Between You and Me

A blog about the movers and shakers in the region and their agendas—what are they up to and why from contributing editor, Jacqueline Shoen.



Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Friday, 13 Jan, 2012
1

Redefining American Power

US President, Barack Obama, unveiled last week the US Department of Defense’s January 2012 defense strategy, Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense. Based on the premise that economic fragility coupled with a changing global security environment, namely, the rise of China and political transition in the Middle East, call for a significant reshaping of US defense strategy, President Obama has proposed $489bn in defense cuts over the next 10 years, includin...

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Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Friday, 6 Jan, 2012
0

Playing With Fire

The escalating crisis over Iran’s nuclear program will not have a happy ending. Every conventional course of action that could be taken by western policymakers and negotiators to slow down or stop Iranian enrichment of uranium, would bolster the Islamic republic, whether it be an internal consolidation of power, or increased regional influence. Western leaders agree that leaving Iran to its own devices is not in their interest. This limits them to two options, both aggressive and lackin...

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Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Thursday, 8 Dec, 2011
0

A Non-Violent Hamas?

The popular demands for democracy and economic security emerging from the Arab Spring have finally reached Palestine. Responding to pressure from many Palestinians to reconcile...

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Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Friday, 2 Dec, 2011
0

Isolating Iran

There is something deeply unsettling about the recent events in Tehran this week. In response to the alleged government-sanctioned sacking of the British embassy by an esti...

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Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Friday, 25 Nov, 2011
0

Democracy in Action

On Monday, 21 November, after nearly a month of deliberations, leaders from the first, second and fourth largest political parties—Ennahda, the Congress for the Republic (CPR...

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Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Thursday, 17 Nov, 2011
0

Confusion reigns over PLO’s next move at UN

In a meeting last week between Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and political party representatives from Tunisia’s new constituent assembly, President Abbas reportedly r...

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Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Friday, 28 Oct, 2011
0

Final poll results confirm Ennahda victory

As predicted, the moderate Islamist party, Ennahda, has won more votes than any other political party competing for seats in the Tunisian constituent assembly election. Yet, ...

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Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Monday, 24 Oct, 2011
0

Are we in Palestine or Tunisia?

  Nearly a month ago, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) launched its bid for full member status at the United Nations. Alongside its official campaign to ga...

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Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Thursday, 13 Oct, 2011
1
Jacqueline Shoen
Written by :
on : Friday, 7 Oct, 2011
0

Let the Campaigns Begin

This past Saturday, Tunisia’s 111 registered political parties were given the go ahead to begin their campaigns, just about three weeks before election day. Garnering gra...

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