In The News

A Bloodied Kingdom

November 10, 2003
Saudi Arabia has come under attack from both Al Qaeda and the US: one accuses it of being too liberal and subject to Western influences, while the other is demanding faster liberal-democratic reform and wants less promotion of strict Islamic teachings. These demands may come to a head in the aftermath of the November 9th terrorist bombing that killed only Muslims – including children – and...

What Does America Mean by Democracy in Iraq?

Salamander Davoudi November 7, 2003
The Financial Times review on Arab press commentary for the past week highlights some of the most hotly debated issues on security in the Middle East. An article in Al-Hayat says that the United States should not draft a constitution for Iraq, but rather that such a job should be done by an elected Iraqi legislative body; moving west, another of its editorials argues that "Israel has...

Iraq Said to Have Tried to Reach Last-Minute Deal to Avert War

James Risen November 6, 2003
Could the war in Iraq have been averted with last-minute concessions by Saddam Hussein's regime? There were offers on the table in February, says this report in The New York Times. Iraqi intelligence officials are reported to have approached a Lebanese-American businessman to outline their position, who in turn met with Richard Perle, an influential adviser to the White House. The...

President Bush Discusses Freedom in Iraq and Middle East

George W. Bush November 6, 2003
President Bush challenged Middle Eastern countries – allies and enemies alike – to embrace democracy and recognize the fall of Saddam Hussein as "a watershed event in the global democratic revolution." In a speech given in honor of the 20th anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy, Bush aligned his administration's intentions in Iraq with efforts to establish democracy...

US Situation in Iraq and Afghanistan

John McCain November 5, 2003
In an address to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, Senator John McCain gives his view on the progress in Iraq. McCain asserts that US troop deployment is too low to ensure proper security and the decision to hand over security to Iraqis with minimal training is foolish. He claims that in continuing to mention exit strategy the US administration hinders its cause by sending the wrong...

Safe Landing

Mostafa Al-Labbad October 31, 2003
Iran's decision to allow UN inspectors un-announced entry to its nuclear facilities was a shrewd diplomatic move, says this article in Egypt's Al-Ahram Weekly. By first threatening to disengage from international discussions altogether, then slowly taking steps to permit more monitoring of its program, the author says, Tehran was demonstrating to the Bush administration in Washington...

Compulsory Insurance Scheme for Migrant Sri Lankan Workers in United Arab Emirates

Meraj Rizvi October 30, 2003
There will soon be a new mandatory insurance scheme for Sri Lankan migrant laborers working in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states. As mandated by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, all prospective employers of Sri Lankans must now obtain an insurance policy for employees prior to submission of the worker's contract to the hiring agency. The Sri Lankan...