by BRUCE JENTLESON for DEUTSCHE WELLE on MAY 16, 2013: Worse than not learning from history, is drawing the wrong lessons. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars carry lessons for the US and its allies in Syria. We just need to get it right, writes Bruce W. Jentleson. In a nutshell, there are two important lessons to [...]
via PEW FORUM ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE on MAY 17, 2013: (OVERVIEW) Over the past 20 years, the United States has granted permanent residency status to an average of about 1 million immigrants each year. These new “green card” recipients qualify for residency in a wide variety of ways – as family members of current [...]
via BERKLEY CENTER FOR RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS on MAY 16, 2013: The Junior Year Abroad Network (JYAN) connects study abroad students in a global conversation on religion, politics, and culture. During the 2011-2012 school year, 61 Hoyas in 30 countries on five continents—from Bolivia to Egypt to Tajikistan—shared their experiences and observations through [...]
by miriam cooke for BOUNDARY 2 (International Journal of Literature and Culture/Duke University Press) on MAY 17, 2013: The tiny peninsula state of Qatar is building an empire. Ever since the current emir Shaykh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani wrested power from his father in 1995, he has worked ceaselessly to place his tribal shaikhdom on the [...]
by JOSHUA LANDIS for MONDOWEISS (FACEBOOK RESPONSE) on MAY 8, 2013: Joshua Landis is a leading opponent of U.S. intervention in Syria. Last week we did a post faulting NPR’s Melissa Block for bringing up Landis’s marriage to an Alawite woman during an interview with him and Andrew Tabler of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. [...]
Haiyun Ma: Go West at What Cost? China’s Pivot on Middle East Studies
by HAIYUN MA for ISLAMiCommentary on MAY 10, 2013: This week China’s new president, Xi Jinping, separately hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas — meetings that some analysts say is indicative of China’s desire for a more pro-active role in Middle East diplomacy. The timing of the visits of Abbas [...]
Read More