Bahrain is one of the world's smallest countries, and is the 5th most dense country on Earth. It has a starkly visible Shi'a-Sunni divide - one that can be seen plainly from space, as poor Shi'a slums bump up against plush Sunni ones. It is also a critical Middle Eastern bellwether. It was the first … Continue reading Bahrain is (still) in crisis as the UN slams the island-kingdom
Saudi Arabia vs. Iran: The Deeper Story
There are other shorter articles, and they do a fine job of covering the basics. If that's all you're looking for, click on the link and consider yourself well-rewarded. But if you desire more than tidbits, read on. Rapid review! Saudi Arabia and Iran are quite angry at one another. More specifically, the elites of … Continue reading Saudi Arabia vs. Iran: The Deeper Story
Little Bahrain and Its Very Big Problems
Sex! Drugs! ATM bombs! A long-running violent uprising against the government! What's not to love? When I first visited Bahrain in February 2011, just a few weeks before the mass uprising that would happen later that month, immigration stamped my passport with a big, "BUSINESS FRIENDLY BAHRAIN" before waving me through the mostly empty airport. … Continue reading Little Bahrain and Its Very Big Problems
Saudi Arabia’s Power Play (Or, the Childishness of Kings)
I've let my contempt for Saudi Arabia's current governing system be known - several times. This is because it's a personality-centric system driven by personalities that most of you wouldn't want to invite to dinner. In such systems, psychology matters when understanding certain events. Let's take a walk through, shall we, and understand Saudi state … Continue reading Saudi Arabia’s Power Play (Or, the Childishness of Kings)
Rogue Geopolitics 