Bahrain’s Assault on Free Press

by Emile Nakhleh The Bahraini government’s decision on June 4 to shutter al-Wasat indefinitely yet again underscores the regime’s on-going assault on the freedom of expression and independent media. The information ministry claimed in its statement that it shut down… Continue Reading

It’s Time for Washington and Riyadh to Defuse the War Hysteria

by Emile Nakhleh The ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the devastating Saudi-led offensive in Yemen, the bellicose rhetoric towards Iran, the fracturing of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the regional involvement in the bloody Syrian civil war, are… Continue Reading

Saudi Bullying of Qatar: A Spurious Game of Thrones Crumbling

by Emile Nakhleh The Saudi-Abu Dhabi aggressive siege of Qatar has gone beyond a mere tribal feud pitting the de facto Saudi ruler Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud and the UAE Crown Prince Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nuhayyan against Tamim… Continue Reading

Aligning with Iran Necessary to Combat Sunni Extremism

by Emile Nakhleh In the past quarter century, the United States and its Western allies have suffered much from terrorism, mostly perpetrated by Sunni extremists. America has spent billions of dollars fighting al-Qaeda and its affiliated groups and more recently… Continue Reading