'Only a matter of time before terrorists use weapons of mass destruction' Aug 6, 2009
"The regime continues to support terror organisations. And we know that the Baathist leadership fled to Damascus taking with them money and terrorist expertise, and we cannot rule out the fact that some of that expertise related to WMD.". Publishers wishing to reproduce photographs on this page should phone 44 (0) 207 538 7505 or e-mail. (Yahoo News -- Biological and Chemical Weapons)
Iran says 3 Americans arrested for illegal entry Aug 5, 2009
He did not speak Farsi, his passion was Arabic," she said. Bauer has traveled to the Middle East and North Africa and was most recently based in Damascus where he is working on a film about Darfur. Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey of Pine City, Minn., and Shourd's mother, Nora Shourd, said they are concerned for the safety and welfare of the group and hope they return safely. Fattal's father Jacob, who runs a tech magazine outside Philadelphia, also told reporters: "All we care about is the... (WSVN-TV Miami, FL)
Shared passions Aug 5, 2009
The pair had been staying in Damascus, Syria, but they and Fattal last week were in Iraqi Kurdistan, where Bauer was planning to report for NAM on presidential and parliamentary elections in the autonomous region, Close said. "I think he went to [Iraqi] to cover the elections ... and [during a hike] unfortunately didn't know the ground he was walking on well enough to avoid crossing over whatever boundary was there," Close told CNN on Monday. (CNN -- World)
3 U.S. hikers missing in Iran are Cal graduates Aug 5, 2009
In recent months, while based in Damascus, Syria, he filed several photojournalism pieces - often from the perspective of ordinary Arabs - that were published online by San Francisco's New American Media. "The huge concern is that we won't know where he is, or who has him, or how to reach him," said Sandy Close, executive editor of New American Media. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Iran Investigating 3 Wayward U.S. Hikers Aug 4, 2009
Bauer has traveled to the Middle East and North Africa and was most recently based in Damascus where he is working on a film about Darfur. Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey of Pine City, Minnesota, and Shourd's mother, Nora Shourd, said they are concerned for the safety and welfare of the group and hope they return safely. (CBS News -- Politics)
Diplomats pressing Iran for word on 3 Americans Aug 4, 2009
Bauer has traveled to the Middle East and North Africa and was most recently based in Damascus where he is working on a film about Darfur. Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey of Pine City, Minn. (Albany Times Union)
Top article: Adding Value To Humanity Aug 1, 2009
Seven centuries ago, Baghdad and Damascus were world financial hubs ... The financiers of Mecca and Damascus set up letters of credit, bills of exchange, foreign agencies, primitive contract laws and custom duties centuries before the bankers of Renaissance Florence and Tudor London ... The Silk Road to China, the Amber Route to the Baltic, the evolution of trade-linked cities such as Petra, Baghdad, Mecca, Sidon and Damascus were the centres of Arab power politics for centuries. (India Times, India)
Syrian football winsbusiness backing Jul 28, 2009
Syria has 14 clubs in the Premier League, four based in the capital Damascus and roughly two linked to each province, in addition to around 120 registered local teams. Games in the league, which has operated since 1966, take place between October and May every Friday and Saturday. (Asia Times Online)
U.S. envoy in Syria: Obama seeks peace Jul 27, 2009
White House outreach to Damascus marks stark break with past policies. Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, meets with U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell at the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday ... DAMASCUS, Syria - President Barack Obama's special Mideast envoy said on Sunday that the U.S. administration is determined to achieve a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace settlement. (MSNBC -- International)
Russian patriarch visits Ukraine Jul 27, 2009
US envoy pushes peace in Damascus. Lumley meeting Gurkhas in Nepal. (BBC News -- Europe)
US envoy pushes peace in Damascus Jul 26, 2009
US President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, is holding talks in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar Assad ... Last month, Mr Mitchell became the highest-level US official to visit Damascus since 2005 ... Damascus is a major player in the region, because of its support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, its backing for Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its close links with Iran. (BBC News -- Africa)
bmi Rolls Out Chauffeur Drive on Key Regional Business Routes Jul 18, 2009
