“Peak oil” theorists will be vindicated by a Feb. 20 report on al-Jazeera that Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil producer, has past its peak of production and may have in fact damaged its own extractable reserves through over-production. Writes al-Jazeera: As… Read moreSaudi Arabia at “peak oil”?
With Lebanon possibly next in the US crosshairs following the Valentine’s Day car-bomb assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, the Hezbollah militia movement marked the Shi’ite holy day of Ashura with a massive rally in Beirut. Amid requisite chants… Read moreHezbollah next US target?
The US has called home its ambassador to Syria in protest of Damascus’ supposed links to the Hariri assassination before the facts are even in. In response, Syria and Iran—traditional rivals, but both fearing they could be next for US… Read moreHariri fallout: Iran-Syria “united front”
Former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri (and 11 others) were killed in a Beirut car bomb attack Feb. 14. Because he had been an outspoken opponent of the Syrian military presence in Lebanon, suspicion immediately fell on Damascus and Damascus-backed… Read moreWho killed Rafik Hariri?
In the men-only elections for half the seats on Saudi Arabia‘s municipal councils–a landmark step towards democracy by Saudi standards–results are in from the capital, Riyadh, and over 30 losing candidates are claiming the seven winners violated campaign guidelines. The… Read moreOpposition: Islamists cheat in Saudi elections
A front-page story in the Feb. 10 NY Times notes that Saudi Arabia is holding its first national election that day–albeit with an "asterisk": women are barred from the vote, and even men only get to elect half the members… Read moreSaudi dissidents freed on eve of election
