Weekend Update

News from around the Middle East

What it’s like to buy lingerie in The Kingdom
http://blogs.thetimes.co.za/minor/2009/05/25/buying-lingerie-in-saudi-arabia/

Two steps forward, one step back
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/holy-post/archive/2009/05/25/morals-police-takes-aim-newspapers-in-saudi-arabia.aspx

al Qaeda caught in Egypt
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsJONY18ifcFcNe2AThP5gdhhx6g

This is how an arms race happens
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aVoR7GOucg_k&refer=japan

Uzbek airbase attacked
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=6066
If you’ve never heard of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, I suggest doing some research as they are one of the most important and powerful allies of the Taliban and al Qaeda and operate worldwide

Hizb ur-Tahrir on the fight in Pakistan
http://europenews.dk/en/node/23287
Another group to monitor – the most influential terrorist organization worldwide because they set up in Western countries and foster the rot from within by integrating themselves into Western societies and governments

Imam Zaid Shakir – a name to know
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090525/islam-experts-wary-of-plan-for-u-s-muslim-college/index.html

Iran’s moderate presidential candidate vows to end US presence in the Middle East
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=95918§ionid=351020101

Iran’s reformist presidential candidate sites the need to support Hamas
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j5fkW_8TuCQ5TXK4vE5SMGfuofzw

Slowly but surely, they’re moving into our neighborhood
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/international/Israel_Venezuela_Bolivia_Supplying_Iran_With_Uranium_for_Nuclear_Program_79214139

Rand has its own Iranian conclusions
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052502390.html?hpid=sec-politics

Ahmadinejad puts end to nuclear dialogue
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052500770.html?sub=AR

Obama not playing favorites
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iLwfqzTqtnBLu_eNOuTk6vKU9a9g

Netanyahu gives in
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jqcyPEVpqP7COCrozIYHU3VzPCVQ

Hamas denies preventing rocket attacks
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/25/content_11433353.htm

The weakness of some to become the weakness of all
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/opinion/27iht-edlet.html?hpw

Tourism is down, too
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLQ57925720090526

Nice, brief numbers on nuclear activities putting N.K.’s recent test in perspective – just ignore the bias
http://www.ww4report.com/node/7362

A renewed casus belli?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1088178.html

Kudos to the NYT for running a piece that makes this much sense
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/opinion/26bolton.html

Lebanon’s Armenians
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/world/middleeast/26armenians.html?ref=middleeast