The Middle East Debate in Books, Magazines and OpEds
If no two snowflakes are alike, no two opinions about the Middle East are ever quite the same. The debate is rich, sometimes abrasive, often -- if one's willing to listen -- enlightening. Here's a cross-section.
Review: "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA," by Tim Weiner
Book Review of Tim Weiner's excellent "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" from Harry Truman to George W. Bush.
Book Review of Tim Weiner's excellent "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" from Harry Truman to George W. Bush.
Osama bin Laden in the United States
In 1978, Osama bin Laden, a young newlywed, visited the United States with his wife. They stayed in Indiana. He went to Los Angeles.
In 1978, Osama bin Laden, a young newlywed, visited the United States with his wife. They stayed in Indiana. He went to Los Angeles.
Why Sunni Arab Regimes Fear Democracy in Shiite Iran
Why Sunni Arab regimes, avowed enemies of the Shiite regime in Iran, fear democracy in Iran even more.
Why Sunni Arab regimes, avowed enemies of the Shiite regime in Iran, fear democracy in Iran even more.
Obama Declares an End to Clash of Civilizations
Speaking in Istanbul, Barack Obama declared an end to the Clash of Civilizations, the thesis invented by Samuel Huntington that gave Bush's war on terror its language and rationale.
Speaking in Istanbul, Barack Obama declared an end to the Clash of Civilizations, the thesis invented by Samuel Huntington that gave Bush's war on terror its language and rationale.
Review: Thomas Ricks' "Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq"
The verdict on Thomas Ricks' "Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq" - a review plus a review of reviews: what other critics said.
The verdict on Thomas Ricks' "Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq" - a review plus a review of reviews: what other critics said.
Review: "The Dark Side," by Jane Mayer
How the torture memos came to be: a book review of Jane Mayer's "The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals."
How the torture memos came to be: a book review of Jane Mayer's "The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals."
Review: Ari Folman's "Waltz With Bashir" and the 1982 Sabra-Shatila Massacre
The Sabra & Shatila Massacre of Palestinians in 1982 and Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir: A review of the animated documentary of redemption through recovered memory.
The Sabra & Shatila Massacre of Palestinians in 1982 and Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir: A review of the animated documentary of redemption through recovered memory.
Amin Maalouf's "Origins": An Investigative Memoir of Lebanon and Cuba
Amin Maalouf's "Origins" is a wonderful memoir and investigation of the author's family through a century of letters, poems and memories from the mountains of Lebanon to Havana, Cuba.
Amin Maalouf's "Origins" is a wonderful memoir and investigation of the author's family through a century of letters, poems and memories from the mountains of Lebanon to Havana, Cuba.
Steve Fainaru's "Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq"
A Review of Steve Fainaru's "Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq" (DaCapo Press): On the world of private security contractors (it's a lot more than Blackwater Worldwide).
A Review of Steve Fainaru's "Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq" (DaCapo Press): On the world of private security contractors (it's a lot more than Blackwater Worldwide).
Gibran Khalil Gibran: Bibliography
A Bibliography of th Works of Gibran Khalil Gibran, Lebanese American Author of "The Prophet."
A Bibliography of th Works of Gibran Khalil Gibran, Lebanese American Author of "The Prophet."
Gibran Khalil Gibran
A profile of Gibran Khalil Gibran (18883-1931), Lebanese-American author of "The Prophet" and other works.
A profile of Gibran Khalil Gibran (18883-1931), Lebanese-American author of "The Prophet" and other works.
Excerpts from the Works of Khalil Gibran
Excerpts from the works of Lebanese poet Gibran Khalil Gibran, author of "The Prophet."
Excerpts from the works of Lebanese poet Gibran Khalil Gibran, author of "The Prophet."
Maya Angelou in Morocco
A brief story of Maya Angelou in Morocco, drinking tea and "cockroaches," in a wonderful encounter between kindness, stereotype and belated epiphanies.
A brief story of Maya Angelou in Morocco, drinking tea and "cockroaches," in a wonderful encounter between kindness, stereotype and belated epiphanies.
The Shame of Guantanamo
The concentration camp on Guantanamo Bay, an illegal shame, should be an indictment of national drift from constitutional principles and international law.
The concentration camp on Guantanamo Bay, an illegal shame, should be an indictment of national drift from constitutional principles and international law.
Brigitte Gabriel, Islamophobe
Brigitte Gabriel is a Lebanese-born Christian who's marketing her experiences in war-torn Lebanon into fear-whipping Islamophobia in the United States.
Brigitte Gabriel is a Lebanese-born Christian who's marketing her experiences in war-torn Lebanon into fear-whipping Islamophobia in the United States.
"The Kite Runner" Controversy: As Afghanistan Retreats into Chaos
Afghanistan has been retreating back into chaos and repression in 2006 and 2007. The decision to delay the release of 'The Kite Runner" illustrates to what extent the country's situation has become precarious.
Afghanistan has been retreating back into chaos and repression in 2006 and 2007. The decision to delay the release of 'The Kite Runner" illustrates to what extent the country's situation has become precarious.
Arab Insight: Perspectives Exclusively by Arab Writers
Arab Insight is a new, English-language journal published in Cairo by the World Security Institute to build bridges with the West, and Washington in particular. Here's a link to the complete first issue, with articles on Islam and human rights and political Islam, among others.
Arab Insight is a new, English-language journal published in Cairo by the World Security Institute to build bridges with the West, and Washington in particular. Here's a link to the complete first issue, with articles on Islam and human rights and political Islam, among others.
"Voices of the New Arab Public": Interview with Author Marc Lynch
Marc Lynch, author of a popular blog on the Middle East and a professor of political science at George Washington University, talks to Bradford Plumer about his book exploring Arab media, and in particular al-Jazeera and the Iraqi public. From Mother Jones.
Marc Lynch, author of a popular blog on the Middle East and a professor of political science at George Washington University, talks to Bradford Plumer about his book exploring Arab media, and in particular al-Jazeera and the Iraqi public. From Mother Jones.