Links 18 February - 16 March 2014
Above, the "Libyan navy" – actually Misrata militias loading their pickup trucks mounted with artillery weapons onto a barge – shoots at the Morning Glory, a tanker that loaded oil from the blockaded port of Sidra, controlled by "federalist" militias. The ship was later seized by US Navy Seals. And below, the long-overdue links.
- Israel’s War on American Universities
Chris Hedges. - In search of an energy vision | Mada Masr
On Egypt's energy crisis. - Book on women driving banned
At the Riyadh Book Fair. Which also banned all the works of Mahmoud Darwish this year. - Egypt Revolutionary Singer Stopped From Performing
Not the sign of a confident regime - In Egypt, the Military Means (Big) Business - Businessweek
Sarah Topol. - Ahmed Shafiq, in leaked phone calls, talks smack about Sisi
Calls the army's decision to back general for presidency "bizarre and ignorant" - L’Arabie saoudite, un royaume en pleine transformation dans un environnement régional en recomposition - Entretien avec Nabil Mouline
Illuminating interview. - Egyptian women in numbers
On the occasion of International Women's Day - The Jazeera Trial
Good dispatch by Bel Trew - Another letter from jailed activist Alaa Abdel Fattah
Who as usual shows how dangerously thoughtful he is - MBC Misr signal jammed during Bassem Youssef show
Satirical news show briefly interrupted when an "unknown entity" jammed the signal. A warning? - What Would People Say?
Amro Ali on the country's "obsessive-compulsive public-image disorder" - Visit the cinema at the end of the world | Dazed
An outdoor ghost cinema in Sinai. If this is true it's amazing. - Qatar to bar Saudis, Bahrainis and Emiratis from Harrods in response to ambassador withdrawal | The Pan-Arabia Enquirer
- Showdown in the Gulf
On the withdrawal of Saudi, Bahraini, Emirati and Egyptian ambassadors from Qatar - Darwin in Arabia | TLS
Robert Irwin reviews. - Brutality, torture, rape: Egypt's crisis will continue until military rule is dismantled | Emad El-Din Shahin | Comment is free | The Guardian
Emad Shahin. - Three Gulf Arab states recall envoys in rift with Qatar | Reuters
Important. - The Strange World of the Muslim Brotherhood Court Cases
Another stellar piece by Peter Hessler. Too many memorable lines to quote. - Police officers sentenced to 10 years for Khaled Saeed murder
Akheeran! Let's hope they serve their full sentence - Rebel infighting kills thousands of Syrians
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant killed more rebel fighters than Assad's regime did - Gulf atheism in the age of social media
Sultan Al Qassemi's very interesting history of atheism in the region - Egyptian Stars of 'The Square' Can't Attend the Oscars
And it didn't win. Malesh! - Manifesto - St.Catherine
Timeline of hiker's tragedy on Mount Sinai and official neglect - Primer on Palestine, Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict | MERIP
Handy. - How Covert Agents Infiltrate the Internet to Manipulate, Deceive, and Destroy Reputations - The Intercept
- Egypt's generals: It gets ever sillier | The Economist
On the koftagi device - Egypt PM retracts culture minister appointment - Ahram Online
Corporatist reflexes strong as ever - see last line. - The $20 Million Case for Morocco
Well-researched overview of Morocco's Western Sahara lobby. - Claims of cure for HIV, Hepatitis C are a 'scandal': Egypt presidential advisor - Ahram Online
Finally. - MEI Editor's Blog: Guest Post: Prince Charles' Sword Dance and the Early History of UK-Saudi Relations
Paul Mutter. - CC cures HIV/AIDS | moftasa.net
Must-read on Egyptian military's miracle device. This is to Sisi what Nile meeting was to Morsi, so embarassing. - The Conman’s paradise - DNE
Another instant classic by @sandmonkey - The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer: Egyptian autocrats struggle with soccer’s political pros and cons
- Lourde peine requise contre le caricaturiste
Algerian cartoonist Djamel Ghanem threatened w/18 months prison for unpublished, unfinished comic against Bouteflika re-election. - A return to the 1990s? | Mada Masr
An informative comparison of jihadi groups in Egypt, in the 1990s and today - Egypt can stop its spiral toward radicalization - The Washington Post
Emad Shahin. - Syrian War Crimes: Regime Bombs Bakeries, Uses Starvation As Weapon | New Republic
- Crépuscule du pouvoir en Algérie
- Le métier d’intellectuel, un livre de Driss Ksikes et Fadma Aït Mous
New book on Moroccan intellectuals - Aide’s Return to White House Reflects Changing U.S. Role in Middle East - NYTimes.com
- U.S. Steps Up Criticism of Russian Role in Syrian War - NYTimes.com
- Brewing Turkish Coffee: A Step-by-Step Guide
Nice illustrated guide by Brownbook