Updated Articles and Resources

By Primoz Manfreda, About.com Guide

Egypt Presidential Candidates in 2012 Elections Created: Thursday, May 24, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Islamists, old guard, independents: a guide to top five candidates in 2012 presidential elections in Egypt, with an overview of their respective electoral appeal, strengths & weaknesses, and polici...
Mohammad Mursi: Profile Created: Friday, May 25, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Mohammad Mursi is the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood and chairman of its political wing, the Party for Justice and Development, the strongest force in Egyptian politics. Find out about Mursi's...
Ahmed Shafiq: Profile Created: Friday, May 25, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Ahmed Shafiq (b. 1941) is probably the most divisive candidate in 2012 Egypt presidential election, widely seen as the favored candidate of Egypt’s military. Find out about his background, el...
The Impact of Syrian Uprising on Lebanon Created: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The impact of the Syrian uprising on Lebanon will be as closely watched as the events in Syria itself. Have a look at 10 developments that can draw Lebanon into the fight.
Egyptian Military's Power - Profile of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) Created: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Egyptian military’s power rests on a complex web of intelligence networks, profitable business enterprises and exclusive government budgets. Civilian politicians may have captured the elected...
Syrian Uprising Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
What is behind the Syrian uprising? See the root causes of the uprising in Syria
Why the Crisis in Bahrain Will Not Go Away Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Five reasons why crisis in Bahrain won't go away,as Bahrain’s Shiite opposition continues its struggle against the Sunni royal family,
Libya's New Leaders: Abdel Hakim Belhaj Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Who are Libya's new leaders? No real leader has emerged in the post Gaddafi era, but Abdel Hakim Belhaj is one of the new potential leaders of Libya.
Syrian Opposition - Syrian Muslim Brotherhood Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is the historical nemesis of the ruling Baath Party of President Bashar al-Assad, and believed to be the best-organized Syrian opposition group.
Syria's Armed Opposition: Free Syrian Army Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is the focal point of Syria’s armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad: how are they organized and can they defeat the regime?
Saudi Arabia and Syrian Uprising - Why Saudi Arabia supports the Syrian opposition Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Saudi support for the Syrian opposition is motivated by a decades-long desire to break the alliance between Syria and the Islamic Republic of Iran
Why Lebanon Matters to Israel Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
The louder the drumbeats of war between Israel and Iran, and the deeper the slide toward civil war in Syria, the more we’ll be nervously looking at Lebanon in 2012.
The Middle East & 2012 US Elections Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Turmoil in the Middle East could impact on the US presidential polls in November 2012. See five negative scenarios that could potentially hurt President Barack Obama’s re-election chances.
Contact the About.Com Middle East Issues Guide Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 03, 2012
Find out how to get in touch with the About.com Middle East Issues Guide.
Cast Lead - What Is Operation Cast Lead Created: Friday, September 04, 2009 Updated: Friday, April 13, 2012
Brief definition and history of Operation cast Lead, Israel's assault on Gaza (Dec. 27, 2008-Jan. 18, 2009)
Rick Perry and Israel - Fact-Checking Rick Perry on Israel and the Middle East Created: Sunday, September 18, 2011 Updated: Friday, April 13, 2012
Rick Perry's facts on Israel, Palestinians, statehood and the Palestinian-Israeli peace process leave a lot to be desired. Here's a line-item corrective.
Jordan's Black September 1970 - Jordan's 1970 War on the PLO Known as Black September Created: Saturday, September 12, 2009 Updated: Friday, April 13, 2012
The story of the September 1970 civil war between King Hussein's Jordanian military and Yasser Arafat's PLO, what became known as Black September.
Top 10 Middle East Stories of the Decade – The 2000s Top Ten Middle East Stories of the Decade Created: Sunday, January 03, 2010 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The the top 10 Middle East stories of the decade from 9/11 to George W. Bush's war on terror to the Middle East's descents into chahos in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine-Israel and Pakistan.
President George W. Bush and the Middle East - What Went Wrong Created: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
What went wrong with President George W. Bush's Middle East policy? It was never thought out strategically or tactically. Only ideologically. And only half-heartedly at that.
Should Palestinians Declare Their Own State? Created: Sunday, September 18, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Palestinians are seeking full-state status at the United Nations in a move the United States will block, and that Israel opposes. Do Palestinians deserve their own state? You decide.
Is Sharia Law a Threat to the United States and the West? Created: Sunday, July 31, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
A movement to
Intolerance Over the Ground Zero Mosque - How Opposition to the Ground Zero Mosque Undermines American Values Created: Sunday, August 01, 2010 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Opposition to the mosque at ground zero in New York is grounded in false fears and shameless chauvinism by the likes of Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin.
What Is Terrorism? - How to Define Terrorism - Nidal Malik Hasan, Fort Hood and Terrorism Created: Sunday, November 15, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Toward a clear-eyed definition of terrorism--without prejudice.
The Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turks - Facts, Figures and Evidence in the Armenian Genocide by Turkey Created: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
It's a
Is OPEC Still Relevant? Created: Sunday, June 12, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
OPEC--the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries--is a cartel that aims to control oil prices and production. But political divisions are undercutting its power.
Should NATO Intervene Militarily Against Qaddafi? Created: Sunday, March 13, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Libya's Muammar el Qaddafi is reclaiming western Libya from rebels in the Libyan uprising. Should Obama lead a NATO military intervention against Qaddafi?
Does America Have Any Credibility in the Middle East Anymore? Created: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
From Tunisia to Afghanistan, American credibility is in tatters. Can American credibility be preserved in any way?
Shouldn't the US Support a Resolution Declaring Israeli Settlements Illegal? Created: Sunday, January 23, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Isn't It Time for the US to Declare the Israeli Settlements Illegal and support a UN resolution declaring them such?
Does Qatar Deserve to Host the 2022 World Cup? Created: Sunday, December 12, 2010 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Qatar won the 2022 bid to host soccer's FIFA World Cup, besting the United States. Corruption and mystery surrounded the decision. Was it fair?
Was Iraq Worth The Blood? Created: Sunday, August 29, 2010 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The Iraq war began in 2003 under false pretenses. It ends, and only for the United States, in 2010. Was it worth the blood and destruction? You decide.
Can Pakistan Be Trusted? - In the War on the Taliban, Can Pakistan Be Trusted? Created: Saturday, October 17, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Pakistan claims to be on the American side against the Taliban. But Can Pakistan actually be trusted?
Isn't It Time to Leave Afghanistan? - You Decide If It's Time to Leave Afghanistan Created: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Conservative columnist George Will said in September 2001 that it's time for US forces to leave Afghanistan. Is he right?

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