From religion to politics, a steady isolation of Saudi Arabia

Read this article translated into Indonesian and French. In the waning days of August, 200 or so Sunni clerics and scholars from Egypt, Continue reading →

Interview: Mideast alliances shift as regional balance alters

In January, I was interviewed by the conservative Iranian publication Javan about the shifting balance of power in the Levant and Persian Gulf. Continue reading →

In Yemen, and Middle East, U.S. Needs to Learn When to Quit

This essay is part of a New York Times opinion-page debate on whether “Yemen is America’s fight.” Six years before Continue reading →

Will Yemen kick-off the “War of the Two Blocs?”

There is a lot of media confusion about what is going on in Yemen – and the broader Middle East Continue reading →

Arabs, Beware the “Small States” Option

This article can also be read in Turkish here. At the heart of all politics lies cold, hard opportunism. New Continue reading →

The Highly Dubious Arab League Vote on Syria

By Sharmine Narwani The ongoing diplomatic tug of war between Syria and the Arab League took an unexpected turn Monday Continue reading →

Rats, Roaches and Shiites

By Sharmine Narwani I’m not arguing that Shiites have a lot in common with rodents and insects. But you wouldn’t Continue reading →

Three Mideast Stink Bombs

By Sharmine Narwani Popular revolts may be spinning through the Arab world with a fervor and determination not seen in Continue reading →