World waits for someone to do something, and then waits some more

World waits for someone to do something, and then waits some more

Sol W. Sanders Looking around the world, the striking characteristic is waiting out a number of crises. Their outcome seems almost artificially suspended, and their interaction on one another and their ultimate effect on the world is at issue. We start with the Euro. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s supplications in Beijing were perhaps laudable but a […]

Loud and clear signals from Egypt: Rules of its game with West have changed

Loud and clear signals from Egypt: Rules of its game with West have changed

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — When the government of erstwhile U.S. ally Egypt shut down seventeen Western pro-democracy groups, trashed their Cairo offices, and slapped travel bans on some of their staff, political relations between Washington and Cairo hit a new and unexpected low. Just a year after a tumultuous political uprising topped the […]

Can this global mess wait until January 2013?

Can this global mess wait until January 2013?

Sol W. Sanders Diverted by the essential — if sometimes burlesqued — pursuit of America’s quadrennial search for leadership, policymakers have tried to put international problems on hold. But dealing with wannabe-totalitarian outcroppings throughout the Islamic world from Casablanca to Zamboanga, is as critical and demanding and may take as long as the struggle with […]

U.S. firm says its jet boat could keep Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz

U.S. firm says its jet boat could keep Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — A U.S. company has presented a maritime solution to Iran’s threat to the Gulf. Juliet Marine Systems, based in Portsmouth, N.H., has been briefing major defense contractors and governments on its new fast attack craft. Juliet asserted that the platform, called Ghost, was designed to protect the Iranian-dominated Strait of […]

High stakes: Obama’s ace, Iranian oil and the 2012 election

High stakes: Obama’s ace, Iranian oil and the 2012 election

Sol W. Sanders President Barack Obama has launched new international diplomatic poker with “a trailing hand”. It is impossible to exaggerate the forces at play, economic as well as political, foreign and domestic, and their interplay. When he signed Dec. 31st the latest Iran provisos, Mr. Obama was handed new clout to cut Iran’s energy […]

In region of its birth, Christianity is under increasing assault

In region of its birth, Christianity is under increasing assault

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Though it’s the birthplace of Christianity in ancient times, the modern Middle East is increasingly hostile to Christianity as civil conflict, Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism grow in scope and strength. Although most regional states have a small but successful Christian minority ranging from Egypt to Iraq, only Lebanon, Israel […]

Saudis’ religious police goes high tech

Saudis’ religious police goes high tech

Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia’s religious police force plans to deploy advanced technology. The religious police, called the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, has signed an agreement to receive a range of technology from the state-owned King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology. The accord, […]

Critique of Iran’s cultural heritage conveniently ignores main factor: historic role of Islamic invaders

Critique of Iran’s cultural heritage conveniently ignores main factor: historic role of Islamic invaders

Special to WorldTribune.com By Sheda Vasseghi, FreePressers.com In his article “Iran’s Fundamental Cultural Reformations,” Davood-Rahni calls for the immediate elimination of “bad [Iranian] social and cultural traits and practices.” Although this column will not serve to negate Davood-Rahni’s list of negative traits among Iranians or the need to reflect on them, it is a rather […]

U.S. Air Force takes delivery of 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator

U.S. Air Force takes delivery of 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has acquired a massive bomb designed to destroy underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Officials said the U.S. Air Force has taken delivery of a new bomb meant to penetrate and destroy underground facilities. They said the Air Force first received the Massive Ordnance Penetrator in September under […]

Turkey, Israel and the totalitarian consensus

Turkey, Israel and the totalitarian consensus

By Alexander Maistrovoy, Freepressers.com Political commentaries about the events in the Middle East resemble mythological plots written by an experienced censor. Myth doesn’t need facts. It adjusts the facts to its own paradigm. And ideological mythology is not an exception. Western journalists’ commentaries on Middle East problems, give me a sense of deja vu. It feels […]