European Foundation for Democracy

After the US and Turkey reached agreement on establishing a NATO missile defence system, a General from the Iranian air force, Larzad Ismaili, has commented claming the missile defences not to be effective.

A 34-page report published in August 2011 by the Iranian pseudo-parliament the Majlis, analyses and criticises sanctions taken against Iran by the UN Security Council, the EU and USA. The report argues that the sanctions' main aim was to force Iran to the negotiating table with America.

Hussein Taeb is a cleric holding the religious rank of a Hokatuislam. He is also the Director of the Secret Service Department of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Holding a gloomy view of Iran's future, he believes that in around one year the American government wants to stage a "Velvet Revolution," Iranian state media outlet Farsnews reported on 2nd March 2011.

Irshad Manji, The Globe and Mail (Canada), 9-Nov-2009

Only hours after news broke of a mass shooting at Fort Hood, the largest military base in the United States, I began receiving e-mails from agonized Americans. “What does it mean that the suspect has a Muslim name?” asked one.

“Does it matter that he seems to be a Muslim?” asked another. Overnight, more such messages poured in, their tone being confused instead of confrontational.

The fact that these Americans are posing questions rather than rushing to judgment is a sign they're not all bigots. They're genuinely wrestling with how to react beyond immediate shock and grief.

Professor Walid Phares to France 24 TV Arabic on General Mc Crystal's removal and the appointment of General Petraeus: "If anything this shows two views in the US on how to proceed in Afghanistan. Both views calls for fighting the Taliban, training the Afghan Army. But the potential disagreement is about the future of an armed Taliban in Afghanistan. The change of commanders is surely because of disciplinary measures but it could reflect a wider debate later."

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EFD Visiting Fellow Walid Phares appeared on a BBC TV Arabic panel with AKP Member of Parliament Arfan Jundes: "Turkey's Government has a point of view and the US Government has another point of view on Hamas. Washington often helped Turkey in the many crises it had with Cyprus, Greece and the Kurds. Thus there shouldn't be AKP one sided demands on the United States in this issue today."

Interviewed about Western countries' strategy towards Afghanistan, EFD's Visiting Fellow Dr. Walid Phares said: "A military defeat of the Taliban must be completed by an international involvement in backing civil society forces in Afghanistan".

Now that President Obama and his aides have announced their plan for the United States to withdraw its troops from Iraq by August 31, 2010, they must consider what the forces engaged against the coalition and the Iraqi government plan to do in this time. Iran and Syria, as well as al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups, can affect the withdrawal road map.

Reactions to the election of a new U.S. President are fusing from across the Arab and Muslim world. Reflecting the fundamental interests of the various regimes and movements, the most radical groups - including al Qaeda - have been sending messages in different directions.