Drone Strikes’ Dangers to Get Rare Moment in Public Eye

Source: The New York Times (Read full story)

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Mr. Brennan, a former C.I.A. station chief in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has taken a particular interest in Yemen, sounding early alarms within the administration about the threat developing there, working closely with neighboring Saudi Arabia to gain approval for a secret C.I.A. drone base there that is used for American strikes, and making the impoverished desert nation a test case for American counterterrorism strategy.

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Special Report | Prince Muqrin Named 2nd Deputy PM

Source: SUSRIS (Read full story)

Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz was appointed Second Deputy Premier by King Abdullah on Friday according to the Saudi Embassy Washington. Muqrin, who served as Advisor and Special Envoy to the King since being relieved as head of Saudi intelligence last July, was to take up his new position immediately. He becomes the fifth prince in the history of the Kingdom to be named to the post which has seen previous incumbents eventually elevated to Crown Prince, direct successor to the throne. The post has been vacant since Prince Nayef was named Crown Prince in October 2011.

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U.S. and Iranian Strategic Competition: Sanctions, Energy, Arms Control, and Regime Change

Source: Center for International and Strategic Studies (Read full story)

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It is not clear that these pressures and sanctions can succeed in altering Iranian nuclear ambitions or bringing stability to US and Iranian competition over nuclear weapons and security in the region. It is clear, however, that the push toward enhancing sanctions and growing international isolation is having a real impact on the Iranian economy. Iran’s recent actions also indicate that new sanctions and international – as well as internal – pressure is having serious effects.

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The Common Lessons of Benghazi, Algeria, Mali, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Arab Spring

Source: Center for Strategic and International Studies (Read full story)

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It will be a struggle to help nations deal with the broad range of forces that are currently causing so much instability in the Arab world, to modernize and evolve where they can, and to help the new political factions that take power move forward quickly and with as little violence as possible. The end result will not be a war on terrorism, although it will involve many extremists and terrorist elements; it will be dealing with a clash within Islam rather than a clash between civilizations.The United States will have to deal with a kaleidoscope of shifting governments, factions, and ideologies. There will be many more cases where seemingly stable regimes implode and find themselves dealing with extremists, terrorists, civil conflicts, and failed or failing leaders and governments.

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King Abdullah’s  proposal to drive Arab economic growth

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

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During the Jan. 21-22 conference that was held in the Saudi capital, King Abdullah urged Arab leaders to increase the capitals of Arab joint companies and funds by 50 percent to speed up Arab economic recovery.
The proposal, which was to channel an additional $ 10 billion to Arab economies in new funds, was endorsed by the summit. The move has been welcomed by Arab businessmen, saying it would have a big impact on increasing inter-Arab trade and investment.

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Kingdom regrets global inaction on Israeli violations

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

Saudi Arabia has stressed that the resolution of the Palestinian issue is key to achieving regional and world peace, particularly under the current circumstances in the Middle East. “Israel has been reacting to the United Nations decision to grant Palestine a nonmember observer state status by approving the settlement expansion of thousands of new residential units. At the same time, the occupying authority has intensified its persecution of the Palestinian people. Moreover, it has denied the Palestinian Authority its tax and customs revenue in clear violation of the Paris Protocol,” said Abdullah Al-Muallami, the Kingdom’s permanent representative at the United Nations, while addressing the Security Council in New York on Wednesday.

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UAE Council applauds first female Speaker

Source: The National (Read full story)

At 9am yesterday, Dr Amal Al Qubaisi became the first woman to take the chair as Speaker of the FNC. It was, the member from Abu Dhabi said, a “dream come true”. “I am lucky,” said Dr Al Qubaisi, who has been a deputy speaker since 2011 but has never before had to step into Mohammed Al Murr’s shoes. But yesterday Mr Al Murr was unable to attend and she finally had her chance in what she described as a significant moment for Emirati women.  “With the support that the leaders give, an Emirati woman is now able to reach and prove herself in any field,” Dr Al Qubaisi said.

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Yemen seeks to talk its way out of chaos

Source: Gulf News (Read full story)

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Perhaps the greatest of all problems facing Yemen is the clashing identities of different parts of the country. Aden and the South — shaped by the British presence from 1839 until 1967 and then by two decades of Marxist rule — were greatly disillusioned by union with the north in 1990. In 1994, the South tried to break loose but was defeated. Today, a powerful southern movement known as Al Hirak, embittered by the corruption, land grabs and aggression of northern tribes, is campaigning for autonomy or even outright secession.

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