Customers travelling on selected Business Class fares to Almaty, Amman, Azerbaijan, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Kyrgyzstan, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Tel Aviv and Yerevan can now take advantage of this service to and from the airport at each end ... Across its mainline route network bmi operates to Aberdeen; Addis Ababa; Aleppo; Almaty; Amman; Amsterdam; Baku; Beirut; Belfast City; Bishkek; Brussels; Cairo; Damascus; Dammam; Dublin; Edinburgh; Freetown; Glasgow; Hanover; Jeddah; Khartoum; Kiev; London... (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Middle Eastern Odyssey, part 1 (217) Jul 13, 2009
Arriving in the capital, Damascus, population 7 ... Besides the upbeat welcome, I am delighted to learn that there is reportedly no crime on the streets in Damascus and that people can safely stroll around the city at 2 a.m. without fear of being mugged or raped. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Muted opposition Jul 12, 2009
By Lina Sinjab BBC News, Damascus. In a quiet neighbourhood in the centre of Damascus Michel Kilo sits in his small flat sipping coffee as his wife shells beans for lunch ... In 2006, Mr Kilo and 10 other activists were arrested after signing the Damascus-Beirut declaration. (BBC News -- Africa)
Hamas: Mubarak Doesn't Know Soldier's Condition Jul 9, 2009
Also, Hamas officials said a meeting Tuesday in Damascus between Hamas and Egyptian officials was friendly and warm. Israeli officials, meanwhile, said they took Mubarak's comments seriously, noting that Egyptian intelligence officials had recently been in Gaza as part of efforts to revive negotiations. (CBS News -- World)
Middle East Jul 5, 2009
For the first time since 2005, the United States will send an ambassador to Damascus, the latest in a string of moves to build new ties with Syria ... All signs point to a rapid thaw in relations between Syria and the United States, with Damascus having much to offer the Middle East peace process should President Barack Obama accept its help ... Though the Scottish playwright's portrayal of Damascus shows a deep knowledge of the city, some took offense. (Asia Times Online)
Israel's Lieberman Raps U.S. on Iran, Settlements Jun 26, 2009
He said that Israel is ready to start talks "without preconditions" with Arab leaders, despite an earlier remark he made before taking over as Foreign Minister that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could "go to hell." He told TIME, "Even today, I'm ready to start talks with any country in our region. We agree with President Obama's approach to a regional settlement of historical disputes. I'm ready to take a jet to Damascus to meet President Bashir al-Assad.". Lieberman said he is also willing... (Time.com)
Hamas chief says U.S. must follow its words Jun 26, 2009
DAMASCUS, June 25 (Xinhua)-- Khaled Meshaal, exiled chief of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement, said on Thursday his group welcomes U.S. President Barack Obama's "new language" towards the Islamic group, but said the United States has to follow its words, pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal makes a speech during a rally in Damascus June 25, 2009 ... In a televised speech, Meshaal told his supporters in Damascus that the recent speech by Obama to the Muslim world is... (Xinhuanet, China)
Big Ticket Noise (992) Jun 24, 2009
As for Paul, he never changed his message after his conversion on the road to Damascus leading to his death in Rome all of the original 12 disciples except 2 (Judas committed suicide and John died in excile on Patmos) were martyred for the message they were speaking. I guess in the eyes of he Sanhedrin and the Roman government they had "attitudes" but that didn't mean the message wasn't true. (Gaylord Herald Times, MI)
Carter to Meet With Hamas in Gaza Jun 16, 2009
Last month in Damascus he met Khaled Meshal, the head of the Hamas political bureau and the group's effective leader. Carter has been meeting Israeli officials and travelled to a Jewish settlement on the West Bank at the weekend as part of his private diplomatic efforts. (Newsmax)
Dubai's First Low Cost Airline Takes Off Jun 16, 2009
The first flight, which was to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, was closely followed by flights to Amman, Jordan, on June 2, Damascus, Syria, on June 8 and Alexandria, Egypt, on June 9, giving the new airline a total of four destinations in just nine days. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai said: "This region is very dependant on air transport. It is a great credit to the vision and leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the... (PR Newswire)
Fidel's Foggy Bottom Spy Ring Jun 6, 2009
Nuclear inspectors also reported in two sites in Damascus, raising concerns that Syria was secretly seeking to build nuclear weapons. The discovery "implies at least some kind of experimentation," a former UN inspector told the Post. (Slate)
