Blogs

Although Iran, Iraq and Lebanon have taken almost the same position in warning about possibility of civil war in case of ouster of Assad, they have different concerns and objectives in regard with this issue. Being bordered with Syria and having lived through civil wars, Iraq and Lebanon are understandably worried about the spill-over of the instability and Syria’s civil war to their country. However, for the Islamic Republic of Iran, the civil war in Syria would mean that the Islamic Republic of Iran would lose a centralized government and strategically important country in the region. Therefore, it would have a considerable effects on the balance of power between Iran and the rest of Arab countries, particularly the Saudi Arabia. full story »

BERLIN — Walk down the Unter den Linden past the American Embassy. Acknowledge the Brandenburg Gate with a momentary gaze. Look right for a glimpse of the Reichstag, but head left to the square of austere concrete slabs. Spaced out evenly of assorted heights, the blocks lack the adorning touch of the aesthete. They simply exist — row upon row separated by narrow lanes. Edge deeper into the uncertainty until reaching the place where the monoliths consume you. This is The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It stands at the center of Germany’s capital, a constant marker of national remorse. full story »

Occupy Wall Street has become a punch line. Jokes referencing the 1% or the 99% seem practically ubiquitous, and yet those few protestors who continue their demonstrations despite the encroaching winter have lost practically all media attention. In the U.S., attention has shifted entirely to the upcoming presidential elections, and the Eurozone crisis has eclipsed the few protests in Europe.

Will the entire movement, and its demands for a more equitable income distribution, fade out of consciousness? If last week’s World Economic Forum is to be an indicator, maybe not. full story »

In 1869, the ceremonial “Last Spike” of the world’s first transcontinental was driven into the ground at Promontory Heights, Utah. Not only did it revolutionize transportation in the United States, but also it instantly became a proud symbol of American progress, optimism, and audacity. Now, well over a century later, there is a great deal of uncertainty about America’s future as the United States seems lacking in the progressive optimism that brought it to the top. But the question I’m concerned with at the moment is much simpler, though perhaps equally enigmatic: What happened to the American rail system? full story »

On Feburary 4^th, the Scotland Rugby Team will stand on the pitch of Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium and listen to “God Save the Queen.” The 60,000 tartan supporters, UK citizens, will remain largely silent throughout. A boo or two may even make its way through the stands.  Then with saltires waving and bagpipes playing, the Scots will proudly sing:

                        O Flower of Scotland,

                        When will we see your like again full story »

Christians in Iraq belong to some of the oldest Christian sects in the entire world, but since the United States pulled out its troops last month, many believe that their future may be threatened. The rise of militant Islam has caused a Christian exodus from Iraq, even during the American occupation. full story »

The riots that have been rocking Southwestern Kazakhstan since Friday have already led to forty casualties and at least fourteen deaths as protestors clash with police. Official government sources have referred to the rioters as mere “hooligans” and remain confident that the government will be able to put down the protests. They continue to assure outside observers that oil production will not be interrupted by the protests. Even so, the situation is reminiscent of the countless anti-government protests that have been spreading across the Middle East and Central Asia all year. Kazakhstan’s government seems to need only a small push to be on the verge of collapse – probably for the best. full story »

In 1888, Brazil became the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery. However, even today, many Brazilians – some say as many as 250,000 – are working under conditions not so dissimilar to those faced by slaves over a century ago.

In the northeastern state of Pará, slaves are commonly the ones who do the backbreaking work of turning wood into charcoal. full story »

Maybe Turkey isn’t fit for Europe after all. And maybe, Europe isn’t fit for Turkey either. Many Europeans have long been hostile to Turkey’s bid for accession to the EU, while many Turks have always seen EU membership as central to the country’s future. Now the hostility is mutual. full story »

What makes Syria different from Libya is not just its multi-religious, multiethnic societal fabric, but also the different level of domestic, regional, and international involvement in Syria’s crisis. In Libya’s case, there was more domestic and international involvement. Hundreds of thousands of people and opposition groups expressed their dissatisfaction with the Qaddafi regime world-wide. full story »