Al-Jazeera to launch English channel

Al-Jazeera the tevision network that the Bush administration loves to hate, is launching an English channel in spring.

Hamas should forget the hudna

Those who declare wars will rarely, if ever, see combat. But it takes far more courage to negotiate peace. This is what the Hamas leadership must keep in mind as it ponders what to do in the days and weeks to come.

Saudis say US policies helped Hamas

A confidential Saudi report prepared weeks before the Palestinian elections predicted a Hamas victory and puts the blame on the United States.

Chibli Mallat aims for the presidency

The assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri sparked the Cedar Revolution. Angered by the murder of the politician, about a million people -- almost a third of Lebanon's population -- took to the streets of Beirut in a protest that resembled Ukraine's Orange Revolution.

Ahmadinejad's plans

What can Iran and Syria do if the United States starts pushing the Islamic republic and Syria?

Hamas beats all expectations

Hamas won the majority vote in parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas' victory sets a new reality in the Middle East, one that cannot be ignored. One that must not be ignored.

Why the US should engage Hamas

Hamas is set to come out ahead in this week's parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza. What these elections tell us is that nearly half of the 1.3 million eligible voters in the Palestinian territories favor Hamas over Fatah. Why?
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Political changes in Morocco

A breeze of change is drifting across Morocco, bringing long-awaited reforms.

Tel Aviv Bomb shatters hopes

The bomb that exploded near a Tel Aviv fast-food stand Thursday shattered hopes of a peaceful transition of power and expectations of smooth elections.

Cheney's Mideast quest

Vice President Dick Cheney is on a tour of the Middle East hoping to drum up support for an Arab/Muslim military force to deploy in Iraq. If successful, that force would allow Washington to gradually begin redeploying U.S. troops out of the country.

Reviving colonialism

While the U.S. military invasion of Iraq remains a highly debatable an entire collection of failed states begs the question if outside military intervention by former colonial rulers -- or by the world's sole remaining superpower -- might not at times prove beneficial, even outright desirable.

Syria's plan for Lebanon

Is Syria living in the past, trying to revive defunct tactics?

Iran's role in Iraq

Political analysts believe that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's task is to aggressively push forward an agenda consisting of three action points. Proceed with the nuclear program, export the revolution and establish a foothold in neighboring Iraq.

Iran -- The what if scenario?

What if Israel and/or the United States decided to carry out military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities? What are the likely consequences?

Israel able to destroy Iran's nukes

Israel's Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz said Iran's nuclear program "can be destroyed." He made the comments during a conference at Tel Aviv University, Israeli Army Radio reported.

Iran's nukes represents the greatest political risk in 2006

Risking escalating the crisis into a major fight with Western powers Iran removed U.N. seals on its uranium enrichment equipment, announcing it will resume nuclear research. Meanwhile a Washington lobby group calling for regime change in Tehran said Iran now has 5,000 centrifuge machines for installation at the Natanz nuclear facility.

Assad feels the pressure

Feeling pressure from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union - particularly France -Syrian President Bashar Assad made a surprise visit to for Saudi Arabia Sunday, hoping that words of wisdom from King Abdullah could help diffuse the rising tension.

President Assad seeks help from Saudi

President Bashsar Assad flew to Saudi King Abdullah Sunday to try and resolve the crisis spawned by the killing of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. Following accusations by former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam, insinuating that President Assad could have been implicated in Hariri's assassination, the United Nations committee investigating the murder has asked to question both Assad and his foreign minister Farouk Shara.

Ariel Sharon's legacy

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon leaves the political stageafter having fought for war and peace with equal vigor.

Is a Syrian government in exile feasible?

Former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam is planning to form a government-in-exile with help from Ali Duba and others.

Casualties rise among media in 2005

Iraq turned out to be the world's most dangerous country for the media: 24 journalists and 5 media assistants were killed, according to the Paris based media watchdog group, Reporters Without Borders.

Does the US have plans to attack Iran?

Amid the uncertainties in the Middle East there are three sure things.

First, that Iran will continue to build its nuclear weapons. Second, that Washington not allow the Islamic republic to pursue its nuclear dream. And third, Iran will build its nuclear weapon system.

Showdown between Syria and Khaddam

Will the defection of former Syrian Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam bring about the downfall of President Bashar Assad?