Whatever one may say about U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and his cabinet-in-the-making, there is no doubt that he seems to have abandoned, hopefully temporarily, his promises of change and bipartisanship that were front-and-center themes in his election campaign.

One obvious sign of the influence of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, was once again demonstrated this week as the three presidential candidates and top government leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were all scheduled to address the pro-Israel lobby groups three-day conference in Washington.

It is almost anyones guess what U.S. policy in the Middle East will be like under a new American leader next year. Judging by the rhetoric in this amazing primary election campaign, reportedly the costliest in U.S. history and the likes of which has not been seen in past decades – especially among the Democratic Partys surviving candidates, senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama – it may disappointingly be not much different than the disastrous policies of the George W. Bush administration. This is especially true with regards to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, now in its 61st year.

The U.S. print and electronic media are facing serious and damaging criticism in the wake of self-inflicted blunders in the midst of a heated fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, as well as the misguided pontificating on U.S. foreign policy issues, especially relating to the Middle East.

I Voted for Obama

In 2004 the international nonprofit organization Breaking the Ice was thrust into the media spotlight when it took four Palestinians and four Israelis to Antarctica to see if they could find a common understanding. This year the group is going even

A regularly updated column of news briefs from around the region.

A US soldier was killed Friday in a mortar attack on a base in the north of Iraq as hundreds of Iraqis marched through the centre of Baghdad to protest against the violence plaguing the countrys reconstruction. After US President George W.

NEW YORK SENATOR AND FORMER FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (R) SPEAKS AS AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI LISTENS DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE IN KABUL NOVEMBER 27, 2003.

Israel on Friday dismissed as "preposterous" Palestinian leader Yasser Arafats allegations that the death of top PLO official Faisal al-Husseini may have been caused by tear gas fired at him by Israeli forces last month.