Stand up and be counted

BETWEEN the rise of politicised Islam, galloping demographics and the uncertain future for graduating students in the Middle East - 100 million Arabs will enter the work force by 2013 - there is great urgency to address the region's ills. Left unattended, these problems will only grow in scope and size until the countries concerned - and that is most of them - explode from insurmountable internal social pressures. The question is how to grapple these issues before it becomes too late?

The back door into Europe

Refugees are always looking for a backdoor to freedom; be it political, economic, religious or simply greater social liberties where jobs are more available. In the past week, African refugees have attempted to flee via -- Ceuta and Melilla -- two tiny Spanish enclaves, the last bastions of European imperialism in North Africa.

Who will be the first to blink

Iran threatened economic retaliation against countries voting against its nuclear program. India was singled out over its backing of an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution that would send Tehran's case to the U.N. Security Council.

Saudis warn of danger of Iraqi breakup

The deterioration in Iraq is raising concern and frustration in Saudi Arabia.

The implications of a nuclear Iran for the Middle East

THE 60th anniversary of the United Nations celebrated last week at the World Headquarters of the international organisation, in which 151 of heads of state and government participated was a bittersweet victory; Much like the UN itself, it was neither a success nor a failure

Missed opportunities

The level of hatred permeating the Middle East conflict is so deep that it often blinds those involved in it. Israeli settlers and Palestinian refugees have more in common than either side will ever admit. Yet, neither seem to recognize that what the other side is living through has also happened to them.

King Abdullah Reaffirms Islam

Jordan's King Abdullah is on a campaign, a "jihad of sorts," to reaffirm the traditional principles of Islam. Jihad, one must remember, means "struggle" as well as holy war.

Iran preparing for war with U.S?

Is Iran preparing for war with the United States? Unthinkable, yes, but the U.S. invasion of Iraq has spooked Tehran's mullahs to prepare for the unthinkable.

Has the civil war in Iraq begun?

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi seems set on igniting a civil war in Iraq.

U.N. probes Syria

No easy assignment for Detlev Mehlis, the United Nations' German super-cop.

UN's probe and Syria's survival game

Detlev Mehlis' assignment was by no means an enviable one. It must have been the equivalent of stepping into a wasp's nest, stirring it up while at the same time asking for their diligent cooperation.

Iran's Nuclear Track

As Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in New York to attend the U.N. general assembly he was met by a flurry of protests and warnings that the Islamic republic is being seen as a growing threat to the United States.

Syria's Dilemma

Syria's President Bashar Assad will soon have to make one of the most difficult choices of his career when he will have in front of him a U.N. dossier on the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri prepared by Detlev Mehlis.

Americans find it hard to forget 9/11

With the fourth anniversary of the Sept.11 attacks nearing, a majority of Americans are finding it hard to erase the scenes of carnage from their memories.

Americans find it hard to forget 9/11

Rifaat Assad aims to return to Damascus

Syria's President Bashar Assad is under mounting pressure from President Bush. But he can handle that. But the more imminent danger comes from his exiled uncle, Rifaat Assad.

Egyptians vote -- US-Style

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is widely expected to win the presidential election on Sept. 7, but it will be without the usual high percentile points he's been accustomed in previous balloting -- and where he was the sole candidate.

The Pandora’s box is open

AT FIRST glance it does not look like much of a challenge. On one side you have the president of the United States, most powerful man in the world, figuratively speaking of course, retrenched inside his Crawford, Texas ranch, secured by phalanxes of Secret Service agents armed to the teeth with deadly weapons and the latest gadgetry in James Bondry. On the other side is Cindy Sheehan.

A remake of "Z" In Beirut

The arrests of a handful of Lebanon's former top security officers could have been a scene borrowed right out of Costa Gavras' classic 1969 political thriller film, "Z."