I have a tendency to like the global ranking systems developed by research institutions and networks. They may not be scientifically accurate with a margin of error in collecting data but they do reflect the actual situation in a relative manner. I was interested with the Global Innovation Index (GII) developed by the INSEAD and World Business Magazine. This index tries to measure which nations... [read more]

It took me almost two days to assimilate the bad feelings of Liverpool's suicide act against AC Milan in the Champions League Final Wednesday night. This match has brought all the bad memories of the World Cup Final in 2006 when France lost to Italy. As a Liverpool fan since 1977 I was very excited with this game. Although all of the boys and girls who have just took off their dipers and started... [read more]

The state of Jordan has reaffirmed in the last few days its position towards the core issues of the final settlement negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis. This has became necessary again after the fiasco that resulted from the report published by Haaretz newspaper which attributed statements to King Abdullah about the possibility of financial compensation to Palestinian refugees rather... [read more]

As expected, the state of Jordan has been fed up with the continuous flow of defaming letters and articles by Dr Ahmad Owedie Abbadi and the so-called "Jordanian National Movement" which is a right-wing racist political stream with a well functioning website in the USA and an unknown number of followers in Jordan. Abbadi was arrested after Minister of Interior Eid Al-Fayez issued a complaint against... [read more]

Last week I have learned the hard way how "unplanned expansion" of professional duties can be deteriorating to the quality of your work. Let me be simple and direct: try always to know when to say "no" to a task if you have a choice to make sure that you do not slip into a condition of bad delivery. In the past few weeks and in starting my new job and finishing-off the freelance consultancies I had... [read more]

One of the most intriguing blogs about Middle East you can ever find around is the work of Marc Lynch, professor of political science at Williams College and author of Voices of the New Arab Public (Columbia University Press). The blog entitled Abu Aardvark is the richest collection of views, articles and insights about Middle East Politics. The blog provides a very nice balance between "academic research"... [read more]