Articles
History of Arab interventions argues against role in Syria
A look at previous Arab military actions does not encourage the idea that armed intervention in Syria would go smoothly.
Arab League's indecision is fuelling Assad's belligerence
The Arab League's timidity about Syria is, regrettably, making it easier for the regime to maintain its hard line.
It's always difficult to reach post-revolutionary closure
Arab countries should learn the lessons of post-communist eastern Europe when it comes to dealing with the past.
An ideology has taken on life of its own in these uprisings
The Arab uprisings were not driven by economic conditions, but by the single contagious idea that people deserve freedom.
An enemy of totalitarianism the Mideast misunderstood
Because of the 9/11 attacks, the Middle East preoccupied Christopher Hitchens more than anything else during the last decade of his life.
Lebanon's intifada offers lessons for the Arab Spring
The outcomes of the Arab revolutions, even if sometimes undesirable, cannot invalidate the endeavours of those desiring change.
Pragmatic diplomacy enables Qatar to punch above weight
For the foreseeable future, Qatar is likely to play a leading role in Middle East politics.
Assad's regime crumbles one frayed relationship at a time
Bashar Al Assad is systematically destroying the regime that he inherited from his father in 2000.
Christian minorities forced by fear into the dictators' fold
It may seem prudent for Christian minorities in Arab Spring countries to side with dictatorships, but it is morally wrong and also unwise.
Syrian disdain for diplomacy has lasted for four decades
For years, the Syrian regime has threatened and roughed up foreign diplomats, and disdained the accepted rules of diplomacy. Enough is enough.
'Zero problems' in Ankara is havoc for the neighbourhood
Turkey's vigorous new foreign policy in the Middle East is causing some headaches Âż not least for the leaders of Turkey itself.
Figureheads fall, but security forces are the test of change
How a country's security forces are controlled and used reveals a lot about any political culture, before and also after a change of regime.
Arab League's indecision in Syria is a chronic condition
Words are about all the Arab League has to achieve its aims in Syria. The continuing upheavals in the Arab world have crippled its effectiveness, never great in the first place.
A familiar road to nowhere as good intentions falter in Syria
Syria has been a failure of international integrity and foresight, and now the regional repercussions are difficult to calculate.
Arab Spring gives US a new chance in the Middle East
Somehow, the US came out of the Arab Spring without losing ground in Middle East public opinion. But can President Obama now show imagination in a changing region?
