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No sign of an official retreat from the Bahraini crackdown, International offensive, Elections in question, A much bigger crackdown, Ahmadinejad faces new challenges from within, KhameneiAfter seeing off popular protests and reformist opponents, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad now faces challenges from within the regime as hardliners attempt to rein in the president’s growing personal authority. Suggestions of a possible impeachment have even been mooted by some deputies in the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran (Majlis), as the relationship between president and parliament becomes increasingly strained. uneasy but still, apparently, supportive

In the wake of the Manama authorities’ crackdown on opposition, the political societies’ delicate position has left NGO campaigners more exposed as independent voices. The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights – officially banned but in practice still active – says it has been able to confirm 200 arrests, but believes the true number of those taken into detention is many more.

Turkey is coming to play a central role in strategic thinking in the Arab/Islamic world, as well as in the West and Eurasian zones. Regional trade is booming, Ankara’s relationship with Israel has become strained while Turkey has emerged as a key player in Iraqi Kurdistan; and as a nuclear Iran emerges, Turkey’s relations with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states may well become central to regional strategies.

Seychelles scandal, Media comments, Art activities, Saudi visit, Iranian guest, Concern over national divisions, Football controversy

GSN wrote about the beginnings of “the next insurgency” in Iraq in April 2009, describing meetings between Iraqi Sunni leaders and Baathist insurgents, which were characterised as a “long-term hedging of bets” by both parties ahead of the US drawdown and the assumption of full control by the Shia-led government in Baghdad. Sources within the US and Iraqi government intelligence systems believe this next insurgency is starting to unfold.

The US State Department on 15 September confirmed the role of the Omani government in securing the release of imprisoned hiker Sarah Shourd, who was arrested with two other Americans by Iran 13 months ago when walking in the mountainous Iranian/Iraqi border region

King Hamad shows no sign of relaxing a security campaign that seems intended to squeeze opposition outside parliament and depress voter turnout in support of opponents within the constitutional framework, when legislative elections are held on 23 October

King Hamad shows no sign of relaxing a security campaign that seems intended to squeeze opposition outside parliament and depress voter turnout in support of opponents within the constitutional framework, when legislative elections are held on 23 October

Obama said the drawdown allowed the US military to divert resources to the continuing campaign in Afghanistan, where it remained committed to defeating Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

An unspoken aspect of the remaining US presence in Iraq is Washington’s option of defending Iraq against major foreign or domestic threats.

Cyprus celebrations, Death, Recuperating abroad, New Baha governor, Private holiday, Domestic business

A law suit filed by one of the Gulf’s most high-profile expatriate executives could point to a dark side in the mighty Abu Dhabi business empire, if the allegations are proven. The suit has been filed in the United States by former Abu Dhabi National Energy Company chief executive Peter Barker-Homek against his former employer.

One of the remaining military tasks for US Forces Iraq (USF-I) is to enable the operations of the last 16 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) that the State Department operates in Iraq. In the summer of

Operation Iraqi Freedom ended on 1 September after more than seven years of US ‘combat operations’ in Iraq. GSN marks the occasion by analysing the new US military mission, Operation New Dawn

Prince Sultan taken ill