Columns
The Uyghur militant threat: China cracks down and mulls policy changes
By James M. Dorsey / Mid-East Soccer. China, responding to United Nations criticism, academic and media reports, and an embarrassing court case in Kazakhstan, has come closer to admitting that it has brutally cracked down on the strategic north-western province of Xinjiang in what it asserts is a bid to prevent the kind of mayhem…
Canada vs. the Rule of Law
By David Swanson / http://davidswanson.org/canada-vs-the-rule-of-law/ I’m aware that Canada, unlike its southern neighbor in which I live, has just recently, ever so slightly, stood up to certain of the horrors of the Saudi government. I’m aware of the role Canada has played, albeit imperfectly, as refuge for people fleeing U.S. slavery and U.S. wars and general…
Saudi Arabia and Iran woo incoming Pakistani prime minister
By James M. Dorsey / Mid-East Soccer. An offer by a Saudi-backed bank to lend financially strapped Pakistan US$4 billion is likely intended to bolster Saudi influence when former international cricket player Imran Khan is sworn in in the coming week as the South Asian country’s next prime minister. The offer was most immediately related…
Best National Government in North America: Mexico
By David Swanson / http://davidswanson.org/best-national-government-in-north-america-mexico/ At least that’s the hope of those who elected Andrés Manuel López Obrador, aka AMLO, aka Peje, on a platform of sweeping out the corruption — a platform promoted in Obrador’s book, A New Hope for Mexico. That Barack Obama did not permanently decommission the word “hope” for credible electoral campaigns…
Multiple diplomatic spats raise questions about Saudi concept of sovereignty
By James M. Dorsey / Mid-East Soccer. The failure of Western allies to rally around Canada in its dispute with Saudi Arabia risks luring the kingdom into a false belief that economic sanctions will shield it from, if not reverse mounting criticism of its human rights record and conduct of the war in Yemen. It…
Andre Vltchek: “Revolutionary Optimism, Western Nihilism”
By David William Pear. A Book Review of Andre Vltchek’s new book: “Revolutionary Optimism, Western Nihilism”, by David William Pear: How can I write a review of Andre Vltchek’s new book Revolutionary Optimism, Western Nihilism? I am damned if I do, and damned if I don’t. Andre himself says that: “There is nothing to add…
Trouble in Sport Paradise: Can Qatar Overcome the Diplomatic Crisis?
By James M. Dorsey / Journals. A Different Demography 1 James M. Dorsey, “Gulf Crisis Creates Opportunity for Asian Nations”, Pragati, 28 November 2017. Ac (…) 2 Zainab Fattah, “Qatar Says Boycott Won’t Affect 2022 World Cup Preparation”, Bloomberg, 30 July 201 (…) 1The UAE-Saudi-led economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar complicates the Gulf state’s…
Can the US make Iran sanctions stick?
By James M. Dorsey / Mid-East Soccer. Recent Iranian trade figures suggest that the United Arab Emirates, a strong backer of US efforts to squeeze Iran economically, could emerge alongside China as the Islamic republic’s foremost lifeline in seeking to blunt the impact of harsh sanctions. Russia and Oman rather than Europe are emerging as…
Big power competition in the Eastern Mediterranean: Is Trump missing the point?
By James M. Dorsey / Mid-East Soccer. A Trump administration decision to sanction two key Turkish officials in retaliation for the continued detention of an American cleric coupled with unqualified support for Israel and the adoption of a backseat in Syria threatens to further undermine US influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, a key part of…
Talking to Rouhani: Is Trump shooting from the hip or following a script?
By James M. Dorsey / Mid-East Soccer. Message to Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Tel Aviv: Not to worry, US President Donald J. Trump has no intention of meeting his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, unconditionally. On the contrary, Mr. Trump’s surprise announcement that he is willing to talk to Mr. Rouhani is likely part of a…