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WikiLeaks: Turkish Military ‘Plot’ Sparks U.S. Fears for Democracy

On February 22 [2010] police detained 47 retired and active-duty military officers, including 17 flag-grade officers for their alleged involvement in coup plots… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Tehran has ‘Technical Ability’ to Make Highly Enriched Uranium

US officials believe Iran now has the “technical ability” to make highly enriched uranium, an essential step towards building a nuclear bomb, according… Continue reading

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Muslim Brotherhood Leader Says Will End Peace Treaty With Israel

Over and over again we have been told that the Muslim Brotherhood is weak, moderate, and is not calling for ending the Egypt-Israel peace treaty. But now… Continue reading

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Turkey’s Government: Cheer Egypt’s Demonstrations, Suppress Those at Home

Labor unions marched to protest the reduction of workers’ rights in Ankara. The government declared the demonstration illegal, gassed demonstrators, and police attacked… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Pakistan Committed to Defending Conviction of Omar Saeed Sheikh for Daniel Pearl Murder

A new investigation into the death of the American journalist Daniel Pearl says that the British jihadist jailed for his murder is likely to be released because Pakistani officials used tainted… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Egyptian Military’s Influence in Decline, US told

Recently, academics and civilian analysts painted a portrait of an Egyptian military in intellectual and social decline, whose officers have largely fallen out of society’s elite ranks… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Defense Minister Mohamed Tantawi Resistant to Change in Egypt

Recognizing that he is reluctant to change, we nonetheless should urge Minister Tantawi towards a broader and more flexible partnership based on shared strategic objectives, including… Continue reading

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Syrian Authorities Break Up Protest

Why are moderate Arab regimes — even if dictatorships — shaken by protest while hardline ones aren’t? Because at the least sign of trouble the radical governments… Continue reading

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Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Will Abrogate Peace Treaty with Israel

We have been repeatedly assured in the media — on the basis of no evidence — that if the Muslim Brotherhood comes to power in a coalition or even directly that the radical Islamist group… Continue reading

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The Middle East Election Motel

Here in Israel, we are seeing idealistic and optimistic Egyptians being interviewed by Israeli reporters at demonstrations in Cairo. I couldn’t understand why those inspiring and pro-democracy interviews… Continue reading

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European Court of Human Rights: Turkey “Worst Human Rights Violator”

In an annual report released by the European Court of Human Rights once again found that Turkey is by far the worst violator of human rights among the 47 signatory states of the European Convention on Human Rights… Continue reading

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Netanyahu: Egyptian Revolt Proves Israel Needs Strong, Solid Security Arrangements

Yesterday was a dramatic day in our region. Millions of people poured into the streets of Egypt. President Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for 30 years, announced that… Continue reading

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Yemen Fears Egyptian-style Protests, President Won’t Extend Presidential Term

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key US ally against al Qaeda, said on Wednesday he will not seek to extend his presidency in a move that would end his… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Is Saudi boom reaching its limits?

With temperatures reaching 115 degrees, the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is both literally and metaphorically “too darn hot.” With vast investments being made in oil and… Continue reading

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What’s Really Wrong with Western Understanding of the Middle East?

Rarely has a mass media article shaken me up as this one does. It is a rare, intense, view of what the Middle East is really like nowadays, though it is about Pakistan, on the eastern end of the region… Continue reading

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Hamas Extremists Imprisoned in Egypt Escape and Return to Gaza Strip

After the massive escapes from Egyptian prisons, the Arab and Palestinian media reported that several Hamas operatives who had been imprisoned in Egypt… Continue reading

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Egypt’s Revolution: A Simple Guide

The first issue is whether only the ruler or the entire regime is going to fall. The mere resignation of President Husni Mubarak from office would not be a huge problem… Continue reading

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Egypt: The Turning Point, The Regime’s Plan on What to Do Next

Out of “good intentions,” the United States is headed the biggest catastrophe in the history of its relations with the Middle East. Thirty years after Iran’s revolution produced a similar situation, nothing has been learned by U.S. policymakers… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Suleiman Vows to Fight Radicalism

During an April 21 meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, Egyptian General Intelligence Service Chief Omar Soliman explained that… Continue reading

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Netanyahu Warns Against Islamist Takeover of Egypt

Netanyahu warned that extreme Islamic radicals could take advantage of the upheaval in the country and gain control of Egypt, just as they did in Iran in 1979… Continue reading

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AKP Sees to Control Society – but can it?

The liberals who were instrumental in legitimating the ascension of the Justice and development party (AKP) are now dramatically revoking their support for the Islamic conservatives… Continue reading

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Muslim Brotherhood Declares Jihad on America; America Declares MB is Moderate

The best thing I can do for you to understand the Muslim Brotherhood is to ask you to read what I wrote… Continue reading

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Turkey and the EU: The Disappearing Vision

On December 31, 2010, Belgium’s six month presidency of the EU closed without any chapters in Turkey’s membership negotiations being opened. It was the first time an EU presidency… Continue reading

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Egyptian ‘Moderate Democratic’ Leader Negotiating Coalition Government with Islamists

As I’ve been warning, Muhammed al-Baradei, seen as the leading “moderate, pro-democratic” leader in Egypt is negotiating with the Muslim Brotherhood to form… Continue reading

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Assad: anti-US and anti-Israel Stance will Save Him from an Uprising

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad believes he has more time for reforms, because of his anti-US and anti-Israel policy. He believes Egypt is suffering for its connection with the U.S. and Israel… Continue reading