How our region is preparing for suicide

Summary It was obvious several years ago, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was Iran’s president and the Islamic Republic was expanding its power in Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian areas and Yemen, that this endeavor would provoke a backlash from the Sunni Arab states. And it was just as clear that this backlash, […]

Jordan ‘cool to Syria rebel training plan’ US sources say kingdom reluctant to host expanded programme proposed by President Obama for fear of violent retaliation.

Jordan, where the US Central Intelligence Agency has been covertly training Syrian rebels for more than a year, is reluctant to host an expanded rebel instruction programme, US officials say. Jordan’s reticence, confirmed by four US officials, is a potentially serious setback for President Barack Obama’s proposed $500m initiative, announced […]

Jordan 'cool to Syria rebel training plan' US sources say kingdom reluctant to host expanded programme proposed by President Obama for fear of violent retaliation.

Jordan, where the US Central Intelligence Agency has been covertly training Syrian rebels for more than a year, is reluctant to host an expanded rebel instruction programme, US officials say. Jordan’s reticence, confirmed by four US officials, is a potentially serious setback for President Barack Obama’s proposed $500m initiative, announced […]

World Cup final pits pope against (former) pope

First, there were humanitarian efforts from Brazil’s churches. Then, official World Cup prayers published by the Church of England. And, most recently, Buzzfeed’s promotion of goalie Tim Howard to the position of America’s “Savior” (in spite of a U.S. team loss.) And now, just days before the tournament’s end, the World Cup has […]

Caliphornia dreamin’

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declares himself leader of all Muslims—who don’t buy it A FEW details looked out of place: the watch on the speaker’s right wrist, a fan whirring behind him and machine guns propped against the walls. Otherwise, as a thickly bearded, black-robed preacher slowly mounted the pulpit of […]