In The News

Iranian Cleric Blogs for Free Expression

Reuters February 16, 2005
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, like so many politically conscious world citizens today, writes an internet web log, or "blog." Abtahi's story seems ordinary – except that he is an Iranian presidential adviser and a Muslim cleric. This revolutionary action, undertaken by a very senior member of the Iranian government, is aimed at promoting an open discourse for expression, political or...

Everybody's a Winner

Tarek Atia February 9, 2005
The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is one of the world's largest celebrations of the culture of consumerism. From the airport to the glitzy "Global Village" outpost, the festival, with its elaborate marketing ploys and promotions, is weaving a shopping ethos into the fabric of the city. Ten years after the first DSF was held, Dubai has undergone a huge construction boom, luring...

Israel, Palestinians Declare End to Violence

Reuters February 8, 2005
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and newly-elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared an end to violence between Israel and Palestine, after meeting at a summit in Egypt. The announcement marks the highest-level meeting since the outbreak of hostilities in 2000. The death of Yasser Arafat and meetings with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are said to have...

Israel, Palestinians Close to Agreement to Reduce Violence

Robin Wright February 7, 2005
Newly confirmed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began her visit to the Middle East by naming a security coordinator to facilitate the new Israel-Palestine peace process. Rice also held meetings with new Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, highlighting the "hard decisions" both parties must make in the coming months. While Rice...

Iraqi Elections: Not Yet Historic

Rami G. Khouri February 2, 2005
Sunday's elections in Iraq were an unprecedented step towards self-rule for a nation that had long suffered under autocracy. While the vote was certainly historical, it by no means assures the birth of a genuine democracy. Whether this moment becomes historic – producing lasting, meaningful change – or descends into chaos depends on the events of the coming months and years, says Rami G....

Democracy Won, but do Americans Care?

Maggie Mitchell-Salem February 1, 2005
The largely successful democratic election in Iraq was made possible only by tens of thousands of deaths, both Iraqi and American. In the United States, many initial supporters of the war are growing increasingly wary of mounting costs and casualties, suggests this Daily Star commentary. This wariness comes as President Bush uses the elections to justify a continued US presence in Iraq and –...

Voting, Not Violence, is the Story for Arab Press

Hassan M. Fattah January 31, 2005
Yesterday's historic elections in Iraq proved, by many accounts, to be a relative success, but the story of the day may be the measured reaction of the Arab press. Popular news outlets Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera, who have spent most of the last two years broadcasting images of violence to the Middle East and the rest of the world, took a step back from this type of coverage to provide...