|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Egypt Independent reports on vandalizing, looting, and fighting at the nuclear power plant being built at El-Dabaa, a town in the desert to the west of Alexandria. The account draws on an unnamed source at the Ministry of Electricity and Energy who
Will No-Interest Banking Undo Turkey's Economy? January 10, 2012 That's the thesis implicit to David Goldman's analysis at "Recall notice for the Turkish model." After dubbing the Turkish economy a bubble that "is bursting, starting with the stock market and national currency," he makes this observation about the prime minister:
L'Institut d'Égypte – In Memoriam December 26, 2011
Turkey & Israel – The End of the Affair December 22, 2011 Military relations have been at the core of the Ankara-Jerusalem entente. These took off in February 1996 when the two sides signed a military training agreement that had Israeli air force jets flying over Anatolia, making the Turks the first Muslim-majority people to establish a formal military link to Israel. Similarly, the end of the entente has just taken place. The decision by the Israelis to cancel a $141 million military deal signed with Turkey in 2008, out of concern that the Turks might deliver the state-of-the-art aerial intelligence system based on electro-optic sensors to enemies of Israel.
Comment: It's deeply unfortunate that the vagaries of Turkey's electoral politics permitted an Islamist party to dominate the country in 2002 – but at least the Israelis (and French) recognize this development, unlike the Americans, who persist in thinking all is well. (December 22, 2011)
December 21, 2011 In its 30-year history, Hezbollah has gone from strength to strength, going from simple terrorist group to major political force within Lebanon. But now, with economic sanctions starting to bite in Iran and the government of Syria fighting for its life, Hezbollah has met hard times that could precursor a collapse. Georges Malbrunot documents the organization's problems in "Le Hezbollah affaibli par la révolte syrienne" in Le Figaro (and available without cost here). He points to these problems:
The Slap Heard Around the World December 17, 2011 A year ago to the day, Officer Fadiya Hamdi slapped fruit vendor Mohammed Bouazizi across the face in the small Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid, setting off upheavals that caused three seeming Arab dictators-for-life to lose power: Ben Ali of Tunisia resigned on January 14, Mubarak of Egypt resigned on February 11, and Qaddafi of Libya was killed on October 20. (In addition, Saleh of Yemen resigned on November 23 but that appears to be more a ruse to hang on to power than his really leaving office.)
Newt Gingrich and the "Invented" Palestinian People December 10, 2011 The former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and current Republican presidential candidate said yesterday that "there was no Palestine as a state. It was part of the Ottoman Empire. We have invented the Palestinian people, who are in fact Arabs and are historically part of the Arab people, and they had the chance to go many places." Everyone from the PLO to a Mitt Romney spokesman jumped on Gingrich for this assertion, but he happens to be absolutely correct: no Arabic-speaking Muslims identified themselves as "Palestinian" until 1920, when, in rapid order this appellation and identity was adopted by the Muslim Arabs living in the British mandate of Palestine. For details, see a long article of mine from 1989 on the topic or a short one from 2000. (December 10, 2011)
November 27, 2011 Barack Obama suffers from an inherent policy contradiction, especially in foreign affairs. On the one hand, as a Leftist he despises the United States and sees it as a force for ill in the world. On the other, as president, is judged by how well the country fares during his tenure.
November 3, 2011
What to say in November with Barack Obama hugging his counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan? Perhaps that this is dumb and disgraceful. Erdoğan needs to be taken to the woodshed, not embraced. (November 3, 2011) Dec. 3, 2011 update: I don't know if Vice President Joseph Biden hugged Erdoğan but here is a description of their palsy two-hour session together as Erdoğan received them at his private residence while recuperating from a medical procedure: "Mr. Biden and his aides put on slippers and were introduced by Mr. Erdogan to his son, daughter and son-in-law."
The Pipes Rule of Arab Elections October 23, 2011 Offered on the occasion of the "first free" elections in Tunisia:
(October 23, 2011)
|
Updated Blog Posts Most Viewed Most Mailed New Translations
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
All materials written by Daniel Pipes on this site © 1968-2012 Daniel Pipes. Email: daniel.pipes@gmail.com You can help support Daniel Pipes' work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum. Daniel J. Pipes |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||