Articles Index
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.
Barbary Pirates and Wars: A Timeline (1625-1815)
Piracy, the United States and the Middle East: The Barbary pirates, privateers and wars, a timeline (1625-1815)
Barack Obama's Cairo Speech, June 4, 2009
Full text of Barack Obama's speech to the Muslim world on extremism, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, democracy and rights, from Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2009
Iraq Casualties, 1980-2009: From Saddam Hussein to George Bush
A tally of Iraq casualties in war and death camps, 1980-2009, from Saddam Hussein's regime to George W. Bush's war.
Barack Obama's Opening to Iran: An Analysis
Analysis of Obama's Iran-Norwuz video and the Obama's Diplomatic opening: can it work?
The Failed Rescue of American Hostages in Iran on April 24, 1980
Background and political context of the failed rescue of American hostages in Iran on April 24, 1980.
The Iranian Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981: Origins and Background
Origins and Background of the 444-day Iranian Hostage Crisis during the Carter administration, Nov. 4, 1979-Jan. 20, 1981: the political climate, the lethal infighting of the Carter administration and the repercussion on American prestige.
Obama: Turkey as a Bridge Between East and West, Islam and the Rest
The full text and break-down of Barack Obama's April 6, 2009 speech to the Turkish Parliament on Islam, Turkey, Armenia, Middle East peace, Turkey's European Union bid and other issues.
Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategy
Analysis: Barack Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategy is a scaled-down, more narrowly focused version of the Bush version.
Full Text of Obama's Speech on New Strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan
The full text of Obama's March 27, 2009 speech on his new strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Charles W. Freeman Jr. and the Israel Lobby
National Intelligence Council nominee Charles W. Freeman and the Israel Lobby: cabal or misjudgment? The story of a failed nomination.
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Discover Bahrain
At a news conference in 1939, Franklin Roosevelt admitted he only knew of Bahrain because he collected stamps, while Eleanor admitted to not know about the kingdom at all.
Confessions of Guantanamo Detainees: Punishment or Martyrdom?
Are the confessions of five Guantanamo detainees designed to speed up punishment or enshrine martyrdom? The answer indicts both confessors and the Bush administration.
When Terry Anderson Was Taken Hostage in Beirut, March 16, 1985
An account of the day Terry Anderson was taken hostage by Shiite militants in Beirut, Lebanon, in his words and those of an Associated Press colleague. Anderson would become the longest-held American hostage in the Middle East in history.
Prosecutions Resulting from Iran-Contra Affair
A complete list of individual prosecutions, convictions and pardons in the Reagan administration's arms-for-hostages Iran-Contra Affair, including Oliver North, John Poindexter, Bud McFarlane and Caspar Weinberger
The 1983 Attack on U.S. Marines in Lebanon
On October 23, 1983, a suicide bomber slammed his truck into U.S. Marines barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Marines. It was the emergence of Hezbollah--and the signal failure of Reagan administration policy in Lebanon.
Eyewitness to the 1983 Marines Bombing in Beirut
The White House asked Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff to write of his experience during the rescue effort following the bombing of the US Marines barracks in Beirut in 1983, when 241 Marines were killed. The text of Rabbi Resnicoff's recollections.
John McCain's Middle East Policy
Heavily influenced by his Cold War experience, McCain’s Middle East policy is mostly a continuation of existing policies. A heavy and continued military presence in Iraq, striking Iran if necessary, and building up Pakistan militarily. The one word that sums up McCain’s Middle East and foreign policy is interventionism.
Analysis: What the Biden-Palin Debate Says of Their Middle East Policies
An analysis of the Joe Biden-Sarah Palin vice presidential debate, focusing ion Middle East issues from the Iraq War to Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Palestinians, Pakistan and more.
McCain-Obama Debate the Middle East: Excerpts from the Sept. 26, 2008 Debate, 2
Excerpts from the Barack Obama-John McCain presidential debate of Sept. 26, 2008, on Middle Esat issues, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, al-Qaeda, terrorism and Henry Kissinger
McCain-Obama Debate the Middle East: Excerpts from the Sept. 26, 2008 Debate, 1
Excerpts from the Barack Obama-John McCain presidential debate of Sept. 26, 2008, on Middle Esat issues, including the Iraq war, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, al-Qaeda, terrorism and Henry Kissinger
Biden-Palin Debate: Excerpts on Middle East Issues
Excerpts from the Joe Biden-Sarah Palin Vice Presidential debate of Oct. 2, 2008, on Middle Esat issues, including the Iraq war, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Israel and the Palestinians, Hezbollah and Darfur
How John McCain and Barack Obama Ignored the Middle East
How John McCain and Barack Obama managed to ignore most of the key issues confronting the United States in the Middle East in their first presidential debate--the one focused on foreign affairs.
How John McCain Name-Dropped Waziristan and Misunderstood Pakistan
John McCain says he's "been to Waziristan." Has he really? And if he has, has he learned anything? McCain appears to misunderstand Waziristan and Pakistan.
How Arab Americans Vote
How Arab Americans have voted in presidential elections from 1996 to the present, including projections for the Barack Obama-John McCain presidential race in 2008.
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