Category Archives: Iraq

The Syrian Background

Once considered the  heartland of the Arab world the Syrian nation was often spoken of as the linchpin of any agreement  between the Western nations and the Arab world. No peace with  Israel was possible unless the Syrians regime agreed…this … Continue reading

Posted in Arab Culture, Arab Military, Arabs, Communism and Fascism in Middle East, Cross-Culture, Iraq, Islam, Islamism, Middle East Politics, Military, muslim brotherhood, Syria, Terrorism, Uncategorized, Western media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Academia’s Twitter War with State Department over women’s status in Iraq’s tribal society!

At the State Department a recent award program was held to single out women of courage from ten different countries. One of them was Aliyah Khalaf Saleh of Iraq who in June 2014, hid cadets of the Military Academy at … Continue reading

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A Middle Eastern Civics Class for Americans

Normally the discussion is about what the Middle Easterners have learned from the West but rarely do we talk about the lessons we should learn from them. And I am not referring to the ancient cultural center of Baghdad and … Continue reading

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The Persian Gulf 1970 and today May 2015

Forty five years ago ( 1970) I wrote my masters thesis at the American University of Beirut on the implications of the British withdrawal from the Gulf. The British bled white after WWII led the British government in 1968  to … Continue reading

Posted in Arab Military, Iraq, Middle East Politics, Terrorism, US Foreign Policy in Middle East | 1 Comment

Another “How to Defeat ISIL.”

Almost every pundit, whether he has ever set a foot in Arabia or not has weighed in on how to defeat ISIL. Most skirt one central fact. So my bottom line up front; the ISIL has to be defeated decisively on … Continue reading

Posted in Iraq, Islam, Middle East Politics, Terrorism, Uncategorized, US Foreign Policy in Middle East | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Where does Iraq and the “Islamic State” go now?

    With a very propagandistic announcement by “the Islamic State of the Levant” that its occupied areas of Syria and Iraq would now be called the “Islamic State” and with a call for all Muslims to declare fealty to … Continue reading

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ISIL vs. Iraqi Army: Then and Now

For months now the ISIL has been residing inside the Anbar province of Iraq. Despite a number of false starts by the Iraqi security forces, and announced impending offensives to clear the area of the insurgents, very little has happened. … Continue reading

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Iraq: Still there, Still in Crisis, Fragmenting?

The elections are over. It was a larger turnout of voters than many anticipated and the present prime minister,  Nouri Al-Maliki drew the most votes, but not enough to form a government.  Now the horse trading will begin. It seems … Continue reading

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Arabs As Refugees: Cultural Challenges

  This blog entry is about the massive problem of displaced people of the Arab world. From Iraq to Syria to Palestine to Libya there are millions of people who have been uprooted from their homes. We read about them … Continue reading

Posted in Arab Culture, Arabs, Cross-Culture, Iraq, Middle East Politics, Shia, Syria | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can Oil Companies in Iraq Avoid Incidents like Schlumberger’s?

Dozens of angry Shia Muslim workers stormed the Schlumberger Ltd camp in Basra, Iraq last week after a British employee took down a flag that was placed on the company’s car to commemorate the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, Prophet … Continue reading

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