Contextualizing David Ignatius’ claim about “John Kerry’s big blunder in seeking an Israel-Gaza cease-fire”?

Contextualizing David Ignatius’ claim about “John Kerry’s big blunder in seeking an Israel-Gaza cease-fire”? by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* David Ignatius, a journalist with extraordinary access to the halls of power but apparently limited sound reasoning argued that John Kerry has committed a “big blunder in seeking an Israel-Gaza cease-fire.” He explained that “Kerry’s error has Read more

Continue Reading

Chaos and anarchy in the Middle East: How did it happen?

Takfīris‘ path to their “caliphate” is soaked with the blood of Muslims by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* The most important event of the summer might end up being ISIL’s (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) declaration that it has restored the caliphate. For the second time in the past two decades, Salafi Islamists have gained Read more

Continue Reading

Jabhat al-Nusra losing support among rebels, tribes in south Syria

by Tarek Al-Abed  On May 7, Syria’s Daraa province witnessed three events. First, battles broke out in the western countryside and militants started advancing toward the province. Second, a march was staged in support of the regime, near the location where armed confrontations were underway. Third, tension between Jabhat al-Nusra and other armed groups escalated Read more

Continue Reading

Worried for their own security, the rulers of Saudi Arabia expand their own list of “terror organizations” and criminalize dissent

by Ahmed E. Souaiaia*   8 years in prison for tweeting in support of a demonstration Days after recalling its top diplomats from Qatar, Saudi Arabia published a list of organizations and activities that are deemed criminal and prohibited Saudi citizens and residents from joining or supporting such organizations. The two events might appear to Read more

Continue Reading

The Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi, Sisi, and the future of Egypt

A. F. al-Sisi by Jared Ethan Krauss  IN a move that surprised everyone not in Sisi’s circle, the cabinet has resigned. The move comes as, in recent weeks, criticism and protests of the interim government have grown.  Egypt has seen no economic improvements since the revolution, and violence has only increased since the ouster of Morsi. Read more

Continue Reading

Lack of real representation of Syrians doomed the Geneva meetings

by Ahmed E. Souaiaia*   Two rounds of indirect talks between representatives of the Syrian government and some representatives of the Syrian Coalition have failed to launch a political dialogue to end the deadly crisis in Syria, now entering its fourth year. The failure was expected. Members of the opposition forces did not represent even Read more

Continue Reading

What President Obama should tell the Saudi rulers?

by Ahmed E. Souaiaia*   President Obama On the same day when Saudi Arabia issued a royal decreecriminalizing Saudi citizens’ participation in the war in Syria (or joining Jihadi groups), the White House confirmed that President Obama will be visiting the Kingdom in March. It seems a reasonable assumption that during this v­isit, Obama will Read more

Continue Reading

How different are the new constitutions of Tunisia and Egypt?

How different are the new constitutions of Tunisia and Egypt? by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* The two countries transformed first by the Arab Spring now have new constitutions. The two countries are similar in many ways. Yet, the processes of producing their respective constitutions and the substance of each document point to the forces that made Read more

Continue Reading

Tunisia’s Ennahda movement, perhaps learning from the crises of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and AKP in Turkey, compromises to remain relevant

by Ahmed E. Souaiaia*   On January 14, Tunisians will celebrate their revolution, which ignited a wave of protest that swept most of the Arab world. For this third anniversary, the Salvation Front, representing key leaders from political parties and civil society, gave the Tunisian people and the Arab masses a set of rare gifts: Read more

Continue Reading

Syria’s rebels’ premature harvest and the moral crisis of militarism

by Ahmed E. Souaiaia*   ISIS fighters executing a civilian     On November 14, 2013, Abd al-Kader al-Saleh, commander of the powerful Tawhid Brigades, died. He was injured in an earlier airstrike that killed several of his group’s top leaders. In a matter of days, al-Tawhid Brigades—one of the armed wings of the Muslim Read more

Continue Reading