Steven A. Cook

From the Potomac to the Euphrates

Cook examines developments in the Middle East and their resonance in Washington.

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Showing posts for "Weekend Reading"

Weekend Reading: Egypt’s Revolutionary Symbols, Religious Tolerance on the Nile, and Israel Is Not Feeling Lucky

by Steven A. Cook
A man feeds camels at the camel market in Agadez, northern Niger. The Libyan crisis has affected the camel trade in Agadez badly, as Libya was a large market for the animal, and now there is no trade available from the country. (Luc Gnago/Courtesy Reuters). A man feeds camels at the camel market in Agadez, northern Niger. The Libyan crisis has affected the camel trade in Agadez badly, as Libya was a large market for the animal, and now there is no trade available from the country. (Luc Gnago/Courtesy Reuters).

Muftah analyzes the Muslim Brotherhood’s appropriation of revolutionary symbols, such as the Ultras,  to claim popularity among the youth in Egypt. Read more »

Weekend Reading: 1967 Borders, Sectarianism in Egypt, and the Options for Iran

by Steven A. Cook
A vendor works on a copper item to be sold in a shop in Baghdad's al-Safafeer Souq bazaar (Mohammed Ameen/Courtesy Reuters). A vendor works on a copper item to be sold in a shop in Baghdad's al-Safafeer Souq bazaar (Mohammed Ameen/Courtesy Reuters).

Dahlia Scheindlin evaluates the pragmatism of Ghazi Hamad,  Deputy Foreign Minister of Gaza, who publicly recognized the 1967 borders last week. Read more »

Weekend Reading: Egypt’s Bassem Youssef, Politics of the Arabic Language, and Videos from Syria

by Steven A. Cook
A general view of the Dubai skyline shows the Burj Khalifa building (Mohammed Salem/Courtesy Reuters). A general view of the Dubai skyline shows the Burj Khalifa building (Mohammed Salem/Courtesy Reuters).

Al-Monitor outlines the investigation of Egypt’s beloved comedian, Bassem Youssef.

Muftah discusses how nuances of the Arabic language reflect and affect the ever turbulent politics of the region. Read more »

Weekend Reading: Controversy in Jordan, A New Year in Iran, and Religion in Syria

by Steven A. Cook
Tourists stroll at the Grand Bazaar, which was built during the Ottoman-era, in Istanbul (Murad Sezer/Courtesy Reuters). Tourists stroll at the Grand Bazaar, which was built during the Ottoman-era, in Istanbul (Murad Sezer/Courtesy Reuters).

The Jordanian perspective on Jordan’s current political situation and King Abdullah’s recent commentary in the Atlantic. Read more »

Weekend Reading: Israel’s Defense, Saudi’s Trials, and Egypt’s War on Women

by Steven A. Cook
Muslim children read verses from the Koran at al-Amin mosque, in downtown Beirut, during the holy month of Ramadan (Jamal Saidi/Courtesy Reuters). Muslim children read verses from the Koran at al-Amin mosque, in downtown Beirut, during the holy month of Ramadan (Jamal Saidi/Courtesy Reuters).

Brent Sasley compares former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to the newcomer in the position, Moshe Ya’alon.

The Saudi Twittersphere is stirring in reaction to the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) Trial. Read more »

Weekend Reading: Tunisian Shake, Jordan’s Price Hike, and Syria’s Rebel Leadership

by Steven A. Cook
Former theology student Mevlude Aydemir reads a book in the old city of Istanbul (Fatih Saribas/Courtesy Reuters). Former theology student Mevlude Aydemir reads a book in the old city of Istanbul (Fatih Saribas/Courtesy Reuters).

Haifa Zaaiter argues that the “Harlem Shake” craze that has hit Tunisia may end up disarming the Salafists of their most potent weapon: denouncement of apostasy.

The Impatient Bedouin reflects on the recent outburst of violence in Jordan’s parliament over the country’s decision to raise fuel prices last week. Read more »

Weekend Reading: Saudi Tweets, Ennahda’s Decline, and Ramadan’s Odd Missive

by Steven A. Cook
A clergyman sits at his bookshop in Tabriz historic market, 633 km (393 miles) northwest of Tehran (Morteza Nikoubazl/Courtesy Reuters). A clergyman sits at his bookshop in Tabriz historic market, 633 km (393 miles) northwest of Tehran (Morteza Nikoubazl/Courtesy Reuters).

An interview with anonymous Twitter user @Mujtahidd, who has been tweeting provocative things about Saudi Arabia’s rulers.

An article from Muftah, discussing the declining credibility of Tunisia’s Ennahda party. Read more »

Weekend Reading: Turkey’s Chief of Staff, Fronting as a Front in Egypt, and Tunisia’s Sudden Troubles

by Steven A. Cook
An anti-Mursi protester, with his eyes closed due to tear gas fired by police, gestures while holding the national flag during clashes near the gate of El-Quba, one of the presidential palaces, in Cairo February 15, 2013 (Asmaa Waguih/Courtesy Reuters). An anti-Mursi protester, with his eyes closed due to tear gas fired by police, gestures while holding the national flag during clashes near the gate of El-Quba, one of the presidential palaces, in Cairo February 15, 2013 (Asmaa Waguih/Courtesy Reuters).

Murat Yetkin on an important proposed change to civil-military relations in Turkey.

Khalid Amayreh argues that Egypt’s National Salvation Front is not much of a Front. Read more »

Weekend Reading: Banking on the Nile, Dialogue in Bahrain, and Obama in Israel

by Steven A. Cook
Pigeons fly during a dust storm in Kuwait City (Stephanie McGehee/Courtesy Reuters). Pigeons fly during a dust storm in Kuwait City (Stephanie McGehee/Courtesy Reuters).

Mohamed A. El-Erian presents seven compelling reasons that Egypt’s leadership needs to adopt new, more cooperative approaches to solving the increasingly dire economic crisis on the banks of the Nile. Read more »