Category Archives: Politics

Clash of the Oil Titans

Again, the oil price war looms to the detriment of countries stuck in the middle. Continue reading

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Filed under Analysis, PIDE (Policy, International Development & Economics), Politics

Syria’s Sexual Violence Rate on Par With Bosnia War

Aside from the Iraq War in 2004, the Syrian conflict represents the worst violence–not just in the region–but globally since the Balkan Crisis of the 1990’s. Continue reading

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Filed under Analysis, PIDE (Policy, International Development & Economics), Politics

Middle East History & Theory Workshop Conference at University of Chicago

The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Middle East History and Theory (MEHAT) Conference will take place at the University of Chicago on will be held Friday and Saturday, May 4-5, 2018. This conference, free and open to the public, will feature a keynote … Continue reading

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Filed under Interests, Politics

Does the Sunni-Shiite Construct Really Help Explain Electoral Politics in MENA?

  How many of you feel that using the “Sunni-Shiite” construct better frames political discussions in the MENA region?  Does the Sunni-Shiite Construct Really Help Explain Electoral Politics in MENA? The irrelevance of American rhetoric in recent weeks should, but won’t, … Continue reading

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Filed under Analysis, Politics, Technology

Turkish Investment Authority Presents a Case for the US to Invest in Turkey

This week, in the United States, felt very much like what many children would have described as “Opposite Day”.  Here’s why: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the President of the United States’ “Muslim Travel Ban”, which is already reinforcing an … Continue reading

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Will Saudi Ouster Increase Confidence for the Investor?

“I think as an investor I would want to make sure that I’m investing in a country where my corporate investment, my business is protected through some type of rule of law…I don’t think that’s there.”~Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi … Continue reading

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When Special Envoys Get Dumped, Issues and MENA Region Get Drumpfed

“Rex Tillerson outlines a major State Department reform that promotes business, war on Islamic State, while downplaying African peacemaking and outreach to Muslim world,” writes Colum Lynch for the Foreign Policy magazine.  The 45th administration argues that this will achieve … Continue reading

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Cheaper to Fund Cyber Attacks than to Build Military Bases #QatarCrisis

Dear Pitaconsumers: PITAPOLICY blogged about the U.S. President of the United States first overseas trip, which included commentary on ’45’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the unusual Qatar crisis that followed–coincidentally–where Qatar’s ambassadors were given 48 hours to leave the … Continue reading

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That which is measured improves. #Hope #SyrianRefugees

Pearson’s Law: “That which is measured improves. That which is measured and reported improves exponentially.” – Karl Pearson Greetings Pita-Consumers! Before you do anything: share this link with your organizations and friends working to assist Syrian refugees.  Note: there are … Continue reading

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Filed under Analysis, PIDE (Policy, International Development & Economics), Politics

#OrangeAlert to MENA: This Is Not Normal.

Americans may remember the cryptic “Orange Alerts” created during President Bush’s tenure as our 43rd U.S. President.  In response to 9/11, terror warnings came out in color code. Red was the worst: attack occurring. Green was normal. Yellow was in-between.  … Continue reading

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Filed under Interests, Politics