As people across the Middle East continue to demand change, a group of leaders have proven more obstinate – and far more brutal – than their Tunisian and Egyptian counterparts. For all their differences, the regimes in Bahrain, Yemen, Libya, and now Syria have effectively shown what many Middle East observers already knew: survival trumps all [...]
Archive for the ‘United States’ Category
A Choice Under Fire: Dissent and Brutality in the Middle East
Posted in Middle East, United States on March 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Partying with God? Issues to Consider in the Hizbullah Debate
Posted in Israel, Lebanon, United States, tagged David Ignatius, Engagement, Hizbullah, National Intelligence Estimate, National Security Council, Obama administration on March 24, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
According to The Washington Post’s David Ignatius, an upcoming National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Hizbullah has led the Obama administration to consider whether the U.S. should initiate contacts with the “Party of God.” Although National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor has since said that “U.S. policy toward Hizbullah has not changed and is not changing,” [...]
Patiently Waiting: Assessing the Slight Dip in American Assistance to Lebanon
Posted in Hizbullah, Lebanon, March 14, United States, tagged State Department, U.S. foreign aid, U.S. foreign assistance, USAID on February 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
The U.S. Department of State (“State Department” or “DOS”) has just issued its budget request for the fiscal year of 2012. Not surprisingly, the State Department is responsible for coordinating and leading all international assistance programs. For two reasons, this year’s budget request is particularly important. First, American domestic politics – under the twin impact [...]
Truth in Conflicting Views: Brief Comments on U.S. and Iranian Involvement in War-Time Lebanon
Posted in Christians, Iran, Lebanon, Levant, United States on October 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Earlier this week, NOW Lebanon published an op-ed that Firas Maksad, a Middle East analyst, and I, a humble law student, wrote. The piece basically argued that the Marine Barracks Bombing on October 23, 1983 was an opening salvo in Iran’s bid for expanded power in the Middle East. On the other hand, Foreign Policy published a piece by Nir Rosen, a fellow [...]
Regional Context: Articles to Read
Posted in Iran, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United States on October 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Selected reading for information only, as it is worth keeping the regional game in mind. This post does not endorse or reject the content of these articles… The National Newspaper (UAE) on Syria-Saudi ties: http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090710/FOREIGN/707099796/1011/rss Foreign Policy on the “Other Threat” from Iran: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/02/the_other_ticking_clock_in_iran Council on Foreign Relations on US-Iran relations: http://www.cfr.org/publication/20344/road_ahead_for_usiran_relations.html?breadcrumb=%2F
Right ‘Round, Right ‘Round
Posted in Druze, Hizbullah, Lebanon, March 14, March 8, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United States, tagged communal politics, Hariri, Jumblatt on August 21, 2009 | 1 Comment »
He’s done it again. Walid Jumblatt has left the March 14 coalition – or maybe not. Being the leader of the fiercely proud and historically influential Druze minority, “Walid Beik” operates to keep his community secure and his dynasty relevant. With that said, it appears that three trends have led Jumblatt to move away from [...]
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About the Author
Tweeting Lebanon
- Pressing peace between #Syria and #Israel is a bad idea now. A flimsy regime on its way down is a stable partner for peace? @emile_hokayem Posted4 days ago
- RIP Nassib Lahoud... What more can one say? Posted1 week ago
- @Marilynzakhour How unfortunate. Posted2 weeks ago
- @lizsly Love Feltman, but he's wrong on this one (unless I missed broader context). Turkey? Israel? Among Arab countries, Lebanon? Posted2 weeks ago
- Tweeting from my TV. I've fought it for years, but Google and the rest of the Big Brother grid own my ass now. God help us all. Posted2 weeks ago
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The Silent
