[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
CIA’s Saudi Airbase
Justice Department memo reveals legal case for drone strikes on Americans Michael Isikoff elaborates on the Justice Department’s “white paper,” a classified document that condones targeted killing of American citizens abroad and the CIA’s use of Saudi airbases, on NBC News.
Justice Dept. document justifies killing Americans overseas if they pose ‘imminent threat’ Karen DeYoung reports on the “white paper,” published by NBC News, in The Washington Post.
Brennan nomination exposes criticism on targeted killings and secret Saudi base Greg Miller and Karen DeYoung discuss the timing of the leaked Justice Department’s “white paper” on the eve of the Senate confirmation hearing for John Brennan as the CIA director, in The Washington Post.
Drone Strikes’ Risks to Get Rare Moment in the Public Eye Robert Worth, Mark Mazzetti and Scott Shane examine the public discussion of drone strikes on the eve of the Senate confirmation hearing of John Brennan, the main coordinator of the “kill list,” as President Obama’s nominee for the CIA director, in The New York Times.
CIA using Saudi base for drone assassinations in Yemen Ian Black reports on the disclosure of the CIA’s use of a Saudi base to carry out drone strikes in Yemen and on the silence in Saudi Arabia on the report, in The Guardian.
CIA operating drone base in Saudi Arabia, US media reveal A news report on the disclosure that the CIA has been using Saudi airbases for the last two years in targeting members of al-Qaeda in Yemen, on the BBC.
Reports and Opinions
Beyond secret drones: The roots of the awkward, improbable, contradictory U.S. – Saudi relationship Max Fisher discusses the history of the American-Saudi relationship in light of the latest disclosure of the CIA’s use of Saudi bases, in The Washington Post.
Collusion or conflict of interests? Nicola Nasser argues that Qatar’s regional ambitions may lead to conflict with its patron, the United States, on Al-Ahram Weekly.
Gulf forces begin war drills amid unrest A news report on a seventeen-day exercise involving joint Gulf forces in Kuwait, on Al-Akhbar English.
Crisis in Yemen
Seizure of Antiaircraft Missiles in Yemen Raises Fears That Iran Is Arming Rebels There C. J. Chivers and Robert Worth discuss the implications for the interception by the US Navy and the Yemeni security forces of a ship loaded with weapons, in The New York Times.
Yemen’s smuggling and kidnapping sagas Nasser Arrabyee writes on the kidnapping of foreigners in the country and the interception of a ship loaded with arms allegedly coming from Iran, on Al-Ahram Weekly.
Repression in Bahrain
Thousands join Bahrain protest rally before talks Reem Khalifa reports on protests against the royal family ahead of the national dialogue, in The Daily Star.
Silent crisis: Bahrain opposition seeks support, international attention in Russia A news report on the implication of the Bahraini opposition’s visit to Russia, on RT.
Bahrain holds talks to end political deadlock A news report on the national dialogue conference between six opposition parties and the government in Bahrain, on Al Jazeera English.
Citizenship and Statelessness
Kuwait issues 80,000 ID cards to stateless Arabs Claire Valdini reports on the Kuwaiti government’s granting of identification cards to some of its Bidoun in the wake of the Arab Spring.
Human Rights Watch
Kuwait: Quash convictions for ‘Offending Emir’ A statement by the organization condemning the prison sentences of three former members of parliament last week.
Qatar: Promises, Little Action on Migrant Workers’ Rights A statement by the organization deploring the failure of Qatar to prevent trafficking and forced labor of migrant workers.
Media
Washington Post was forced into finally revealing drone base secret Roy Greenslade blogs on the decision of the Washington Post to finally publish the location of the US military base in Saudi Arabia, in The Guardian.
The dilemma of al-Jazeera English for American journalist Bob Garfield reflects on whether reporters in the United States should work for a media organization whose government is well known for its abuses of human rights, in The Guardian.
Arabic
الكويت: سجن ثلاثة نواب بسبب "المس بالذات الأميرية"
A news report on the three-year prison sentences handed to three former members of parliament in Kuwait for insulting the emir.
"إهانة ذات" الحاكم: تهمة مستحدثة للقمع
Shahira Salloum argues that the charge of "insulting the emir" in the Gulf countries is a new charge whose purpose is to repress criticism.
قاعدة أميركية في السعودية للاغتيالات في اليمن
A news report on the CIA`s use of a Saudi base for drone strikes in Yemen.
مصيدة امريكية سعودية باليمن
Abdul Bari Atwan examines the disclosure of the CIA`s use of Saudi bases in its drone strikes in Yemen.
محنة تركي الحمد مثقف في "مدن الملح"
Hamza Ilawi writes on the relationship between the writer and the authority in light of the arrest of the Saudi writer, Turki al-Hamad, since the end of last year.
روايات من القطيف: شاعر في السجن.. وعمال مفصولون
An interview with the family of Habib al-Ma`ateeq, a Saudi poet and photographer, who has been in prison for more than a year for administering a website dedicated to artistic and cultural issues.
السعودية: بدء محاكمة متظاهرين ودعوة لتجمع احتجاجي الخميس
A news report on the trial of Saudis in Qatif accused of "instigating unrest" last year.
تعيين الأمير مقرن يثير جدلاً داخلياً: الأمير طلال يعترض عبر "توتير"
A news report on Prince Tala bin Abdullaziz`s reaction to King Abdulla`s appointment of Prince Muqrin bin Abdullaziz as a Second Deputy Prime Minister
المعارضة البحرينية إلى موسكو اليوم: نريد أن تسمع مطالب شعبنا
Shahira Salloum writes on a visit paid by a delegate from the Bahraini opposition to Moscow to discuss the demands of the Bahraini people.
البحرين: المعارضة تسعى لتدويل قضيتها… وتنفي الاستقواء بالخارج
A news report on the Bahraini opposition`s move to internationalize its cause by announcing February 14, the anniversary of the outbreak of the Pearl Uprising, as a day to support democracy in Bahrain.
استئناف الحوار الوطني في البحرين الأحد المقبل
A news report on the upcoming national dialogue in Bahrain.
اليمن: الثورة تأكل أبناءها
Jamal Joubran offers an account of a hunger strike in Yemen, staged by activists and people wounded in the uprisings, over the failure of the government to fulfill its promises to send them abroad for treatment.
اليمن يطلب من ايران وقف دعمها للمتمردين اثر ضبط سفينة محملة بالاسلحة قرب سواحله
A news report on Yemeni authorities` requests that Iran stop supporting rebels in the country.