Obama Falters on Middle East Democracy
May 20, 2011
By Matthew Mainen
President Obama’s speech on the Arab Awakening presented a rare opportunity of catapulting American leadership in the Mideast. Unfortunately, little more than platitudes were offered. We heard…
The Consequences of Bahrain’s Kristallnacht
May 11, 2011
By Matthew Mainen
05/10/11 11:28 AM ETOver the weekend it was revealed that Bahrain's government quietly destroyed at least 30 Shia mosques, setting many Qurans ablaze in the process. Bahrain’s Kristallnacht, a night…
Saudi Women Break Monarchy’s Ban on Driving
May 21, 2011
The Saudi women’s driving rights campaign took on a new challenge as activist Manal Al-Sharif, accompanied by leading advocate for women’s rights Wajeha AlHuwaider, drove on the streets of Khober in the kingdom’s Eastern…
Saudi Royal Support for Terrorists Continues from New York
By Ali Al-Ahmed
When President Barak Obama said in his inauguration speech that "Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred," he didn't expect that in the immediate future such a network would be…
Is Obama Ignoring American Rights in Saudi Arabia?
By Amanda Gramley
“The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, the beatings and imprisonments of the last few days. I strongly condemn these unjust actions.” This is a…
Obama should take a firm stand against Saudi Arabia too
As the protests in Iran continue, President Obama is wisely toughening his stance against the Iranian government. That he is gradually strengthening his rhetoric is a brilliant example of his ability to navigate politically…
NRO: Hide and Seek
By Nina Shea and Ali al-Ahmed For nearly 25 years, the Islamic Saudi Academy (ISA), the Virginia school founded by royal decree of Saudi King Fahd in 1984, immersed students of its Islamic-studies curriculum in the same Wahhabi…
American Praising of Saudi Despots is Counterproductive
By Kate McMahon
Washington DC - I am perplexed by the level of excitement surrounding the opening of King Abdullah University this week. The silliness reminds me of the contestants in the TV program, "The Price is Right." Where…
Policy Watch: US Missed Opportunity on WTO
By Logan Barclift, Analyst IGA
Washington DC - In an ironic twist, two days before the fourth anniversary of the attacks of 9-11 the Bush administration signed a trade agreement with Saudi Arabia, home of the majority of the hijackers…
Saudis Release Leading Reformers
By IGA Staff
Newly Crowned King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has just issued a royal pardon releasing three leading liberal reformers, one of their lawyers and a religious scholar. Drs. Abdullah Al-Hamed and Matrook Al- Faleh, Poet Ali…