Category Archives: Politics
First US-GCC Summit on Regional Security Tables Yemen on Agenda
Once upon a time, there were seven brothers. Mother Earth blessed the first six with gold. Father time buried the youngest one’s treasures very deep beneath the sand. Mothers and fathers worry about sibling rivalries. Sheba took care of the … Continue reading
Middle East’s Oil Industry Remains Strong Despite Turmoil
Middle East’s Oil Industry Remains Strong Despite Turmoil By Kim Reynolds In the world of investment, the prices of important commodities go up whenever there’s political turmoil that can strain the flow of trade. Oil’s value has always been volatile … Continue reading
Rosseau Isn’t the First, nor Last, to Negotiate a ‘Social Contract’ #BreakTheCycle
“50% of Arab world citizens are dissatisfied with public services in their area,” according to the World Bank survey — which prompted not one, but two sessions at the Annual World Bank/International Monetary Fund Spring 2015 Meeting. So it was … Continue reading
Nuclear Energy Debate: Before and After #Jordan #Iran
Despite the continuing airstrikes in Yemen, led by Saudi coalition forces, there are some positive regional developments. Specifically, on April 2nd, a framework for an Iran nuclear reached successful agreement between the U.S. and Iran. The framework is set up … Continue reading
#Egypt: Investing in Infrastructure Isn’t a “Fool/Full Proof” Plan
From March 13th to 15th , Egypt hosted a two-day economic summit to present its business case as THE emerging economy in the Mediterranean and African region. Meanwhile, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported on the status of the U.S.-Egypt … Continue reading
Not About WHO Is Governing, But HOW # UAE #YEMEN
Pick the Gulf country story you would prefer to read … but only one of them is true. The other is satire. (Hint: It is story involving the only Arab country that has banned human rights group, Human Rights Watch, … Continue reading
Line Between Defense Strategy & Development Assistance Continues to Blur
The United States will continue to provide support to its Afghan partners, counter terrorism abroad, maintain a strong forward presence in the Middle East region, and ensure U.S. military forces are ready to respond to a wide range of potential … Continue reading
Reducing Freedom Through #AutocraSisi #BloggerFlogger #OilSpoils … and torture
Freedom includes many things: freedom from autocracy and/or flogging. (The autocratic practices in Egypt, by, say, President Sisi, is what prompted us to coin the term “autocrasisi”. We are also a bit worried about the “blogger flogger” phenomena in Saudi … Continue reading
Libya and #AlgerianAftermath
Libya’s and Algeria’s aftermath since Gaddhafi’s removal includes a shared border. In Washington, DC, the Arab awakening and uprising discussions primarily focus on Tunisia and Egypt…and sometimes Libya. Yemen’s successful ouster of its leader, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, has largely … Continue reading
