Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Saudi Arabia and Iran, highlighting the domestic drivers of mounting tension that threatens to deepen and complicate sectarian and multiple other regional conflicts, have taken their fierce tit-for-tat battle from the realm of traditional diplomacy to the world of public diplomacy
Although Saudi Arabia has traditionally been associated with a more puritanical form of Islam — Wahabis — it is far more moderate and is the frontline against rising radicalism in the Muslim World. As the custodian of two of Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia recently organized a coalition of 34 Islamic allies to fight rising…
By James M. Dorsey Assertions by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, a candidate for the presidency of world soccer body FIFA, that he was not involved in the arrest and abuse of sports executives and athletes in his naïve Bahrain in 2011 raise more questions than answers. Sheikh Salman…
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By James M. Dorsey Palestine is a headache Saudi King Salman doesn’t need as he confronts rare demands from members of his ruling family that he and his son be removed from power, growing unease about a seven-month old devastating military campaign in Yemen that has caused devastation and mounting civilian casualties, widespread criticism of…
By James M. Dorsey The war by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies against Houthi rebels in Yemen has become a debilitating sectarian conflict that has reduced large parts of the impoverished country to rubble and potentially destabilising the region. The kingdom has framed its approach in stark sectarian terms that has sparked intolerance towards…
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By James M. Dorsey Discontent is bubbling over among the majority Shiite population in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, home to the kingdom’s major oil fields and petrochemical industry. Disgruntlement is no less in the Iranian province of Khuzestan where up to 90 percent of Iran’s oil reserves are located. Iranian Arabs, who account for approximately…
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The Tabboun: News from around the American Arab community and the Middle East American indicted in attempt to burn down New York mosque Vanita Gupta, the head of the Civil Rights Division, and William C. Killian, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, announced today that a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, returned…
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The Liberation of Aden, progressing but with challenges By Gamal Gasim Taking control of the Aden province and its transformation into a free and safe area has been a huge challenge to the government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which has been based in Riyadh before the beginning of the Saudi-led military operation on…
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Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud and Israel’s Sheldon Adelson have one thing in common. They both have billions. But there is a clear difference between the sinister Adelson who uses his money to undermine peace and justice in the Middle East and Alwaleed who has committed his riches to philanthropy. Sometimes,…
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Book Release: Former Saudi Ambassador Robert W. Jordan published a new book Desert Diplomat on Saudi Arabia after 9/11. An inside look at US-Saudi diplomacy at a crucial time in American history In the spring of 2001 George W. Bush selected Dallas attorney Robert W. Jordan as the ambassador to Saudi Arabia. After the attacks…
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By Gamal Gasim Several weeks have passed since the beginning of the Saudi-led military operation against the forces of the Houthis-Saleh alliance. While Saleh has made a pretense of looking for a political solution, his forces have joined the Houthis for intense fighting in Aden, Taiz, and Mareb. The Saleh and Houthi forces have indicated…
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is stepping up his criticism of Saudi Arabia and their military excursion in Yemen. Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia are historical bitter enemies. By Ali Rizk In his latest speech Hezbollah’s secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah essentially called for a Sunni uprising against Al-Saud, and more specifically against the policies of the Saudi…
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Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered troops to enter Yemen last week to confront the Houthis, armed militants accused of terrorism. The invasion is backed by 10 regional nations. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz today vowed that the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen will continue until…
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The Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir hosted a press conference at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and issued the following statement regarding the government’s assault against Houthis terrorists in Yemen: Saudi Arabia has launched military operations in Yemen, as part of a coalition of over ten countries in response…
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RT Arabic Is Among Top-3 Most Watched News Channels In 6 Arabic Countries RT’s Arabic-language news channel View image | gettyimages.com has higher daily audience in six MENA countries than UK’s BBC Arabic and Sky News Arabia, US’ Al Hurra and China’s CCTV in Arabic, placing it among the top three most watched news channels…
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Muslim prisoner Mohamedou Ould Slahi offers a poignant story of an innocent man who faces torture by American soldiers at Gitmo with an inspiring sense of humor. His book “Guantanamo Diary” is a must read for Americans, Muslims, Christians and Jews. By Ray Hanania Most Americans are familiar with the story of Anne Frank, the…
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By Sheikha Al Dosary Nothing makes me sicker to my stomach than reading false accusations of any nation that aren’t based on facts, especially when it’s done by a so-called “fair and balanced” media. For the past week, I have been investigating the coverage of President Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia, which was dominated by…
Read More “Setting the record straight: Saudi women’s oppression” »
By Ray Hanania I used to watch beauty pageants purely for entertainment. But in recent years, they’ve become the focus of a cultural debate between the Arab world, and the rest. The Miss Universe Pageant was held Sunday in Doral, Florida in the United States. It featured 88 female contestants competing in categories involving their…