UN Security Council Plans Emergency Meeting On North Korea
The U.N. Security Council plans to convene an emergency meeting Wednesday morning to discuss what North Korea says is its first successful hydrogen bomb test. Read Here – Nikkei Asian Review
Obama’s Middle East Balancing Act Tilts Toward Iran
As the cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia heats up, the Barack Obama administration is trying to straddle the fence and not take sides, but its actions tell a different story — they all seem to favor Tehran. Read Here – Bloomberg
The Big Showdown Between Islam’s Rival Powers
The rule of thumb in the Middle East is that diplomacy often—too often—makes progress only to be overtaken by unforeseen violence on the ground. It’s happening again. Tensions between the Islamic world’s rival powers—the Sunni monarchy of Saudi Arabia and the Shiite theocracy in Iran—that erupted over the New Year’s weekend now jeopardize a string […]
Saudi Allies Join Hands Against Iran
A number of Saudi Arabia’s allies have joined diplomatic action against Iran after the Saudi embassy in Tehran was attacked amid a row over the execution of a Shia Muslim cleric Read Here – BBC
Why The Saudis Get Away With Murder
Make no mistake: The rulers of the Saudi Kingdom bear responsibility for Nimr’s arrest, his conviction on trumped up terrorism charges, and now his execution. Nimr’s death pours gasoline on the smoldering discord in the region and risks a conflagration that could transform Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province into a quagmire such as that which Saudi […]
The Nawaz Way
Stable economy, internal security — Pakistan was looking good again. And suddenly Nawaz was everywhere again, inaugurating this project and initiating that scheme and making folk think — maybe his priorities are wrong, but stuff sure is looking right. Go Nawaz. Read Here – Dawn
New Conditions Require Stronger Chinese Military
China must have a strong military. In possession of nuclear weapons, China doesn’t need to worry about military aggression. But there is more about national security. The Chinese army’s special mission to safeguard China’s national path has long been under pressure due to differences from Western practices. During China’s rise, friction with the US has […]
Saudis execute Shi’ite cleric; Iran predicts ‘divine vengeance’
Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran and Shi’ite Muslim Iran’s top leader predicted “divine vengeance” for Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shi’ite cleric. Read Here – Reuters Who was Amir Baqir al-Nimr?
In First Political Resolution On War-Torn Syria, Security Council Gives UN Major Role In Seeking Peace
In its first resolution to focus on the politics of ending Syria’s five-year-long war, the Security Council today gave the United Nations an enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to talks for a political transition, with a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections, all under UN auspices. Read Here – United […]
China Is Moving Into The Middle East – Why is No One Worried?
The delicate balance of power in the Middle East has already suffered one dramatic upheaval this year, after Moscow’s decision to launch its military intervention in support of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Now there are mounting concerns that the region could suffer further instability following China’s decision to establish its first overseas military outpost in […]
looking beyond borders 