Category Archives: Middle East

Khamenei: Biden’s Preferred Dictator?

Posted on February 6, 2021 by nervana111

Within less than a month of his inauguration, the new American president Joe Biden has taken several actions with one theme in common____ they all, directly or indirectly, serve the interests of the Iranian regime.  First, it was the appointment of Robert … Continue reading →

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Twitter Thread: Prominent Hezbollah Critic Lokman Slim Shot Dead in Lebanon

Posted on February 4, 2021 by nervana111

Anti-Hezbollah publisher and documentary-maker, Lokman Slim, who predicted he would be mirdered by Hezbollah, found murdeed this morning in his car with gunshots to the head. Here is a collection of tweets on this abhorrent crime.

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Twitter Thread: Biden pauses F-35 sale to UAE

Posted on January 28, 2021 by nervana111

The Biden administration has put a temporary hold on several major foreign arms sales initiated by former President Donald Trump, including a massive $23 billion transfer of stealth F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates. Here is a collection of … Continue reading →

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On Reconciliation With Qatar

Posted on January 26, 2021 by nervana111

In medieval times, Arab tribes had an unwritten agreement that prohibited infighting in four “forbidden months” – the months of Muharram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qa’dah, and dhu al-Hijjah, according to the Arabic calendar. This agreement was an armistice deal that allowed trade … Continue reading →

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Oruc Reis Between Turkey and Greece

Posted on September 10, 2020 by nervana111

Oruç Reis, a Turkish research vessel, which is carrying out drilling surveys in the East Mediterranean sea, is getting close to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, raising the tension in the region to an alarming level.  It is no coincidence that Erdogan’s … Continue reading →

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Podcast: Arabs are wondering, is Erdogan all talk? – Nervana Mahmoud- Ahval

Posted on August 15, 2020 by nervana111

I recorded this podcast with Ahval’s editor David Lepeska that war is a real possibility in the eastern Mediterranean, that Turkey has taken all decision-making power away from Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and that Turkish President Erdogan has … Continue reading →

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Rebranding the caliphate –a never-ending dystopian myth

Posted on August 6, 2020 by nervana111

  If not now, when?   if not you, who? With the image of pious Erdogan reciting the Quran in Hagia Sophia, and his head Mufti holding the sword of conquest it is no wonder that slogan appeared on social media. … Continue reading →

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Reblog: Erdoğan setting the stage for invalidating the Lausanne Treaty

Posted on July 26, 2020 by nervana111

This is a brilliant piece by Turkish writer Yavuz Baydar, published in, in Ahval, on Erdogan’s intention after converting Hagia Sophia to a mosque. Republished here with permission.    (Photo via Ahval) A spectre is haunting Europe, the spectre of Turkish … Continue reading →

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Turkey, Egypt, and the Libyan Discourse

Posted on July 18, 2020 by nervana111

  ( Sisi ‘s visit to Sisi Barrani airforce base June 2020- Photo via twitter)   Sidi Barrani in north-western Egypt is a sleepy town that is just a quick stop for travellers heading to Libya. Yet the little town … Continue reading →

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To Israel: A clarion call for peace from UAE

Posted on June 20, 2020 by nervana111

“Today I tell you, and I declare it to the whole world, that we accept to live with you in permanent peace based on justice.”  These momentous words, uttered by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat on November 20, 1977, in the Israeli … Continue reading →

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