Articles
Syria is on fire, but the West has no plan for the flames
The argument by Abdel Bari Atwan in Al Quds that the West has a military plan for the conflict in Syria is mistaken. If only there were such a plan.
Dangers lurk in bending the rules for Boston bomber
The debate in the US over whether to read Dzhokhar Tsarnaev his Miranda rights may seem trivial, but protections of the law are vital for developed societies.
Once the 'statue' of Yemen, a president comes of age
If anyone can fulfil the ambition to unify Yemen, it is the president of that country, Abdurabu Mansur Hadi.
Saudi-Yemen relations are in need of a modern makeover
The pivotal moment in modern relations between the Arabian Peninsula's two largest countries came in the 1960s, when a coup brought an end to the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen and ushered in the first republic on the peninsula.
Comedy or farce? Arrest of satirist in Egypt may be both
The charges against Bassem Youssef will have a chilling effect on criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood. That is precisely their intent.
Solution to Syrian conflict must come from the air
Syria is not merely on fire; it is being burned to the ground. The solution is not a full-scale military intervention but US and Arab planes in the sky
End of the caliphate left Arab nations searching for identity
The caliphate had acted as a basis for unity, identity and authority for hundreds of years. Its demise brought a disruption of political authority that has lasted until the Arab Spring
After the Iraq invasion: a decade of tumult and a new world order
Ten years after the US invasion of Iraq, it is clear, asserts Faisal Al Yafai, that the 2003 conflict remade the international order in a most unexpected way.
Tunisia's security crisis is an opportunity for politicians
The struggle for power and public support in Tunisia is playing out at different political levels at the same time.
Two years on, Libya is barely a state - but that's good news
A small state that devolves much power to the regions would enable Libya to exploit the potential of trade with its neighbours - and mark a clear change from Qaddafi's Green Book philosophy
Lebanon's politicians fail to grasp nettle of civil marriage
The civil marriage of two Lebanese citizens, Kholoud Sukkarieh and Nidal Darwish, could have wide repercussions for the country's sectarian-based system
Timbuktu: a byword for mystery brought into plain sight by Mali conflict
An unintended consequence of the conflict in Mali has been the discovery by many westerners that Timbuktu, a byword for mystery, myth and fantasy, actually existed - but Arabs have known about this crossroads of trade, culture and learning for centuries.
Priceless heritage is being destroyed in Timbuktu
The destruction of Mali's ancient texts has affected the lost heritage of Arabs and Africans
The peace process wanders leaderless among delusions
The Israeli right has triumphed on the idea that "land for peace" with the Palestinians has not worked. In fact, it has never been tried.
Vicious circle of violence no nation seems able to end
As the plan their little post-Assad plans, outside powers seem not to care about the ever-growing misery of the Syrian people.
