The Middle East articles from August 2005

The Middle East archives from August 2005

Comment.(London Terrorist Bombings, 2005)
August 1, 2005... There is nothing like a bomb exploding close to home to focus the mind on the grotesque aspects of war. Watching television from the comfort of an armchair, the full horror of murder and mayhem taking place in some far away land doesn't have...

Angering hearts & losing minds: finally the dreaded terror attack that British security agencies had been anticipating happened; when 7/7 became London's 9/11.(London Terrorist Bombings, 2005)
August 1, 2005... A MIXTURE OF TRADItional British intelligence gathering, sophisticated co-operation with overseas intelligence agencies, luck, and a long standing tacit understanding that radicals wanted for questioning in their home countries could find...

Going, going ...(Israeli settlements from Gaza Strip)
August 1, 2005... The much vaunted "disengagement plan" of Israeli settlers from Gaza is about to get underway, albeit amid distrust and animosity on both sides; even the recent visit of US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice failed to stir up any convincing...

A double-edged sword.(Palestine-Israel conflicts)
August 1, 2005... IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, an increasing number of Palestinian analysts and commentators openly began to criticise the disengagement plan and express fears about the aftermath of the Israeli exit. ...

So, where exactly is the West? The West is a catchall phrase more than it is a geographical reality, referred to by politicians, terrorists and journalists as a convenience rather than an accurate description.
August 1, 2005... DURING THE COLD WAR, THE WORLD was divided three ways. The First World--the Western--countries came under NATO and those aligned to the United States. The Second World--the East--was that which fell under the influence of communist Russia. The...

The hunt for Bin Laden: last month's bomb attacks in London have put the international community back on full red alert in terms of terror and Americans in particular are growing impatient as the Al Qaeda leader continues to elude them.(CURRENT AFFAIRS)
August 1, 2005... CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA) Director Porter Goss says he has an "excellent idea" of where Osama bin Laden is hiding but says the US cannot get at him because they cannot violate the sovereignty of another state. Vice-President Dick Cheney...

In pursuit of team spirit: this autumn, a "Treaty Event" will seek signatures on 33 international agreements to help celebrate the United Nations' 60th birthday. Arab governments have been slow to join.(UNITED NATIONS)
August 1, 2005... WHEN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY gathers in New York City this autumn, a special room will beckon diplomats as they ascend the grand staircase of the UN complex. It is an impromptu signature room, with a special table, pens, and press facilities....

Turkish Kurds face growing pressure from Ankara: Jon Gorvett reports from Diyarbakir on an escalation in violence among Turkey's ethnic Kurds.(TURKEY)
August 1, 2005... TO THE VISITOR, DIYARBAKIR -- THE provincial capital of Turkey's southeast --does not seem at first glance to be a city at war. As each sweltering day begins, the streets are busy, the markets are open and there is no sign of soldiers or...

US steps up Africa campaign.(antiterrorism measures)
August 1, 2005... The London bombings in July brought home, yet again, to countries in Europe how terrorist techniques transplanted from training camps in the Middle East can flourish successfully elsewhere. The additional threat of a jihadist spillover from the...

Back to the brink: Lebanon stands on the edge of a new era that could lead the way for Arab democracy, but it could be a rough ride. Ed Blanche reports from Beirut.(assassinations)
August 1, 2005... LEBANON HAS UNDERGONE POLITICAL changes in recent months that in Middle East terms have been breathtaking. Popular anger over Syrian domination, which followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri on 14 February, forced...

Arab property: can the boom continue? From Casablanca to Dubai, prices for commercial and residential properties have trebled since 2000. But experts warn this boom could sour--causing more economic dislocation than any war.(BUSINESS & FINANCE)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... ALONG THE BEACHES STRETCHING away from Dubai's famed Creek, armies of construction workers are racing to complete giant housing complexes which will permanently change the lie of the land. Demand is so great along Jumeirah Beach that most tower...

Powering the Libyan economy.(General Electricity Corp. (Libya)'s restructuring plans)
August 1, 2005... LIBYA'S RAPPROCHEMENT WITH THE West and its market reforms have most notably paid off with increased foreign investment in the oil and gas sector. While some of the largest hydrocarbon deals may take several years to come to fruition, there is...

Hotel sector reaps the rewards of Middle Eastern investment.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... There has been a marked increase in Middle Eastern property investors acquiring assets in Europe. In 2004 there was close to $500m worth of Middle Eastern capital invested in hotel real estate in Europe. Whilst the Middle Eastern market is...

Push towards privatisation back on course? Jon Gorvett reports from Istanbul on the latest moves towards achieving a more liberalised Turkish economy.(TURKEY)
August 1, 2005... TURKEY'S PRIVATISATION CAMPAIGN burst back into life in early July, after months of troubled dormancy. In a bidding process that defied all expectations, 55% of the state telecoms giant Turk Telekom (TT) was finally cleared off the sale block...

Private equity investment company launched in Sharjah.(The Group)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Sheikh Saqer bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qassimi has announced the setting up of a private equity investment company--The Group--with a capital of Dh200m ($54.451m). The new Sharjah-based company will focus on tapping potential investment...

Israeli exports to Arab states up by over 8%.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... According to statistics published by the Israel Export Institute (IEI), so far in 2005, there is an overall increase of 8.3% in exports, totalling $42m, to Arab states compared with last year. The figures indicate growing sales of Israeli...

