Two very dissimilar events with contradictory results took place recently in Iraq, practically simultaneously: the withdrawal of five Sunni ministers from the so-called unity government of Nouri al-Maliki and the victory of the Iraqi national soccer team over Saudi Arabia for the Asian Soccer Cup. The first is indicative of the battle for power being …

The long-sought joint peacekeeping force for Darfur, which would combine the existing 7,000-man African Union force with as many as 20,000 additional military personnel and civilian police under UN command, has now been approved. But several roadblocks still stand in the way, making it very difficult for the joint AU-UN mission to bring about a …

As Pakistanis celebrate sixty years of independence, the country finds itself embroiled in yet another seemingly intractable political crisis. The state, founded by one of the Indian subcontinent s most brilliant lawyers, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has spent more than half of its life under military rule. Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a secular and democratic state. …

There seems to be a general attitude among Egyptian women that problems that occur in the home should remain there. In a series of conversations with a group of average Egyptian women we were able to gain some insight into what goes on behind closed doors and why marital problems rarely seem to leave the …

What do religious extremists and interfaith youth organizers have in common? A lot more than one might think. College students begin their search for summer internships with enthusiasm and excitement at the opportunity to make an impact. Unfortunately, many end up doing busywork, unable to share their skills and talents. Still, these overworked, underpaid students …

Nicolas Sarkozy won the French presidential election in May in part because he attracted a substantial portion of the far right’s supporters to his conservative banner. Indeed, the Front National’s popular support has fallen from around 15% to 10%, weakening the FN tremendously and strengthening the traditional French right. Sarkozy succeeded by embracing themes of …

What is Malaysia s greatest achievement in the last 50 years of Merdeka (independence)? It is our ability to maintain a remarkable degree of inter-ethnic peace. By inter-ethnic peace we mean a minimum of communal violence over five decades of independence and a maximum of tolerance, compromise and adjustment among the different communities that constitute …

JERUSALEM/CAIRO: There is certainly more than one way to see Jerusalem, which, since 1967, is either a reunited city or one half under occupation. On a recent visit to Jerusalem, two tours of the city and its surroundings underlined the disparities in how different people view the city – Jews, Arabs, residents, tourists – and …

The critical conditions that continue to prevail in Darfur are causing immense suffering to its people. Both sides of the conflict – the government of Sudan and its allied forces, as well as all the opposition groups in Darfur – must understand that civilians should no longer fall victim to their political disputes. The Sudanese …

It appears that the Bush administration s proposed Mid-East peace conference may not be held before November 2007 – a relatively long time from now considering the volatility of the region, especially the ever deteriorating situation in Iraq and the deepening Fatah-Hamas conflict. Holding such a conference during the current turmoil would seem to jeopardize …

Why is Islam such a violent religion? Does the Quran condone acts of terrorism? Why haven t Muslims denounced the 9/11 attacks and suicide bombing? Whether in the media or public discussions, these are common and persistent questions. But, in fact, major Muslim religious leaders and Muslim organizations have and do speak out. The media …

Military interrogators posing as “lawyers are attempting to trick Guantanamo prisoners into providing information, “The Catholic Worker (TCW) reports. This deceitful practice contributes “to the prisoners’ suspicions that the (real) lawyers are not to be trusted and could be aiding the government, TCW says in its July issue. The publication is the house organ of …

Much has been made of the massive defeat Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party suffered in the recent election to Japan’s Upper House. But, as the smoke dissipates from that vote, it has become clear that the real victor is neither the leading opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) nor the electorate. Instead, it is Japan’s …

In the past few months the Turkish Armed Forces have reportedly deployed over 200,000 soldiers across its border with Iraq, more than all of the American troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan together. If it gets its way – pending government approval – the army will storm northern Iraq and break down the bases from …

WASHINGTON – The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and the broader schism between Israel and Arab states, is of deep concern to a great many people who have no personal connection to either side. While Arab and Jewish Americans are on the front lines of citizen advocacy regarding US policy toward the conflict and peacemaking …

