Gadhafi vows ‘long war’ after US, allies strike

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By HADEEL AL-SHALCHI and RYAN LUCAS, Associated Press Hadeel Al-shalchi And Ryan Lucas, Associated Press – 42 mins ago TRIPOLI, Libya – Anti-aircraft fire erupted in the Libyan capital on Sunday, marking the start of a second night of international strikes as a defiant Moammar Gadhafi vowed a “long war.” The U.S. military said the allied bombardment…

Allies launch Libya force as Gadhafi hits rebels

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BENGHAZI, Libya – The U.S. and European nations pounded Moammar Gadhafi’s forces and air defenses with cruise missiles and airstrikes Saturday, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat. The longtime Libyan leader vowed to defend his country from what…

New tensions mar U.S. optimism on “Arab spring”

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Few Washington policymakers had any illusions that the sense of new, if tentative, possibility that greeted the wave of pro-democracy popular uprisings in the Middle East would be free of complications, setbacks and risks. Still, Washington seemed taken by surprise as long-time ally Saudi Arabia sent 2,000 troops and the United Arab Emirates some 500…

Can Arabs Save Libya?

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 The Arab League decisively voted on Saturday to endorse a no-fly zone over Libya, but U.S. intelligence thinks Gaddafi could win his civil war. Bruce Riedel on the dangers of America getting dragged into a quagmire—and how regional states can help. Needed: an Arab and Muslim Option.  Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper has said…

Middle East and North Africa rocked by protests

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NICOSIA (AFP) – Shock waves from the ouster of presidents in Tunisia and Egypt continued to roll across North Africa and the Middle East on Monday, with peoples long subject to autocratic rule demanding to be heard. Despite many states cautiously welcoming the overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak, their own…

Mideast unrest complicates US fight against terror

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By STEPHEN BRAUN, Associated Press Stephen Braun, Associated Press – Sun Feb 6, 8:29 am ET WASHINGTON – The unrest engulfing Arab streets and threatening authoritarian governments in the Mideast is complicating U.S. counterterrorism efforts, scrambling the volatile battleground against al-Qaida in Yemen and raising concerns about the durability of Egypt’s stance against militants. U.S. counterterrorism officials need to…

Echoes of Soviet collapse in Mideast revolt

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By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Gregory Katz, Associated Press – Sun Feb 6, 6:07 am ET LONDON – Tunisia. Egypt. Yemen. The astounding pro-democracy domino effect in the Arab world evokes the shock waves of 1989 that toppled communism in Eastern Europe and eventually brought down the Soviet Union. Two figures who helped shape the Soviet collapse — former…

After failed Iran nuclear talks: What now?

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By GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press George Jahn, Associated Press – Sat Jan 22, 1:17 pm ET ISTANBUL – The collapse of another attempt at international outreach to Iran on Saturday has left world powers with few options except to wait — and hope that the bite of sanctions will persuade Tehran to reconsider its refusal to stop activities that…

Arab League to members: Economic conditions fueling ‘unprecedented’ anger

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Arab League to members: Economic conditions fueling ‘unprecedented’ angerArab League secretary-general Amr Mussa urged member states to quickly confront their economic and social problems. Mussa warned that unrest was reaching unprecedented levels throughout the Middle East. “The Arab citizen has entered a stage of anger that is unprecedented,” Mussa said. The warning was issued amid…

Historic Saudi visit to Vatican

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King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has met Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican – the first audience by the head of the Roman Catholic Church with a Saudi monarch. The Vatican described the private meeting as “warm” and said the two men discussed the presence and hard work of Christians in Saudi Arabia. An estimated…