Syrian villages deserted due to climate Jun 4, 2009
DAMASCUS: Some 160 villages in northern Syria were deserted of their residents in 2007 and 2008 because of climate change, according to a study released on Tuesday. The report drawn up by the International Institute for Sustainable Development warns of potential armed conflict for control of water resources in the Middle East. (India Times)
Obama's Top Ten Mistakes of the Week Jun 4, 2009
Unfortunately, this view fails to take into account the intransigence and absolutism of the jihadist worldview held by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hizballah, and their puppetmasters in Damascus and Tehran. Israel s foes will ultimately be satisfied by nothing less than the total destruction of the Jewish state, and just as the Gaza withdrawal of 2005 emboldened the jihadists rather than pacifying the area (as was widely assumed would be the result at the time), so further land concessions will only be... (Human Events Online)
US, Syria show signs of better relationship Jun 3, 2009
Military envoy, diplomat plan Damascus visits ... Syria has agreed to let a delegation of US military commanders to visit Damascus in the coming weeks, when they will discuss joint efforts to stem the insurgency in Iraq ... The Obama administration's Middle East peace envoy, George Mitchell, is also planning a trip to Damascus this month. (Boston Globe)
Divided & Conquered Jun 1, 2009
Our first stop was Damascus, the capital that has nearly achieved full axis of evil status in George W. Bush s Washington ... Assad essentially inherited his post from his late father, Hafez al-Assad posters of the two together are ubiquitous in Damascus who had come to power in a 1970 coup ... Christians, who make up 10 percent of Syria s population and a much higher share of its professional classes, are in a similar minority position and are probably more at home in cosmopolitan Damascus than... (The American Conservative)
Syria: Israel A "Major Obstacle" To Peace May 24, 2009
"The failure of the peace process so far has clearly shown that Israel is the major obstacle to peace. How can a state that was founded on illegal occupation and continues to murder the original inhabitants work toward peace?" Assad wondered in an opening address to a ministerial meeting of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference in Damascus 00004000 ... But Syria froze the contacts at the turn of the year when Israel launched a devastating offensive against the Gaza Strip,... (CBS News)
Israel's defence minister: Netanyahu will back Palestinian state May 17, 2009
An Obama envoy was in Damascus to try to repair strained relations and assured the government the U.S. is committed to pursuing a comprehensive Middle East peace that would include the Syria-Israel track ... Last year, Turkey mediated indirect talks between Israel and Syria but Damascus halted them over the Gaza war. (Globe and Mail)
Netanyahu manoeuvres around talks for two-state solution May 15, 2009
As Mr. Netanyahu met with King Abdullah in Amman, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was making his way to Damascus for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. These discussions are thought to be concerned with prospects for Syria to resume indirect negotiations with Israel. (Globe and Mail -- International)
LETTER: Bible does discuss marriage, homosexuality May 14, 2009
" - Galatians 3:25 If either has lied then all the Scriptures are wrong, but they are not. Christ came and died for us, bring an end to the sacrifices that had to be done for sin. He became the ultimate sacrifice. The forever blood sacrifice, that was prophesied in Genesis. Paul knew, not as a Pharisee named Saul, but after his conversion when he became an apostle of Christ. When he was at Stephen's stoning he condemn him like the rest, just as he had papers to bring other Christians to be... (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Syria urges US diplomacy May 4, 2009
Speaking to France 3, Assad welcomed what he said was a new willingness in Washington to listen to Syria's views since President Barack Obama took office, and said Damascus was ready to help broker contacts with the groups. The United States regards both Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas as terrorist movements, and does not recognise them, a stance which Assad said was counterproductive if Washington wanted to seek regional peace. (iAfrica.com)
Carter: US-Syria ties could return this year Apr 29, 2009
The United States withdrew its ambassador to Syria in 2005 after a political assassination widely blamed on Syria a claim Damascus denies. Washington has long objected to Syria's support for the Hezbollah and Hamas militant groups as well as its alliance with Iran. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Raymond C. Peterson Apr 16, 2009
