Foreign Policy Blogs

Middle East & North Africa

Always accusing the other

The news coming from Lebanon are anything but good. Suspicion, lack of trust and narrow agendas prevent progress on the ground. At the meeting, President Suleiman had with the spiritual leaders, he warned that “differences have reached the level of committing suicide.” Former Premier, Omar Karami talks of a temporary truce "because historical grudges still […]

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Reconstructing Nahr el Bared

UNRWA estimated the costs to rebuild Nahr el Bared, and 15 villages around it, at 445 million US dollars. Almost half of this amount will be put forward by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The rest will be covered by Western and European countries. The Palestinians need a place to stay, […]

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Clashes in Tripoli

Lebanese troops on Monday moved into north Lebanon where two days of fierce sectarian battles killed are said to have killed 10 people, threatening to derail an accord to end the country's political crisis. The army threatened to use force to end the fighting that erupted on Sunday in the densely populated Bab al-Tebbaneh and […]

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Beirut: Conference of Arab Investors Warn of Rising Unemployment

A conference of Arab businessmen that opened in Beirut yesterday warned of the serious consequences of the rising unemployment rate in the Arab world, which has reached 14%. The conference, organized by the Arab Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, is being attended by 500 Arab and foreign participants from 21 countries. The chair of […]

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Friend or Foe? Oil Companies strike deals with Iraq

The latest news involving Iraqi reconstruction revolves around just one word: oil.  (Reported on Informed Comment) Both UK newspapers, The Independent and The Guardian, published stories today about recent foreign oil company deals with Iraq.  The articles discuss the new contracts negotiated by Exxon Mobil, Total, Shell and BP (amongst others) for “repair and technical support.”  The contracts […]

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Sabotaging The Country From Within

After meeting with former President Emile Lahoud, Wiam Wahhab said Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah would never betray Aoun, their opposition ally, in the subject of government.A sovereign ministry is the right of Michel Aoun, and without this ministry there is no sovereign government. The opposition is preparing for another stage another and another step, […]

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Syria will pay, if Hizballah attacks Israel

Avigdor Lieberman, a far-right Knesset member, threatened to destroy the Syrian capitol, Damascus, if Hezbollah attacks Israel in revenge for the assassination of its top military commander, Imad Mugniyah, on February 13, 2008. We must negotiate with Syria only over security arrangements in Lebanon, not the Golan Heights, Lieberman said while meeting with Russian Jewish […]

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Treasury Moves on Hizballah's Ties in Venezuela

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated two Venezuela-based supporters of Hizballah, Ghazi Nasr al Din and Fawzi Kan’an, along with two travel agencies owned and controlled by Kan’an. It is extremely troubling to see the Government of Venezuela employing and providing safe harbor to Hizballah facilitators and fundraisers. We will continue to expose […]

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Michel Aoun calls for intra-Christian meeting on July 4

On Monday, a preparatory meeting for the launch of the National Christian Forum joined Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun, Marada chief and former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, Tashnaq Secretary General Hovig Mekhtarian, and former Kataeb official Karim Pakradouni at Aoun's residence in Rabiyeh. The objective? "The aim was and will remain the compilation of […]

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Violent Clashes in the Beqaa

Three people were killed and four others wounded in armed clashes that raged well into the early morning hours Tuesday in east Lebanon's Bekaa Valley between pro- and anti-government supporters. News reports said rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and machine gunfire were used in the fighting that took place in the villages of Taalbaya and Saadnayel. Al […]

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Rice on Surprise Visit to Lebanon

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Lebanon on Monday to bolster the troubled country's new president, as rival political leaders still struggle to form a new government. Rice said she made the trip to “express the United States’ support for Lebanese democracy, for Lebanese sovereignty.” We support the democratically elected […]

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EU may reconsider its position towards Hizballah

EU MP's prepared a memorandum urging the European Union to declare Hizballah a “terrorist organization.” European deputies representing parliamentary blocs across the political spectrum have begun to collect signatures on a petition calling for the addition of Hezbollah to the terrorism list as it "constituted a direct terrorist threat to the security of the European […]

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McCain attacked for saying US troop withdrawal from Iraq "Not important"

McCain attacked for saying US troop withdrawal from Iraq "Not important"

  John McCain's Interview on NBC's The Today Show (YouTube excerpt) If you’ve had any contact with the media this week, I’m sure you haven't been able to escape comments made about John McCain's interview on NBC's The Today Show.  As I’m sure you all can tell by now, I have no plan on voting republican in the next […]

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Rewarding President Assad

President Sarkozy rewards President Assad for… I’d like to say decent behavior towards Lebanon, but that can't be it. Assad did everything in his power to create havoc in the country, directly and through his allies, yet he receives praises. France invited President Bashar al-Assad to attend its national holiday celebrations next month after a […]

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US v. Iran: Round 347

The biggest news story at the beginning of the week involving Iraq is that of Iraqi-Iranian talks over the weekend.  BBC reported that Nuri al-Maliki (Iraqi PM) discussed security issues with Iranian President, Ahmadinejad.  This included Iraqi desire to stop Iranian backing for Iraqi Shi’a groups and Iran's concern over Iraq's constant chaos.  Also on […]

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