger, and injuring scores more, has all the markings of a sophisticated al-Qaeda operation. The attack... MORE
Salafi-Jihadists in Jordan: From Prison Riots to Suicide Operation Cells
A Jordanian security source indicated that the General Intelligence Department (Mukhbarat) was able to foil a number of terrorist attacks in Jordan since the beginning of 2005. This was part of the announcement that Jordanian security forces were able to thwart a suicide operation targeting... MORE
Mujahideen Explain Away Failures of the Abqaiq Attack
Internet mujahideen are reflecting on the meager results of the attempted bombings by al-Qaeda at the Abqaiq (also known as Buqayq) oil processing plant in Saudi Arabia. A number of postings on the Tajdeed forum are illustrative (https://tajdeed.org.uk). Most postings talk up the significance of... MORE
RUSSIA CHINA PLEDGE TO BOOST SECURITY TIES
Top Russian and Chinese security officials have reiterated earlier pledges to develop bilateral cooperation. They also agreed to hold an unprecedented security drill in Southern Russia, the region that includes Chechnya and other volatile North Caucasus republics. "We have made plans to conduct exercises in... MORE
LOCALS BELIEVE RUSSIAN MILITARY IS POISONING CHECHEN CHILDREN
Last December 7, Taisa Minkailova, a 13-year-old Chechen girl from the village of Starogladkovskaya in the Shelkovskoy District of Northern Chechnya, complained of health problems. She was gasping for air, experiencing convulsions and headaches, and her limbs became numb. Her parents brought her to a... MORE
RUSSIAN RAILWAYS FEARS LOOSING OIL SHIPMENTS TO CHINA
Russian Railways (RZD), a state-owned monopoly, has been eyeing crude oil shipments to China as a key element of its Far Eastern development. But now RZD is concerned over prospects of loosing lucrative oil freight business to the planned Pacific oil pipeline. RZD's strategic priority... MORE
TEHRAN ANNOUNCES NEW NUCLEAR DEAL WITH MOSCOW, BUT CONTENT IS RERUN OF OLD ARGUMENTS
On Sunday, February 26, Tehran announced an agreement about creating an Iranian-Russian joint venture to enrich uranium. Despite the fanfare, the deal does not represent a genuine agreement that overcomes the crisis generated by Iran's violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. In fact, both sides concede... MORE
Al-Qaeda’s Insurgency Doctrine: Aiming for a “Long War”
Conventional national militaries train, think, and fight according to their doctrine. To date, however, America and the West have not sufficiently appreciated that al-Qaeda, too, is fighting the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan according to a doctrine of its own. That doctrine has been developed... MORE
TRAGEDY AT MOSCOW MARKET REVEALS XENOPHOBIA AMONG RUSSIAN PUBLIC
On February 23 the roof over Moscow's Basmanny market collapsed from a combination of snow buildup and questionable construction. Two years ago a similar accident took place at the Transvaal water park in Moscow, taking the lives of 28 people. Both projects had the same... MORE