Ray is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Damascus; daughters Linda Rossi of Portland and Nancy of Salem; son Larry of Damascus; sister Ruby Lindsay of Aurora, Colo. eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Fred W. Decker Apr 15, 2009
daughter and son-in-law, Rainy and Gene Takalo of Damascus; four granddaughters; one grandson; two great-grandsons; sister-in-law; one niece; and one nephew. The family requests memorial donations in Fred s name be directed to the following: New York University Alumni Association; Dean s Fund for Excellence, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University; or the Oregon Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America, in care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St.,... (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
Retired prof’s wisdom will be greatly missed Apr 12, 2009
daughter- and son-in-law Rainy and Gene Takalo of Damascus, four granddaughters, one grandson, two great grandsons, sister-in-law, one niece and one nephew. He will be missed. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
As Netanyahu takes Israel's helm, Syria skeptical of peace prospects Apr 1, 2009
Syrian diplomats say Damascus is serious about making peace, and hope Washington will lean on Israel's new government ... Syrian analysts and diplomats say that Damascus is serious about achieving peace with Israel as the return of the Golan will strengthen the Syrian regime domestically and open up the economy to sorely needed international investment ... There were no official peace talks during Netanyahu's three years in office, although he held a private dialogue with Damascus using an... (Christian Science Monitor)
Arab world backs Beshir Mar 30, 2009
Cairo and Riyadh are staunch supporters of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, while Damascus and Doha back the Islamist movement Hamas, which routed Abbas's Fatah loyalists from Gaza in deadly factional fighting in June 2007. A draft declaration. (iAfrica.com)
Charlotte Eleanor Decker Mar 28, 2009
daughter and son-in-law Rainy and Gene Takalo of Damascus; four granddaughters; two great-grandsons; one sister-in-law; one niece; and one nephew. The family requests memorial donations in Charlotte s name be directed to the Grace Center for Adult Day Care, Benton County Historical Society and Museum or Eternal Perspective Ministry in care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., Corvallis, OR 97330. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
Arab League reaches out to Iraq Mar 21, 2009
DAMASCUS - Amr Mousa, the secretary general of the 22-member Arab League, has just wrapped up a three-day visit to Iraq, his first since October 2005. Mousa met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, President Jalal Talabani and Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the powerful head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council. (Asia Times Online)
Arab League will not arrest Sudan president Mar 18, 2009
DAMASCUS, Syria Arab League countries will not carry out an International Criminal Court request to arrest Sudan's president on charges of war crimes in Darfur, the group's leader said. Amr Moussa said Qatar one of the league's 22 member states has also rejected a similar request to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has indicated he will attend an Arab summit in the country later this month. (Globe and Mail -- International)
Imperial Double Standard Mar 18, 2009
Damascus s desire to dominate Lebanon is not an interest. Nor is Russia s attempt to create a sphere of influence in its old imperial stomping grounds and prevent sovereign nations from making free choices about their own foreign policies. (The American Conservative)
Two Israeli cops killed Mar 16, 2009
The group is named after a Hezbollah commander who was killed by a car bomb in Damascus in February 2008 that was blamed on Israel. It denied involvement. (iAfrica.com)
Colonel's Corner Mar 14, 2009
Syrian strongman Bashar Assad's answer to last week's White House proffer of "dialogue with Damascus" came this week when he told visiting Japanese journalists that such talks would "have to involve" the Iranian-controlled terror group Hezbollah. For those who may have forgotten, the only terror organization that has killed more Americans than Hezbollah is Al Qaeda. (Fox News)
War On Drugs: Creeping Narcostate Mar 13, 2009
Ghazi is a Venezuelan diplomat in Beirut and was its charge d'affaires in Damascus. Kanan used two travel agencies to raise cash in Venezuela as "a significant provider of financial support" for Lebanese terrorists, Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said. (Investors Business Daily)
Why Syria and Saudi Arabia are talking again Mar 12, 2009
