Photo by Jeremy Edwards
July 13, 2009
"Human Connections on a Crosstown Bus"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
The conversation and gestures of appreciation and acknowledgment lasted no more than 10 seconds. But packed into that moment was a whole universe of human connectedness and warmth, immense dignity and professionalism.
AP Photo
July 8, 2009
"McNamara and a Lesson for Lebanon"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
"Remembering Robert McNamara's ways half a century ago, and watching Lebanese prime minister-designate Saad Hariri's deliberations today should remind us that military power, political legitimacy and national influence are three different things."
AP Photo
July 6, 2009
"Hypocritical Kvetching"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
Negotiating with Iran cannot be any more difficult than it was with the Soviet Union. So why the hesitancy -- and the anguished, hypocritical debate in the West?
AP Photo
July 1, 2009
"Three Cheers for Turkey"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
The most significant development in the Middle East? The continuing civilian control of the Turkish military -- the only instance where the power of military, police, and intelligence-security agencies is being checked by democratically-elected civilian authorities.
AP Photo
June 29, 2009
"Why Do Arabs Not Revolt?"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
Why do the top-heavy, non-democratic political control and governance systems of the Arab world persist without any significant popular opposition or public challenge?
June 24, 2009
"The Arabs' Forlorn Envy of Iranians"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
Broadly speaking, the Arab world has maneuvered itself into a lose-lose situation vis-à-vis developments in Iran -- despite different views of the Islamic Republic.
June 19, 2009
"Iran Makes History Again"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
This is uncharted territory in the context of contemporary Iran -- since the 1979 Islamic revolution overthrew the Shah. But it's routine behavior in the wider context of human beings who do not like being treated like idiots by their own government.
AP Photo
June 17, 2009
"Nothing New from Netanyahu"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
Netanyahu wants for the Israelis today what God promised the ancient Hebrews in Deuteronomy, Exodus and Numbers: eternal, exclusive, pure, powerful, secure statehood in a land owned by others that will be miraculously ethnically cleansed with Divine mandate and legitimacy.
AP Photo
June 15, 2009
"What Comes Around Goes Around"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
Changes in American policies and rhetoric are already triggering intriguing responses from different parts of the Middle East, as we can see in four separate issues: Lebanon, Palestine-Israel, Iran, and American attitudes toward Islam and Muslims.
June 5, 2009
"Obama’s Worthy Gesture"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
In his speech in Cairo, Barack Obama sought a new beginning, which we all badly need. So let's put away the Bible and Quran classes, hear from Arab, Iranian and Israeli leaders -- and get down to the tough business of forging better policies.
