A bit of “personal” news first...

Some who follow me on social media may have learned that I have joined the National Council On US - Arab Relations to be their “First” Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow. 

I am delighted to join the National Council, whom I’ve been an admirer of their work for years, this news coupled with my research efforts and supporting roles as an Advisory Committee Member at Georgetown University’s Small States Research Program (Qatar Campus).

This will significantly help me focus on my area of expertise and, hopefully, add more value to you, the reader, by better presenting what is relevant to the MENA region.

So thank you for reading, subscribing, and joining me in this journey of knowledge.

News stories I’m following this week …

• Trump Critics Float Theory Jared Kushner Urged Saudis to Cut Oil Production. (Newsweek)

• Biden Should Hit Saudi Arabia Where It Really Hurts. (Bloomberg)

• Families of detainees appeal to US to kick up pressure in Mideast. (France 24)

• Tillerson testifies he was unaware of Trump ally Barrack's role in foreign policy. (Reuters)

• U.S. OKs potential sale of rounds for Abrams tanks to Kuwait. (Reuters)

• US Approves Proposed $3 Billion Raytheon Missile Sale to Kuwait. (Bloomberg)

• Qatar World Cup outcry shows modern sports protests are just another form of marketing. (The Globe and Mail)

• Gary Neville reveals he will work for Qatari state-run broadcaster beIN SPORTS at the World Cup - but insists it does NOT make him a 'hypocrite'. ( The Daily Mail)

• U.S. conducts back-to-back raids in Syria, killing key ISIS operatives. (The Washington Post)

• Turkey’s Erdogan Says Greece Should Take Warnings Seriously (Bloomberg)

• Opinion: The Best Defense Against the Energy Weapon: Big Oil. ( WSJ)

In other news …

• Saudi fan walking across the desert to reach FIFA World Cup in Qatar. (Al Jazeera)

• Egypt Wants Its Rosetta Stone Back From the British Museum. (Gizmodo)

• ‘Anxiety and nerves’: Lionel Messi confirms Qatar will be his last World Cup. (The Guardian)

• What time are World Cup matches in the UK, US and Qatar, and what is the time difference? (The Independent)

On Social-Media …

Prague Castle - Office of the Czech President @HradOfficialENG

President of the 🇨🇿 Republic Miloš Zeman cordially welcomed a distinguished visitor, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar 🇶🇦 to the First Courtyard of Prague Castle, the Court of Honour.

10:37 AM ∙ Oct 5, 2022

Marsal Qatar English @MarsalQatar_EN

HE Sheikha Moza bint Nasser toured WISH 2022 Exhibition, observing various innovations that help persons with disability, including virtual reality therapy and GPS-enabled cane. #WISHQatar2022 | #Doha #Qatar #MarsalQatar

7:14 AM ∙ Oct 6, 2022

---

6Likes3Retweets

Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer

What Saudi Arabia did to help Putin continue to wage his despicable, vicious war against Ukraine will long be remembered by Americans. We are looking at all the legislative tools to best deal with this appalling and deeply cynical action, including the NOPEC bill.

9:58 PM ∙ Oct 6, 2022

---

1,380Likes901Retweets

In other ‘posts’ …

Bloomberg Middle East @middleeast

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman says the US-led plans for a price cap on Russian exports are fanning the uncertainty that drove OPEC+ to its biggest production cut in two years bloom.bg/3SzmvuN

9:29 AM ∙ Oct 6, 2022

---

373Likes158Retweets