Saudi outreach follows Washington's tentative reengagement with Damascus, a move that diplomats hope will have more success in weaning Syria away from its Iranian ally than the Bush administration's policy of isolation ... The Bush administration, angered by Syrian meddling in Iraq and support for anti-Israel groups such as Hamas, imposed sanctions and froze ties with Damascus in 2005 ... "I do think that one of the reasons Saudi Arabia wanted to patch up with Damascus is that it realized that... (Christian Science Monitor)
In Turkey, Clinton says Obama to visit, shore up alliance Mar 8, 2009
Clinton also encouraged peace contacts between Israel and Syria, as two senior US officials made a rare visit to Syria in a sign of warming ties between Washington and Damascus. Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman, who is a former ambassador to Lebanon, and National Security Council official Daniel Shapiro visited Syria. (Boston Globe)
US calms Beirut over Syria 'thaw' Mar 7, 2009
Damascus has denied accusations that it was involved in the attack ... The talks in Damascus are seen as the strongest indication so far of the Obama administration's willingness to engage with Syria, which former President George W Bush had sought to isolate. (BBC News -- Americas)
U.S. In Key Talks With Syria Mar 7, 2009
DAMASCUS, Syria, March 7, 2009 ... Two senior US envoys arrived in Damascus on Saturday and headed straight for immediate talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem -- discussions expected to produce the first indications of whether the end of Washington's four-year diplomatic embargo would encourage Syria to help reshape the political landscape of the Middle East ... The main issues troubling Washington include Damascus' strong alliance with Tehran, its alleged support of terrorism --... (CBS News -- 48 Hours)
US courts Syria as linchpin to altered relations with Iran Mar 5, 2009
The talks, announced Tuesday by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on her Middle East tour, will focus on relations with Syria, but the big prize sought by engaging Damascus may be altered relations with Iran ... The emphasis was on Damascus and not Tehran, but many Middle East experts have long advocated engaging Syria, a key Mideast player, as a way to weaken its dependence on Iran, thereby thwarting Tehran's growing influence in the region ... Even if a full weaning of Damascus from... (Christian Science Monitor -- USA)
Washington reaches out to Syria Mar 5, 2009
WASHINGTON - Ending a four-year diplomatic embargo on Damascus, the administration of US President Barack Obama on Tuesday confirmed that it is sending two high-level officials to Syria this week for "preliminary conversations", presumably on improving relations ... The announcement of the trip drew praise, particularly from organizations and individuals here who were disappointed by former president George W Bush's refusal to become involved in what they felt were promising Turkish-mediated... (Asia Times Online)
Clinton dispatching envoys to Syria Mar 4, 2009
John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited Damascus last month ... The Bush administration had high-level contacts with Syria during its first term, mainly on the initiative of then-Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and his deputy, Richard L. Armitage, both of whom visited Damascus ... Western diplomats have expressed hope that those alliances could be broken or at least weakened if Damascus is approached and persuaded that its interests... (Insight on the News)
Muslim women value sexy Mar 4, 2009
all this and more can be found in the popular Al-Hamidiyeh market, the best known in the capital Damascus ... That such sexy garments are visibly on sale in a well-frequented Damascus market should come as no surprise, according to one Syrian sociologist who prefers not to be identified ... "Islam orders the woman to keep herself pretty for her husband, that's well-known," Mohammad Habash, head of the Damascus Centre for Islamic Studies says. (iAfrica.com)
Clinton defends Israel at Mideast talks Mar 3, 2009
Washington withdrew its ambassador from Damascus in 2005 to protest Syria's suspected role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Damascus denied involvement in his death, but in the uproar that followed, it was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, ending a 29-year military presence. (MSNBC -- Politics)
Hariri tribunal begins Mar 2, 2009
" The tribunal, located in the suburb of Leidschendam, was created by a 2007 UN Security Council resolution and will apply Lebanese law. It has an initial, renewable, three-year mandate. The identities of its 11 judges, four of them Lebanese, are being kept secret for security reasons. The opening ceremony was held at a former gymnasium at the headquarters of the Dutch intelligence service, where a courtroom will be built by year-end. The event started with a minute of silence for Hariri and the... (iAfrica.com)
