James Spencer is a London-based independent consultant specializing in the political and security issues of the Middle East

Canny Iranians

[caption id="attachment_55246397" align="alignnone" width="620"] Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, meets with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki…

Inside or Outside the Tent?

[caption id="attachment_55237605" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Yemeni soldier mans a checkpoint in Sana'a on 23 January 2013. Source: MOHAMMED…

Curiouser and Curiouser

[caption id="attachment_55245057" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Yemeni soldier mans a checkpoint on the outskirts of Sana'a on May 16, 2012,…

Hadi's Earned a Holiday

[caption id="attachment_55237532" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Yemeni pro-democratic protestor shows her hands painted in the colors of her…

New Player, Old Rules

[caption id="attachment_55243088" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Iranian supporters of President-elect Hassan Rowhani gather at the mausoleum of…

A Dangerous Supply Chain

[caption id="attachment_55242930" align="alignnone" width="620"] A rebel fighter loads his machine gun during fighting with Syrian government forces…

Time and Tide Wait for No Man

[caption id="attachment_55242028" align="aligncenter" width="620"] In this handout image provided by the U.S. Navy, Marines assigned to the 13th…

A Toxic Fog of War

[caption id="attachment_55241672" align="aligncenter" width="620"] An Israeli man tries a gas mask at a distribution centre in Or-Yehuda, south of…

Yemen's Military Makeover

[caption id="attachment_55241186" align="aligncenter" width="620"]A Yemeni soldier stands on the top of a military vehicle at a checkpoint on March…

Oman: Nourishing a Viper in One's Bosom?

[caption id="attachment_55240125" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Aisha Gaddafi speaks on April 14, 2006 in Tripoli. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty…