Monthly Archives: May 2012

Syria in 1994 and today (Part I)

Doing  this piece on Syria I am thinking back to my visit there in 1994. It was one of my usual summer trips to the Middle East that I did every year from 1989 till 2005. I am a pack rat … Continue reading

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Iraq and the Kurds

Iraq is not the geographical center of the  Arab world but it is the center in terms of what goes to  the heart of the Arab world.  In the past both Syria and Egypt have claimed this role but today … Continue reading

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And The Myths About Iraq Continue

General Colin Powell’s new book: It Worked for Me ; My Life and Leadership will be coming out soon. He joins the chorus of those who believe that disbanding the Iraqi army and the Ba’ath party was a tragic mistake. Certainly the … Continue reading

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Myths of Iraq – part I

George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” A very often quoted and wise saying but all too often it is used inappropriately. The questions that must be asked are who wrote the … Continue reading

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Where Are We in the Middle East?

I was going to write on my visit to Syria some 10 years ago and how my observations are relevant today but the domestic news this week diverted me. Primarily it was the one year’s anniversary of the killing of … Continue reading

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