Category Archives: Middle East Politics

The Syrian Background

Posted on February 29, 2020 by Tex

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

My TV Interview with Al Jazeera

Posted on December 26, 2016 by Tex

On Nov 25 2016, Al Jazeera Channel (Arabic) aired an investigative story or documentary entitled (The Soldiers), which highlights the kind of training the enlisted soldiers of the Egyptian army receive. The film puts together testimonies of several Egyptian enlisted  soldiers … Continue reading →

Posted in Al Jazeera America, Egypt, Middle East Politics, Military | 3 Comments

A Middle Eastern Civics Class for Americans

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Tex

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 →

Posted in Arab Culture, Arabs, Egypt, Iraq, Islamism, Middle East Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Destruction of the Turkish Army

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Tex

Since the abortive coup attempt in Turkey there have been truckloads of political pontifications  concerning the future course of the Sultan Erdogan’s “new Turkey.” Most  of the Western leadership and the Arab Gulf states have announced their support for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Military, Islamism, Middle East Politics, Military, muslim brotherhood, Shia, Turkey, US Foreign Policy, US Foreign Policy in Middle East | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Islamism and Islam – Update

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Tex

  Below is a  paste of an extract from an article in the Wall Street Journal ( 12 Dec 20015) written by Maajid Nawaz, a liberal Muslim, originally from Pakistan now living in the U.K.   “Islam is a religion, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Military, Arabs, Cross-Culture, Islam, Middle East Politics, Shia, Terrorism, Uncategorized, US Foreign Policy in Middle East, Western media | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How the Western Media Reinforces Islamist Propaganda

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Tex

This is a short blog entry. I am focussing on the recent attacks by insurgents or gangs on the Egyptian government checkpoints in the Sinai. Immediately there were  a spate of articles from the pundits and gurus  pontificating that these … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Military, Arabs, Egypt, Islam, Middle East Politics, Terrorism, US Foreign Policy in Middle East, Western media | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Persian Gulf 1970 and today May 2015

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Tex

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.”

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Tex

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

The Burdens of the Arab world

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Tex

In the nearly fifty years I have been involved with the Middle East in one capacity or another, I have observed the slow retrogression of the quality of life for its people. Despite some flashes of bright spots that seem … Continue reading →

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

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Tex

    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 →

Posted in Arab Military, Iraq, Middle East Politics, Terrorism, Turkey, US Foreign Policy in Middle East | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment