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What happened to Al-Hasani? Has he been banned again?

GDP per capita isn't a beneficial measure when speaking strategically, so I'm not sure what the original's posts main point was. GDP/GNP are the principal measures. That said, Israel's economic/innovative advantage is being eroded in the region, due in large to rapid economic diversification in...

Bcharri, Lebanon.

Are there any large-scale procurements in waiting? Any plans to replace the older Tornados for example? And didn't the German tank deal fall through? Any replacements?

By Bilal Saab Since the formation of the modern Arab state system in the mid-twentieth century, no Arab country has succeeded in building and sustaining an indigenous national defense industry. Egypt tried hard, but ultimately failed because it lacked the requisite financial and human capital...

@Yzd Khalifa Where's your signature from? A quote?

Coexistence is what everyone aspires to. But it's very difficult when one community is armed to the teeth, while others aren't and the state is weak.

I think Hezbollah and the Shi'a community broadly needs to reconcile itself to a certain reality: the Assad regime will not and cannot survive. And even if it holds out for another decade, it will not have the capability to project influence into Lebanon as it has for the last four decades. The...

I was being a bit loose with my words, I'll clarify. On key, strategic issues, Lebanon is too complicated for it to have any kind of coherent or sustainable policy formulated entirely from home. Every sect looks outwards and sees natural allies and foes, and the political institutions simply...

Democracy cannot be divorced from the individualism and secularism that emerged with it philosophically and historically in Europe. The global east (China, India, Arab World, etc) will never be able to replicate that process and the cultures are not predispositioned towards democracy as...

The article makes me happy, not upset. If Saudi Arabia weren't throwing its weight around in Lebanon, Hezbollah and Iran would've consolidated their control beyond what they already have. This will have to continue at least until there's regime change in Syria and the natural, Levantine order...

You think the Ottomans can also be characterised as being uncompetitive with the non-Muslim powers, particularly in their first two centuries? That conclusion would surprise me to be honest.

Almost all the Arabs mentioned in the first post are Lebanese. Our diaspora in South America is huge, almost twice the size of Lebanon's actual population, and they've been the principal Arab community in the continent. Any such Arab-South American engagement would benefit from a strong...

The International Spectator - Pakistan envoy 'encouraged' by Modi's remarks on India relations Pakistan said Wednesday it was “encouraged” by comments from arch rival India’s election frontrunner Narendra Modi who stressed cooperation with foreign governments if he was elected prime minister...

Let's fear Allah and cut out the racism.

The International Spectator - Reign of Algeria's Bouteflika marred by graft scandals Corruption, a recurring scourge for Algeria, has risen to the forefront of public life during President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s rule, fuelled by soaring oil prices and an explosion in imports. The judiciary has...

The International Spectator - Pakistan must and will play a greater role in the Middle East Pakistan’s role in the Middle East, relative to Islamabad’s power and geographical proximity to the region, is tiny. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to identify a single Middle Eastern issue in which...

Off-topic, but what do you think of KSA's designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation?

Terms of agreement will be interesting.

The International Spectator - India Congress manifesto pledges millions of jobs India’s embattled ruling Congress party promised Wednesday to create millions of jobs and revive a sliding economy as it unveiled a populist manifesto aimed at averting electoral defeat. Reaching out to Congress’s...