Tag: Arab Spring

Why did the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood change their mind about fielding a presidential candidate?

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Kairat al-Shater News analysts and political commentators characterized the Muslim Brotherhood’s decision to field a presidential candidate as evidence that the group is willing to betray its own promises for political reasons. They point out other instances of flip-flopping. Immediately after the fall of Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) announced that it welcomed the democratic Read more

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The Fruits of armed conflicts: Three Libyas?

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The difference between peaceful and violent overthrow of regimes is now on display in Libya. Historically, the majority of countries emerging out of armed conflicts end up being divided along ethnic, religious, or ideological lines. Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Sudan are recent cases of countries losing some control over parts of its territories. Libya Read more

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Islamists win again in Egypt confirming an emerging electoral trend

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by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* Two days before the anniversary of the Egyptian revolution that forced Hosni Mubarak out on February 11, 2011, the newly elected members of the Egyptian parliament (Majlis al-sha`b) convened for the first time and endorsed a member of the Muslim Brethren as speaker. Saad al-Katatni was elected on Monday receiving 399 Read more

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Turkey and Iran navigate the Middle East tense issues

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via RCReadersFeed Ali Akbar Salihi and Ahmet Davutoğlu  Turkish Foreign Minister held a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Salihi, in Tehran and reiterated his fear that the volatile Middle East might be headed for a new Cold War era unless a sectarian rift in Iraq is immediately mended. Ahmet Davutoğlu has urged Iranian Read more

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The dissipating prestige of the Egyptian military

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Despite evidence to the contrary, the Egyptian military continues to deny using violence against protesters and continue to argue that it is the legitimate power broker. On Tuesday, Gen. Adel Emara, spokesperson for the ruling military junta contended that the military had never used violence against protesters: “The armed forces and the police pledged not Read more

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Libyan and European rulers’ treatment of Blacks and immigrant workers: Apathy in the face of Cruelty

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by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* Since the start of the Libyan uprising, mainstream news outlets have reported that African and even Eastern European mercenaries were fighting with Qaddafi’s forces. The Libyan rebels, eager to minimize any support for Qaddafi among the Libyan population, have fed western media horror stories of mass murder carried out by Black Read more

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What can the Egyptians learn from the Tunisian experience?

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by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* The recent wave of violence in Egypt is new evidence that the Arab peoples want real changes, not cosmetic ones. The military leaders in Tunisia acted professionally and within the mandate of any professional military. They acted to protect the people, not a regime or a constitution that was written by Read more

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The limits of objectivity: Qatari rulers reassert control over Aljazeera

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by Ahmed E. Souaiaia*   The leader of al-Nahda movement, Rachid Ghannouchi, made his first visit to a foreign country after the first post-revolution Tunisian elections. His choice was the State of Qatar. Analysts see many messages in this gesture but some Tunisians are troubled by the invitation he had extended to the Emir of Read more

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