Category: Middle East
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Israeli rationale
Old friend of Gavin’s Blog, Steve Clemons, has some interesting speculation on the reasons for Olmert’s apparent over-reaction in Lebanon. Why is Israel pounding most of Lebanon rather than just the South and rather than pinpointing its attack against Hezbollah assets? Why the dramatic bombing of explosive fuel centers? The attacks both in Gaza and…
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Hip-hop producer faces Dubai drug charges
One thing you definately don’t do is try to bring cocaine into Dubai. I guess given its increasing perception as a ‘Western’ city, many may be fooled into thinking its laws may be equally liberal for simple possession of a class-A drug. But no, up to 15 years for this guy.
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Massive Google Earth update – Dubai updated
It’s taken a while, but we are finally seeing more of the world in high resolution via Google Earth. The changes were made last night and include areas of Russia, China, Africa, Taiwan, USA, Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean Islands, many islands in the Pacific, Puerto Rico, South America, New Zeland, Australia. Of most interest to…
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Images and pictures of Mohammed, historical
Michelle Malkin linked to images of Mohammed, the notion that any images of Mohammed are forbidden in Islam seems odd to me, but then I’m not religious myself. What I had not realised is that this story has been brewing since October. That this is the case lends more weight to an argument that the…
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Danish Mohammed cartoons
This really has stirred up a hornet’s nest. Michelle Malkin has, perhaps rightly, been going to town on it. Last night RTE’s Prime Time decided not to show any of the cartoons. I have decided to link to the cartoons, I actually think they are not that good, and to be honest I can’t see…
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Palestinian ambassador interview
Richard Delevan, a much missed regular feature in the Irish blogosphere has a post today with an exerpt of an interview he did with the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland. You can read the first part of the interview here.
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Juan Cole readers
Welcome to readers of Informed Comment, I did a guest piece for Juan on my various trips to Dubai, and the development currently taking place there.
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Dubai's ruler Sheikh Maktoum dies
It seems that whenever I leave Dubai these days a ruler dies – I promise I have no connection. September 2004, Sheikh Zayed died not long after my return, and now 2 days after my return, Sheikh Maktoum has died.
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Beirut bomb 'kills anti-Syria MP'
It looks like Syria are giving the proverbial two fingers to the UN: A prominent anti-Syrian MP in Lebanon has been killed in a car bomb attack in the capital Beirut, say reports. Gibran Tueni’s convoy was targeted as it travelled in the Christian-dominated eastern suburb of Mekallis. At least two other people were killed…
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An affair to remember
One of the stranger stories you might hear from the UAE: A camel has been condemned to death after a worker was caught having sex with it in the remote emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The man, a Bangladeshi driver, was sentenced to three months in jail for his dangerous liaisons. His employer reported him…