AboutArticles by Michael Jansen

Trump’s National security chief John Bolton is a threat

19 May 2019

Donald Trump’s national security chief John Bolton is an equal opportunity warmonger. If he had his way, the US would be at war with North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Iran...

The dark side of social networking sites

17 May 2019

The 1991 and 2003 US wars on Iraq launched massive pillaging of the Eastern Arab World’s rich cultural heritage because that country could no longer effectively police its 10,000 archaeological...

Trump’s Iran stance conceals foreign policy failures

12 May 2019

Donald Trump appears to have recognised the rising threat of a conflict with Iran when last Thursday he called for Tehran to “call me” and negotiate a “fair deal” to...

Eurovision: A musical headache

09 May 2019

The 64th Eurovision song contest set to be held in Tel Aviv next week is a hotly contested occasion. It is taking place in the wake of an escalation of...

Turkey is playing both Russia and US

05 May 2019

During the past week the Western press has reported Russian and Syrian bombing of north-western Idlib province and the flight of thousands of civilians from targeted villages. Writers complain that...

Joining the race

02 May 2019

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s declaration that he has joined the 2020 presidential race surprised no one and has divided his Democratic Party which is determined to oust Republican Donald...

Timely action could have saved lives

28 Apr 2019

The Sri Lankan and Cypriot authorities have been condemned by their own citizens for failing to deal with mass murderers in their midst. Timely action by Colombo could have saved...

Being short-changed

25 Apr 2019

A friend recently remarked that the outpouring of grief and empathy from world leaders, peoples, and media over the destruction by fire of the roof of the 12th-13th century Notre...

The constitutional amendments give ultimate power to Sisi

21 Apr 2019

Egyptians go to the polls today, for the third day, in a referendum on constitutional changes which will grant President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi the possibility to remain in power...

Economic sanctions make life hard

19 Apr 2019

In the year since I last visited Syria, Damascenes have lived without the metallic report of mortars fired by insurgents landing in the city and its suburbs, the whistle of...

Michael Jansen

The author, a well-respected observer of Middle East affairs, has three books on the Arab-Israeli conflict.