International banks target Middle East: increasing numbers of international banks are moving into commercial and banking operations in the Middle East region, taking advantage of new liberalisation laws.(BUSINESS & FINANCE)
August 1, 2005... THE DECISION OF UK BASED banking giant HSBC to pursue a majority stake in Iraq's Dar Es Salaam Investment Bank confirms a trend. International banking groups have been stepping up their interests in the Middle East over the past couple of...

MEA symposium 2005.(Middle East Association)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Timed to coincide with the British EU presidency and the G8 meetings in the UK, the Middle East Association (MEA) in partnership with Compass Rose, recently organised a symposium to foster a greater understanding of the Middle East and develop...

Iran looks east: rising demand for electricity in Pakistan, India and China offers an excellent opportunity for the Iranian gas sector.(BUSINESS & FINANCE)
August 1, 2005... TEHRAN HAS STRUGGLED FOR years to make the most of its massive gas reserves. The limits on attractive opportunities for foreign upstream developers have been exacerbated by a lack of success in securing overseas markets. Now, however, liquefied...

Egypt's $1bn booming pharmaceutical sector.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Egypt's booming pharmaceutical sector is worth over $1bn annually, and shows signs of further growth in 2005, boosted by the government's modernisation drive and increased private sector involvement. Glimpses into the high-growth sector...

Arabcom 2005: Pat Lancaster reports from Tunisia.(BUSINESS & FINANCE)
August 1, 2005... FOR CENTURIES VISITORS HAVE flocked to Carthage to witness the remains of one of the world's most impressive ancient sites. At the end of June a new breed of observer flocked to this home of ancient civilisation to be brought bang up to date...

Al Mal Capital granted official UAE Central Bank approval.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Al Mal Capital PJSC [Under Formation], a UAE investment company, has been officially provided an initial approval by the UAE Central Bank to set up an investment company in the UAE. The company will be capitalised with a total of Dh1.2bn...

The lure of Libya: weekend breaks for Londoners in Libya? This is not a desert mirage but one of the dreams Amelia Stewart is determined to turn into reality before long.(Simoon Travel's educational tour)
August 1, 2005... TRIPOLI IS JUST A THREE-HOUR flight from Heathrow. With its souqs, squares, Italianate streets and huge choice of cafes, shops and places of interest it is the perfect base for a short sojourn in Libya. The magnificent Roman cities of Sabratha...

Catalhoyuk: goddess worshippers have been drawn to Catalhoyuk much as Catholics make their pilgrimages to the Vatican and Muslims travel to Mecca.(MOSAIC)(THE Goddess and the Bull)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... MICHAEL BALTER'S THE Goddess and the Bull is sure to become a classic in archaeology literature. The author relates the history of one of Turkey's most famous Neolithic settlements, Catalhoyuk on the Konya plain, and also tells the stories of...

Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... JIHAD The Trail of Political Islam By Gilles Kepel published by IB TAURIS ISBN 1 85043 722 x price 14.95 [pounds sterling] paperback The late 20th century saw the emergence of an unexpected and extraordinary phenomenon, culminating in a...

Losing Iraq: Inside the Post-war Reconstruction Fiasco.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... LOSING IRAQ Inside the Post-war Reconstruction Fiasco By David L. Phillips published by Westview Press ISBN 0 8133 4304 6 price 14.99 [pounds sterling] hardback According to conventional wisdom, Iraq has suffered because the Bush...

Iraq: An Illustrated History and Guide.(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... IRAQ An Illustrated History and Guide By Gilles Munier published bv Arris Books ISBN 1 84437 018 6 price 11.99 [pounds sterling] paperback Iraq's contemporary image provides few clues to the magnificence and power of her past. The target of...

Europe & the Arab World: Patterns and Prospects for the New Relationship.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... EUROPE & THE ARAB WORLD Patterns and Prospects for the New Relationship Samir Amin and Ali El Kenz published by Zed Books ISBN 1 84277 437 9 price 15.95 [pounds sterling] paperback Europe and the Arab World focuses on an initiative,...

Family Explorer: Abu Dhabi, Dubai.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... FAMILY EXPLORER Abu Dhabi, Dubai Published by Explorer Publishing ISBN 976 8182 34 2 price 18.00 [pounds sterling] The only handbook for families in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, this guide is jam packed with hundreds of innovative ideas, providing...

Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Oil Shock and the World Economy.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... TWILIGHT IN THE DESERT The Coming Oil Shock and the World Economy BV Matthew R. Simmons published by Wiley ISBN 0 471 73876 X price 15.99 [pounds sterling] hardback This book makes an important contribution to a better understanding of the...

My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... MY BROTHER'S ROAD An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia By Markar Melkonian published by IB TAURIS ISBN 1 85043 635 5 price 18.00 [pounds sterling] hardback 'Abu Sindi', 'Timothy Sean McCormack', 'Saro', and 'Commander Avo', were all...

Walking the talk.(Condoleezza Rice's foreign policy for Palestine)
August 1, 2005... "WHEN THE ISRAELIS WITHDRAW FROM GAZA, it cannot be sealed or isolated... with the Palestinian people closed in after the withdrawal," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a news conference during her whistle-stop tour of the region in...