Instead of helping all EU member states to meet their own Kyoto goals, the European Commission is shifting what should be a shared burden onto its newest members, which are already the most environmentally efficient in the European Union. In doing so, the Commission is rewarding inefficiency and reducing the effectiveness of its commitments to …

Hamas s swift victory in the June 2007 battle of Gaza was a stunning defeat for American interests in the Middle East. Hamas, an organization the United States has blackballed for 20 years, took control of 1.4 million Palestinians in less than a week, humiliating not only the US-backed Fatah but also the US-created coalition …

For those who think that the essence of political analysis is to point the finger of blame, Hamas violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June provides an object lesson in American responsibility for everything that goes wrong. According to this narrative, the United States (abetted by Israel), provided both the remote cause for this …

In November, 2002, sixteen people, half of them Jewish and half Arab-American, met an hour north of New York City for a weekend dialogue workshop. Most of them had not dared anything like this before. When they gathered Friday evening for introductions, anxiety was visible on all the participants faces. The mistrust was palpable. One …

Several years ago, my daughter lay in a coma after a serious fall. Two nurses came into her hospital room to prepare for a transfusion. One clutched a pouch of blood and the other held my daughter’s medical dossier. The first read aloud from the bag, “Type A blood, and the other read aloud from …

It is indeed an honor to see how Egyptian efforts have come together to support the name of Egypt in assuming the helm of the largest cultural arena in the world, the Unesco. It’s an effort that makes one trust the sense of patriotism of our institutions, especially our esteemed media where the national press …

During a recent four-month stay in Morocco, I was faced with the challenge of genuinely adapting to a new and drastically different cultural context. The delicate balance of honesty and selectivity, the issue of disclosure and exposure, was never more in question than during my first encounter with my host brother. After asking my name …

Following the bloody events in Gaza in June many have wondered what next. Hamas position is clear: the government headed by Ismail Haniyeh will keep calling for dialogue. It will work toward this by exhorting Arab, Islamic and other international parties to encourage a Fateh-Hamas dialogue. This dialogue will aim at national reconciliation to end …

I am often invited by religious authorities in the Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia to attend meetings that are held to urge people to follow Islamic faith and law, while avoiding any debate connected to politics or political rights. Political rights, my hosts insist, are maintained by the ruling regimes themselves, and these follow the …

Inspired by a British reality show depicting the transformation of rotund, multiple chinned women into svelte and dynamic go-getters within a mere six weeks, I dug deep into my pockets and headed for the Grand Hyatt Health Club. Getting to the hotel was no mean feat. It seems all the world and its wife are …

NEW YORK CITY: There is a growing phenomenon within the Muslim community in America that will change the history of Islam. Young Muslims, mostly the children of immigrants, are publicly reflecting on their identity. Many are becoming, or have become, Islamic scholars and activists on behalf of a civic Islam. Often, these young men and …

The guardians of the Islamic republican system in Iran are continuing their longstanding quest to ensure the existence of Iran s clerical regime. To eliminate potential existential threats, these guardians have gradually entered yet another arena in which to confront their adversaries: Afghanistan. While Iran has played a positive role in increasing Afghanistan s economic …

There is now a regular season for discussing drugs in sports, one that arrives every year with the Tour de France. This year, the overall leader, two other riders, and two teams were expelled or withdrew from the race as a result of failing, or missing, drug tests. The eventual winner, Alberto Contador, is himself …

For those of us who believe in diplomacy, Senator Barack Obama’s recent pledge to dialogue with Cuba, North Korea and Iran offered a much-needed ray of hope. Amidst the security tough-talk by Democratic presidential hopefuls, at least one leading candidate was committed to a conversation. Ironically, undermining her own campaign slogan (“Let the Conversation Begin …

On the first anniversary commemorating the end of the July 2006 Israeli-Lebanese war, Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, wrote an Op-Ed article entitled A time for reflection, a call for action , praising Lebanese resilience in overcoming crises and stressing the need for Lebanese decision-makers to reach an agreement that would be …