Category: Reasoned Comments
Original essays, research notes, and reports
Welcome to Ukrainistan
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia Hybrid wars, or asymmetrical wars, did not start with the war in Syria. After all, the fall of the Soviet Union, some of whose effects are unfolding before us today, was due, in part, to the war in Afghanistan. Two nuclear powers in an intense competition to control the world, cannot Read more
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Zelensky’s Dream of a “Ukrainian Jihad”: Saudi Arabia is the incomplete link
by Hussein Ibrahim On social media, and some on mainstream media, many have raised the possibility of Islamist fighters arriving in Ukraine to fight against Russian forces, whether from Europe or the Middle East, especially after the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced the formation of a corps of foreign fighters, recalling memories of the “Afghan Read more
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Tunisia’s Reform Movement stalled due to apathy, fatigue
Tunisian President Kais Saied has become, in the eyes of many, superior because of the opposition’s weakness, its lack of maturity and its many missteps, which, according to observers, have become superior, according to observers, to the president’s own missteps, which makes a large number of Tunisians uninterested in the current confrontation between the two Read more
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What is behind the recent escalation of tension between Algeria and Morocco?
Since breaking free from the French colonial rule, Algeria has had very uneasy relationship with Morocco, reaching the point of direct armed conflict at one point (Sep 25, 1963-4). Then, Morocco, eager to capitalize on a moment of weakness in Algeria whose army consisted of Mujahideen fighters trained to fight asymmetrical war against the French Read more
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Will the loss of PJD in Morocco impact Islamist parties around the world?
In 2016, the Justice and Development Party (French acronym PJD) in Morocco won 125 seats of the 395-seat house of representatives in the parliament of Morocco, earning it the top spot and forcing the King to appoint the party’s leader to form a government. Fast forward to September 8, 2021, and the same party, under Read more
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What is happening in Tunisia?
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* Most commentators would argue that Tunisia has been the only success story of the so-called Arab spring. The validity of such a statement would depend on the definition of success. The success that most people might have in mind could mean transition to representative governance without civil war and violence. To Read more
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Why Would Turkey Want to Secure Afghanistan’s International Airport?
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* About six months after the inauguration of the Biden administration, nearly 90% of the US fighting troops are pulled out of Afghanistan. The vacuum was filled immediately by Taliban forces who claimed that they now control 85% of the country. After having spent nearly three trillion dollars on the invasion of Read more
Continue ReadingIran-Saudi Arabia Rapprochement: Riyadh desperately needs regional peace to fulfill its economic priorities
by Dr. Necmettin Acar * Middle Eastern states have started to give signals of radical change in the direction of their foreign policies, which have become a tradition after being followed for many years. The Gulf-Israeli rapprochement, the tendencies of Turkey and Egypt to thaw ties, the mutual desire between Turkey and Israel to strengthen Read more
Continue ReadingRussia’s Turn to Solving the Political Problem in Lebanon
Lebanese dates in Moscow tell the world that the latter is a great power that communicates with all parties in Lebanon, but insiders confirm that Russia’s interests go beyond this image.
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