Summary: as a consensus emerges that US hegemony in the Gulf is over and Washington continues to cast around for an acceptable exit strategy from the war with Iran, it is none too soon to consider how best the US could safeguard its national interests there into the longer term.
The Gulf and the US: shifting sands Read More »
Summary: the Huthi offensive has heightened the challenge Saudi Arabia faces in its efforts to extricate the kingdom from the Yemen quagmire.
Saudi Arabia and the Yemen dilemma Read More »
Summary: much has been made of Qatar’s relationship with both Hamas and the Netanyahu government as a sinister plot; a Washington insider says the reality is far more mundane.
Qatargate and Washington Read More »
Summary: with American backing Morocco and Israel continue to deepen their diplomatic and business ties while overriding the support for Palestine and the Palestinian people of the vast majority of Moroccans.
Managing dissent: Morocco, Israel and the Palestine Question Read More »
Summary: low turnout, blank ballots and the resurgence of an Islamist party are signs that all is not well in Morocco even as the ruling elite retains its hold.
The Moroccan election: plus ça change Read More »
Summary: recent events have forced a recognition that the US hegemony in the Middle East is over. How the inevitable vacuum will be filled remains far from clear. But it is hard to be optimistic in the short to medium-term even though there is surely an opportunity for “a new beginning.”
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Suez Moment’ Read More »
Summary: a distinguished historian says there is no genocide in Gaza and that to say there is is a blood libel; in doing so he ignores the words and actions of Holocaust survivors who speak against the genocide Israel is committing.
Why Simon Schama is wrong to claim blood libel Read More »
Summary: the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is caught in a vice; US bases there are the target of Iranian missiles and influential Jordanians are calling for the removal of the bases. But the US presence is part of the 1994 peace deal with Israel which is now threatening to drive Palestinians out of the West Bank and into the kingdom.
Summary: it has been nearly a year since the Gaza ‘ceasefire’ and the announcement of a 20 point peace plan to be carried out by an entity called the Board of Peace which to date has implemented very little of its mandate and is fundamentally illegal under both US and international law.
Summary: Britain’s Foreign Secretary delivered a speech in Parliament the likes of which had not been heard before: the UK was asserting leadership in denouncing the Israeli government for its war against Palestine.
A small bold step with big implications Read More »