Lee Kuan Yew & Singapore-Israel 'Special Relationship'

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The Ultimax machine gun is proudly Made in Singapore. Today marks the end of an era as arguably the best-known Asian leader of his generatio... Continue reading →

Expanding the Suez Canal: The Authoritarian's Task

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Sinking cash into the cash cow: expanding the Suez Canal. Authoritarian regimes are drawn to massive infrastructure projects like Americans ... Continue reading →

Dead Cat Bounce? Oil Prices After King Abdullah's Death

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Meet the new boss [L], same as the old boss [R]? This has been an atypical year with lots of Saudi-related posts, but this one cannot be ign... Continue reading →

Can Saudi Arabia Kill Off US Shale Producers?

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If OPEC members relied solely on energy revenues. Here is a little background to the international political economy of the ongoing OPEC me... Continue reading →

Construction Time: The Shopping Mall-ization of Mecca?

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In real-estate parlance, modern Mecca is a "mixed-use development." Our Muslim brethren ("brethren" is actually a gender... Continue reading →

Saudis Discipline Venezuela, OPEC's Weakest Link

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Not just oil workers but comrades in arms. In part due to a popular game show, everyone knows the saying that "a chain is only as stron... Continue reading →

Fee for Westerners on the 'Jihadi Highway': $25

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Yonder lies adventure...for $25, whitefella jihadist. Does god really care for your life in the suburbs? / A dull little life full of dull l... Continue reading →

Strange Times: al-Qaeda & US Against ISIS

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There's an excellent article over at the WSJ on how "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" is turning up odd de facto if not d... Continue reading →

The Big One: Saudi Arabia Sells Stocks to Foreigners

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It's Riyadh or bust, baby. The never-ending chase for better investment returns brings us to the doorstep of Saudi Arabia. The country r... Continue reading →

Marketing the Unmarketable: Israel's Soft Power

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Not your grandfather's idea of "nation branding." Regardless of the party in power, one thing you can count on is that the Uni... Continue reading →

Sisi's No Sissy: Ending Egypt's Unsustainable Subsidies

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His sartorial choices may have been Oppa Moammar Style, but Sisi has made a good start. For the record, let us recall how Egyptian President... Continue reading →

Dirigisme Rules: Etihad Buys 49% of Alitalia

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Emirates pitchmen Pele and Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate it buying Alitalia.  You may wonder if I am suffering from schizophrenia after pennin... Continue reading →

Iraq's a Goner, But Kurdistan Isn't

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It's another fine mess we can lay on the West's doorstep: Mosul residents seek refuge in Kurdistan. Wolfowitz of Arabia, Kimmitt the... Continue reading →

Leno, Branson & Brunei: On Boycotting Shari'a Law

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Can Jay Leno and other white people "save" us foreign primitives from shari'a law? Life is a series of endless annoyances you ... Continue reading →