Skip to content

{ Category Archives } Trends

U.S. Fears of New Cold War With Russia

There are fears in the United States of a new cold war with Russia in which the latter may try to disrupt American interests in the Middle East among other areas.
Go to story at the New York Times

2008 08 22 Ted Thornton Foreign Policy
Middle East Comments (0)

Resource for Articles on Current Political Trends

 
Link to ResetDOC.org

2008 08 22 Ted Thornton Foreign Policy
Research and Study
Turkey Comments (0)

Raymond Bonner Reviews Ahmed Rashid

In a review that captures well the current conflicts, political patterns, moods, and failures throughout much of the Middle East, Raymond Bonner looks at a new book by esteemed Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid.  
Raymond Bonner, “War in Progress,” New York Times Book Review, August 10, 2008
The book: Ahmed Rashid. Descent Into Chaos: The United States and [...]

2008 08 10 Ted Thornton Afghanistan
Foreign Policy
Iraq
Middle East
Pakistan Comments (0)

The Middle East is in a Mood to Talk

Rival interests in the Middle East have discovered fresh will and energy to talk about their problems with one another.  Michael Slackman (”Talks Signal Mideast Shift,” New York Times, July 18, 2008, A1) writes that the new mood is forcing the United States, its European allies, and Israel to reassess their policies especially their reluctance to deal with their [...]

2008 07 26 Ted Thornton Foreign Policy
Iran
Middle East Comments (0)

Food and Water in the Middle East

The New York Times’ Andrew Martin wrote recently on the impact of rising prices and global food shortages on the Middle East.
Andrew Martin, “Mideast Facing Choice Between Crops and Water,” New York Times, July 21, 2008
More on water shortages in the Middle East

2008 07 26 Ted Thornton Arab World
Middle East
Water Comments (0)

Sunni Jihadists Flocking to Pakistan Border Region

Sunni extremists from North Africa, the Gulf, and Central Asia are answering the call to wage jihad against the Americans in the unstable border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
Eric Schmitt, “Militant Gains in Pakistan Said to Draw More Fighters,” New York Times, June 10, 2008

2008 07 10 Ted Thornton Islam and Politics
Terrorism Comments (0)

Tensions With Iran Worsen Over Missile Tests

Tensions between Iran and much of the rest of the global community continue to escalate following Iran’s testing of medium and long-range missiles. 
Story at BBC
UPDATE -  July 11, 2008:  The following day (July 10, 2008), United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, echoing American statesmen like Jimmy Carter (1980) and James Baker (1990), said, “We [...]

2008 07 10 Ted Thornton Foreign Policy
Iran Comments (0)

Will the U.S. Go to War With Iran?

Thomas Powers writes about the struggle between the executive branch and the Defense Department (and also the struggle inside the Defense Department) over whether the United States  will go to war with Iran over the perceived threat from Iran’s nuclear development program. 
Does President Bush have the capacity to carry out his threat to neutralize Iran before he [...]

2008 07 06 Ted Thornton Foreign Policy
Iran Comments (0)

Algerian Militants: From Nationalist Insurgents to Global Jihadists

Militant Islamists in Algeria, who prompted a bloody civil war there in the 1990s, have forged new ties with Al-Qaeda and are attempting to transform what had been a nationalist insurgency into part of the global jihad.
Souad Mekhennet, Michael Moss, Eric Schmitt, Elaine Sciolino and Margot Williams, “A Threat Renewed: A Ragtag Insurgency Gains a [...]

2008 07 01 Ted Thornton Algeria
Arab World
Islam and Politics
Terrorism Comments (0)

Lebanon at a Crossroad

Joshua Hammer writes about Lebanon’s predicament today as it stands at a critical crossroad.  He notes the “alluring, sensual Lebanon” of wine, jet setters, and beaches, and, he describes the other side of Lebanon: the Lebanon “riven by rivalries” among its leading religio-political sects: Maronites, Shiites, Sunnis, and Druze, each a part of what he [...]

2008 06 27 Ted Thornton Lebanon
Middle East Comments (0)