By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
It’s both things, with the Dome or the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. Violence there again today after a few weeks of quiet. This ground seems to be a central place of faith, conflict, interpretation and symbolism.
In the interest of balance:
By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
Michael Baigent, the editor of “Freemasonry Today”, has a new book called "Racing Toward Armageddon". In 2006, Michael filed a lawsuit against Dan Brown, arguing that the “The Da Vinci Code” used theories posited by Baigent and his co-authors in their 1982 book called "Holy Blood, Holy Grail".
By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
The land is so contentious and the stakeholders there and worldwide so passionate, that crafting the headline, even naming the PNA before Israel makes one hesitate.
By Lewis Diuguid, Kansas City Star Editorial Board Columnist
A vastly diverse group of people crowded The Louis Memorial Chapel at 6830 Troost Ave. this morning to honor Allan Edward Abrams.
By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
Israel lives every day with a different view of strategy and security than what we enjoy. Their view begins many places but one can start with appreciating their geography. For them, the adjectives of short and medium, in front of the word missile, mean very little. The operative word is missile.
By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
It should come as no surprise. Is anyone surprised? Good. French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke to Iran today, quite loudly. Iran’s Foreign Minister replied Sarkozy’s remarks are political.
Reserve the Foreign Minister a seat in freshman Poli-Sci -101.
By Nancy Cramer, Special to the Kansas City Star
A year ago I returned from a three-week tour of Iran. We visited seven cities all around the country. I was impressed with the fine Islamic art and architecture, the Persians’ reverence for poetry and poets, and astounded by their early primitive but effective “wind towers” that cool their houses.
By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel
Aljazeera reports today that ”Al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.”
By Matthew Schofield, Kansas City Star editorial columnist
Former Iranian members of parliament have asked the nation's clerical panel whether the Supreme Leader is fit to rule.
It's a very bold move, and brings up the question of whether the summer election protests might not have brought about some institutional change in the strict Islamic nation.
By Larry Marsh, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist, 2009
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has decided to accept the resignation of his choice for vice president, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie. He gave up on a strategy that fooled no one. He now finds himself and his hard-line buddies more isolated than ever.
By Matthew Schofield, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Iran Wednesday announced it was no longer interested in listening to the European Union regarding the country's nuclear program.
By The Kansas City Star Editorial Board
The Missouri National Guard is showing the way forward in Afghanistan.
The Guard’s 61-member Agri-Business Development Team is over there helping farmers better fertilize, irrigate and store crops, despite fighting raging in its vicinity.
By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Thanks to cell phone video and the Internet, the world has witnessed, up close, the death of Neda Agha-Soltan. Beautiful and bloodied, hers is the face of the Iranian resistance.
But what of her life?
By The Kansas City Star Editorial Board
President Barack Obama spoke firmly Tuesday about Iran’s crackdown on protesters, hinting that the repressive regime risks consequences by not heeding “international norms.”
By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
The death of Neda Soltan continues to gain the world's attention -- and spark its outrage at the Iranian government. And properly so.
By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
President Barack Obama correctly and more strongly condemned violence in Iran on Tuesday. That's the right call, given all the tensions in Iran.
At a press conference, Obama didn't go as far as some Republicans want him to -- calling for new elections in Iran.
Mir Hussein MoussaviBy Arturo Mora, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist 2009
This is a moment in history not for the faint of heart. This Green Revolution cannot stop halfway, because the opportunity for true democracy in Iran may not come again for decades if they fail now.
By Mary Sanchez, Kansas City Star columnist
Two incongruent images come to mind when I think of my friend Shahrzad’s Iranian father.
There is the high-grade caviar and chilled vodka he serves when he visits the U.S. for special family occasions. The treat is akin to his refined nature and worldly, sophisticated views.
By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Still don't care much about the anti-government protests going on in Iran? Then watch Neda die on YouTube.
The shocking video and story of her death are only for the mature.
By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
Good for President Obama for showing restraint in his comments regarding the Iranian election and the ensuing protests.
As Sen. John Kerry notes in an oped he wrote for the New York Times:
Kansas City Star Monday editorial
The Kansas City Star this week is running a series of editorial suggesting an exit plan that will lead to peace and prosperity in Iraq and the region. For a look at the entire package, go to this link. Let us know if you think our exit plan is on the right track.
Kansas City Star Friday editorial
President Barack Obama on Thursday called for “a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world.”
By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
By Lewis W. Diuguid, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
President Barack Obama must be doing something right with his trip to the Middle East.
By Matthew Schofield, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Want to really understand the problems we’ve been having, and will continue to have, in the Middle East? Well, study up on Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in the summer of 1798.
By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Give President Barack Obama plenty of credit for reaching out to the Muslim world and Arabs in general this week.
By Larry Marsh, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist
The Obama administration should take heed of Prince Turki al-Faisal's commentary in the Financial Times asking for a change in our Middle East policy.
By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Israel lost the worldwide public relations battle with its overwhelming recent attacks in Gaza. So the ceasefire reported Saturday is the logical next step in the embattled Middle East.
By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Joe Wurzelbacher, aka "Joe the Plumber," favors ignorance over knowledge. And he's not afraid to foolishly say so.
Wurzelbacher is in Israel reporting for a conservative (surprise) media outlet called pjtv.com. His thoughts so far? CNN reported Monday:
By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
On Sunday President-elect Barack Obama said he wanted to work to end the warfare between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza and the Middle East.
Nice thought. Wrong priority.
