Tag Archives: Middle East

The Middle East: A Disheartening Beginning for the New Decade

Posted on January 5, 2020 by

January 5, 2020 The Iraq-Iran war started on September 22, 1980. It lasted eight years. In August 1991 Iraq invaded Kuwait. A massive US-led military campaign forced Iraq to withdraw in February 1991. It was followed by years of no-fly … Continue reading →

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The Arab Spring Nine Years On

Posted on December 2, 2019 by

  December 2, 2019 The Arab Spring began on December 17, 2010 in Tunisia as street vendor Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest the arbitrary seizing of his vegetable stand by police. Mass protests forced President Zine El … Continue reading →

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Chaos Reigns as the 74th UNGA Opens

Posted on September 16, 2019 by

September 16, 2019 The 74th regular Session of the UN General Assembly opens tomorrow in the wake of the drone attacks which knocked out more than half of Saudi Arabia’s oil output raising the risk of further regional confrontation. It … Continue reading →

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History Will Judge Them Harshly

Posted on August 6, 2019 by

August 6, 2019 In a couple of years, the world could well be speaking of a decade of conflict in Syria in which regional and external powers were involved either directly or through proxies. The Islamic State remains a threat. … Continue reading →

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Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Syria

Posted on December 22, 2018 by

December 22, 2018 President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria seems to have surprised even shocked many, particularly in Washington. His brief announcement left many questions unanswered. Had he been a consistent leader steering his administration in close … Continue reading →

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U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee Hearings

Posted on September 30, 2018 by

September 30, 2018 Couple of weeks in the Turkish resort town of Bodrum is a wonderful break for those who can’t help being preoccupied with Turkey’s polarized internal politics and continuing regional turbulence. Yes, there was the United Nations General … Continue reading →

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2017: Another Year of Turmoil

Posted on December 20, 2017 by

  December 20, 2017 The following is from my summing-up of the year 2016 (*): “The Ukraine conflict has led many analysts to frequently mention President Putin’s unpredictable tactics and actions if not policies. With Mr. Trump in the White … Continue reading →

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President Trump’s Jerusalem Embassy Act

Posted on December 7, 2017 by

December 7, 2017 President Trump has finally signed the Act which recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, fulfilling a campaign promise. Was this a priority for his supporters? While the decision may enjoy broad bipartisan support in the Congress, his voters’ … Continue reading →

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State of Confusion in Riyadh

Posted on November 13, 2017 by

November 13, 2017 Candidate Trump called Saudi Arabia “the world’s biggest funders of terrorism.” President Trump made his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia. On November 7, in the wake of the purges in the Saudi capital, he tweeted, “I … Continue reading →

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Syria: “Cessation of Hostilities”

Posted on February 29, 2016 by

February 29, 2016 On February 22, the United States and the Russian Federation, Co-Chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), issued the “Joint Statement on Cessation of Hostilities in Syria”. As a first reaction, even the most optimistic observers … Continue reading →

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