Latest Articles about Middle East
MAGOMEDOV OUT AS MOSCOW OPTS FOR NEW LEADERSHIP IN MAKHACHKALA
On February 20 the Kremlin announced the appointment of a new leader for Dagestan. Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated 65-year-old Mukhu Aliev to lead the North Caucasus republic and asked Dagestan's legislature to confirm his choice. All but one of the 102 local lawmakers present... MORE
MOSCOW RECYCLES OFFER TO PROCESS IRANIAN NUCLEAR FUEL
In the wake of the Iranian nuclear crisis, Moscow has advanced a new, or rather seemingly new, proposal to build a center for spent fuel from Iran and other states and for the enrichment of uranium for these states as well. Under this plan Iran... MORE
Islamists Criticize Muslims who Abstain from Jihad
On February 17, the al-Tajdeed forum posted an interesting analysis that, amid the customary claims of imminent victory, points the finger of accusation at al-qa'idun 'an al-jihad ("those who abstain from jihad"). Starting from the premise that the strategic initiative is turning in favor of... MORE
MOSCOW SAYS GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT’S VOTE ON PEACEKEEPERS INCONSEQUENTIAL
On February 15 Georgia's parliament unanimously called for Russian peacekeepers to be withdrawn from the breakaway region of South Ossetia and be replaced by international forces. But Moscow and Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, are not going to even discuss the issue of the... MORE
FIGHTING ERUPTS BETWEEN NOGAI REBELS AND RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES
Stavropol Krai, a predominantly ethnic-Russian region in the North Caucasus, is the frontier zone that separates the volatile Caucasian republics from the rest of Russia. Now Stavropol has become the scene of a fierce battle between Russian troops and insurgents. On February 9, a police... MORE
…and Set Course of Action Against Denmark
The following day, the mujahid strategy emerged in even more detail. Under the title "What now after the Denmark events?—A Plan of Action," an individual named Abu Maria al-Qurashi set out nine specific action points: • Intensify the boycott by appealing to the idea of... MORE
Mujahideen Consider Cartoon Crisis a Moment to Re-Define Islam…
The Danish debacle continues to generate a deluge of material on the jihadi forums. While most of these (when not a matter of personal expressions of outrage and calls for revenge) relate to the growing boycott campaign of Danish goods, at least one "official" statement... MORE
Jordanian Poll Indicates Erosion of Public Support for al-Qaeda
The ramifications of the November 9, 2005 Amman suicide bombings indicate that the terrorist act played a major role in changing people's attitudes toward terrorism. An opinion poll conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies at Jordan University, a semi-government center, about the Jordanian public's... MORE
MOSCOW’S INITIATIVE: YOUR TERRORIST IS OUR DEAR GUEST
Russian President Vladimir Putin's official visit to Spain last week was not a great success. Spanish journalists asked too many direct questions, and senators at the closed-door meeting were not shy about raising unpleasant issues like judicial independence and human rights (Nezavisimaya gazeta, February 10).... MORE
MOSCOW SEEKS TO ACQUIRE RUSSIAN DIAMOND MONOPOLY
As the Russian government moved to take over the country's diamond monopoly, Alrosa, the company simultaneously opted to diversify by acquiring majority stakes in several Siberian oil and gas assets. While Alrosa has been seen as a potential nucleus for a state-owned natural-resources giant, the... MORE