From Gloria-Centre.Org Regarding the Obama-Netanyahu Meeting, please forgive the following: I... told... you... so... and I'm glad there's good news for once. U.S.-Israel relations are again on a firm footing. On that I was sure. But now here's some speculation. It could be that the Obama administration will be a two-act process on the Middle East, though I hasten to add I am only talking about this … [Read more...]
Syria’s Unhappy with Obama, Thank Goodness
From Gloria-Centre.Org You are welcome to post or forward to others but please include a link to this site. Anyone not linking to this site will be considered to have acted improperly, except with written permission Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's uncomplimentary nickname is "the giraffe." But while he is prone to stick his neck out, others get it in the neck for not making him happy. Word on the street is that the Syrian regime is … [Read more...]
Netanyahu’s the Man
From Gloria Centre.Org You are welcome to post or forward to others but please include a link to this site. Anyone not linking to this site will be considered to have acted improperly, except with written permission Aluf Benn, of the generally leftist Haaretz, is just about the smartest, most interesting journalist in Israel. So when he writes something-especially in contrast to his previous articles over the years-it's worth paying … [Read more...]
June is the Cruelest Month By Barry Rubin * May 17, 2009
From Gloria-Centre.Org You are welcome to post or forward to others but please include a link to this site. Anyone not linking to this site will be considered to have acted improperly, except with written permission. April, wrote T.S. Elliott, is the cruelest month of all. But for hopes of peace, freedom, and moderation in the Middle East, June will play that role this year. In Iran, Ahmadinejad backed by the spiritual guide is about to be … [Read more...]
Don’t Just Take My Word for It: Arab Moderates Warn About Mistaken Western Policies
From Gloria-Centre.Org You are welcome to post or forward to others but please include a link to this site. Anyone not linking to this site will be considered to have acted improperly, except with written permission What do moderate Arabs think about what Westerners think about the Middle East? Usually, such matters are raised only in private conversation with those of long acquaintance in whom the speaker has personal trust. But now we have … [Read more...]
Will Iran Get an American October Surprise?
From Gloria-Centre.Org You are welcome to post or forward to others but please include a link to this site. Anyone not linking to this site will be considered to have acted improperly, except with written permission There's an interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal that merits serious consideration. According to the article--which is obviously based on direct information from administration sources--the Obama administration intends to … [Read more...]
Israel Seeks Justice; AP Makes Propaganda
From Gloria-Centre.Org You are welcome to post or forward to others but please include a link to this site. Anyone not linking to this site will be considered to have acted improperly, except with written permission Every week I write a column on AP coverage of the Middle East and every week I am appalled anew at the profound and omnipresent bias in the coverage. I am not looking to bash the AP. On the contrary, when I find something fair and … [Read more...]
Realism Must Be Realistic: Why So Many People Who Should Know Better Don’t Understand Middle East Politics
From Gloria Centre You are welcome to post or forward to others but please include a link to this site. Anyone not linking to this site will be considered to have acted improperly, except with written permission I'm a Realist. In international affairs, Realists are people who believe that countries act according to their interests. But who decides the interests in dictatorships? Answer: The ruling regimes. And those interests are defined … [Read more...]
The Peace Process Industry’s Going to Get You–And Your Little Country,Too! By Barry Rubin May 11, 2009
From Gloria-Centre.Org From ghoulies and ghosties And long-legged beasties, things that go bump in the night, And people with Middle East peace plans Plus those with degrees in Conflict Management Good Lord, deliver us! --Middle East update of old Cornish prayer Putting your hard-earned political capital into the peace process industry is like investing with Bernie Madoff. It may look like a good prospect on … [Read more...]