Hamas' No. 2 leader secretly visits Gaza Mar 1, 2009
Hamas' leadership is divided between the Gaza Strip, which the group rules, and its top officials living in Damascus. Abu Marzouk is number two in the Hamas hierarchy. (MSNBC -- International)
Letters to the Editor Feb 27, 2009
In regard to the Feb. 24 editorial, "Obama's Goad to Damascus": To suggest that Syria accrues considerable economic benefits from its alliances with Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah is misleading. Yes, Iran is a major trading partner and source of investment, but Hamas controls a besieged area and is unable to trade or engage in regular economic activity, while Hezbollah is a nonstate actor who can hardly influence the economy of a country the size of Syria. (Christian Science Monitor)
Nanotube secrets of Damascus steel blade Feb 26, 2009
For hundreds of years, some of the keenest minds searched in vain for the secret of how blacksmiths in the ancient Middle East fashioned a tough and flexible metal known as Damascus steel ... The team used electron microscopy to study a specimen from a Damascus sabre made in the 17th century ... These, in turn, may have helped form iron carbide nanowires, which might explain the strength and beautiful pattern of the coveted Damascus blades. (Yahoo News -- Nanotechnology)
'Only a matter of time before terrorists use weapons of mass destruction' Feb 26, 2009
"The regime continues to support terror organisations. And we know that the Baathist leadership fled to Damascus taking with them money and terrorist expertise, and we cannot rule out the fact that some of that expertise related to WMD.". Publishers wishing to reproduce photographs on this page should phone 44 (0) 207 538 7505 or e-mail. (Yahoo News -- Biological and Chemical Weapons)
Delhi, Mumbai slip in expensive city list Feb 26, 2009
Paris, Damascus, Abu Dhabi and Singapore also found berth in the list of the twelve most expensive cities. "With the slowdown in the global economy, many corporates eased or postponed their expansion plans in Mumbai resulting in subdued demand for office space. As a result Mumbai witnessed an overall vacancy of about 12 per cent in 2008, which is significantly higher than the previous 4-5 per cent of vacancy recorded in 2007," C.. (India Times)
Obama's goad to Damascus Feb 24, 2009
Now a limited engagement has begun and it's time to ask what President Obama will give up as he tiptoes toward the likelihood of bazaar-like haggling with Damascus ... Both attempts revealed a Damascus unwilling to give up ties with Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, or to end its dark influence in Lebanon. (Christian Science Monitor)
US fears Iranian nuclear Feb 21, 2009
Washington also expressed concern about Tehran-ally Syria's atomic ambitions, and summoned Damascus's ambassador in Washington to discuss IAEA findings of unexplained uranium particles at a remote desert site ... In a report obtained by AFP, the IAEA rejected assertions by Damascus that particles of uranium found at the remote Al-Kibar site came from Israeli missiles used to bomb it in September 2007. (iAfrica.com)
Israel, Hezbollah: Has deterrence worked? Feb 13, 2009
Beirut, Lebanon - When Imad Mughniyah, Hezbollah's top military commander, was assassinated by a car bomb in Damascus one year ago, the militant Shiite group blamed Israel which denied involvement and vowed revenge. But a year on, that vow remains unfulfilled. (Christian Science Monitor)
Gaza Militant Dies in Clash as Cease-Fire Tarries Feb 10, 2009
A delegation of Hamas leaders from Gaza was in Damascus, Syria, on Monday to consult with the Islamic movement's exiled leadership and was expected to travel to Cairo later in the day. Related Stories. (Fox News)
Which way is Mecca? Look up ... way up Feb 8, 2009
We've shot movies in space and at the bottom of the sea, and this one was more challenging than those," said Jonathan Barker, the Toronto-based producer of Imax films, at a screening of his latest, Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta. In an efficient 44 minutes, the film tells a two-pronged story: The first part recreates the harrowing, 18-month, 5,000-mile pilgrimage made by the explorer Ibn Battuta, who in 1325 travelled from his native Tangier to Mecca to perform the Hajj, an... (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
A battle before a battle Feb 7, 2009
Taliban and other militants in their struggle not only in Afghanistan and Pakistan but also in their bid to establish a base from which to wage an "end-of-time battle" that would stretch all the way to the Arab heartlands of Damascus and Palestine. In a series of articles exploring the region that will examine the differing natures and strategies of various Taliban groups, Syed Saleem Shahzad begins his journey in Peshawar. (Asia Times Online)
