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America’s allies often watch in bemusement as the USA’s policies are pulled hither and thither by the ill winds of domestic politics. Even the US’s closest and most powerful friends can do little to influence partisan debates on the Hill and so must sit by and make the best of what is often a bad job.

Iran’s policy towards Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria has been a ‘hot topic’ in recent weeks. As Israel and Syria have drawn closer to a potential compromise, the future of Hezbollah and of Iranian involvement in Lebanon has come into question. Will Hezbollah become a fully fledged democratic political party once the occupying

In the 19th Century the European Great Powers often intervened in the Middle East under the guise of religion. Whether it was the French “protecting” Maronites in Lebanon or the Russians supporting Orthodox communities, geopolitical expansionism dovetailed neatly with popular demands in metropolitan capitals to rescue coreligionists from the “depravities” of the Orient.

The visit to Kuwait by Jordanian King Abdallah and his wife Rania marked the symbolic end to the estrangement between the Hashemite Kingdom and the emirate. With the visit, Jordan highlighted its determination to mend fences with the GCC while Kuwait’s emir demonstrated his country’s determination to tighten the noose around Saddam.

The latest report on global arms sales shows that developing nations are spending less on armaments than in previous years. According to figures released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in the United States, procurement expenditure fell to its lowest level since 1991.

Last year’s cruise missile strikes on sites in Afghanistan and Sudan linked to Osama bin Laden led to fears that the Clinton Administration was falling into the trap of declaring another futile “war on terrorism.” The unilateral attacks may have signalled US anger at

Internet connectivity has grown very slowly in the Middle East and the Gulf but every country in the region, bar Iraq and Libya, now provides some form of connectivity for citizens. Part of the reason for the slow growth has been technical and economic but

A wave of unrest swept Iran this month. In the confused series of clashes that rocked the country, the hard-line followers of the Imam’s line, the Ansar-e Hizbollah, found themselves working with their bitter enemies in the Mujahideen-e Khalq to crush students loyal to reformist President Mohammed Khatami. Such bizarre alliances of convenience demonstrate just how complex is the current

It is too early yet to draw long term conclusions from the results of Kuwait’s 3 July parliamentary elections. However, at first glance it does appear as if the government suffered a stunning setback which will mean that the new National Assembly will, if anything, be more recalcitrant than the previous Assembly.

Now that the immediate crisis in Kosovo is over, the UN Security Council can turn its attention t Iraq. More to the point, US strategists can focus Iraq. If the Clinton Administration can leave office having not only “won” the Kosovo War but having “beaten” Saddam, then Al Gore may actually make it into the White House. Arab fears that Iraq

As expected, the INC visit to Washington at the end of last month resulted in promises of limited US aid and further exhortations from the US Administration that the opposition unif and organise itself. For now, though, there seems little prospect of the US providing direct military support to the exiled opposition.

Even as Iraqi exiles continue their highly public manoeuvres in London and Washington, on the ground in Iraq dissident forces are scoring successes that, little by little, are putting the regime on the defensive. It may well be these less publicised activities that chip away at and ultimately undermine the regime – leaving Iraq’s argumentative exiles to bicker amongst themselves.

Kuwait’s intellectuals and parliamentarians like to boast of their country’s democracy. While they acknowledge how limited the franchise remains, encompassing no women and only 115,000 “first class” Kuwaiti male citizens, they nonetheless scorn the powerless majales of their GCC neighbours and portray themselves as leading the march towards political “modernisation” in the Gulf.

The ambiguous outcome of Turkey’s parliamentary elections is bad news for the Gulf and the wider Middle East. The election left Turkey without a clear parliamentary majority and therefore with no strong government. Worse still, the election result demonstrated a polarisation of political opinion that bodes ill for Turkish stability. An unstable coalition government under pressure from nationalists,

King Abdullah of Jordan has made an ambitious start to his reign. At home, his government has announced a sweeping policy programme. Abroad won plaudits during a tour of the Gulf and reportedly even initiated discussion on possible Jordanian membership of the GCC.