Hamas’ participation is essential not only because it is in control of Gaza, but because it is a disciplined grass-roots movement,with a substantial social, political and security apparatus, coupled with a charitable economic structure that provides for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Whilst it is certainly a radical, violent, militant group, it wields too much influence over its followers to be discounted. If ignoring Hamas has not helped to marginalise it in the past, how do US President Barack Obama and the leaders of moderate Arab states bring about reform and inclusion ofHamas in the peace process?

(c) United Nations Development Programme
When disaster strikes, the response can be disastrous. The reaction to the January 12th quake in Haiti is perhaps not deserving of such derision. But initial attempts to deliver and …

While Obama has sought to cooperate internationally, he has divided domestically. If his presidency is going to be a success, Obama needs to start working with his opponents in Congress as well as those in the Middle East.

(c) Mark Sardella
This week saw Barack Obama celebrate a year since his inaugration as the USA’s 44th President. As the senator election in Massachusets triggered by the death of Edward Kennedy took place, it became …

(c) jamesomalley
Welcome to The Vibe’s weekly debate! This week, President Barack Obama celebrated his first year in charge by losing a filibuster proof Senate. The Republicans and Scott Brown delivered the President the worst …

(c) Mark Sardella
‘Ouch’ is really the only way to describe the Senate special election result in Massachusetts. There is no way to spin this as anything other than a disaster for the Democrats.
The seat had …

(c) EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
The debate about healthcare reform in the United States has been bedevilled with shrillness. President Obama has had posters of him depicted with a Hitler moustache or as the Joker from The …

(c) jamesomalley
On January 20th, Barack Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States, with an approval rating of 63%. He was supported by a broad coalition, ranging from Democrats to Independents to the ‘Obamacons’ …

(c) The U.S. Army
It’s been a busy month for those of us following the developments in Afghanistan. Still reeling from the embarrassment of watching a US backed candidate steal the Afghan presidential election in a …

(c) teamstickergiant
More and more people seem to be unhappy with Obama and his performance since he was invested last year. People are criticizing his choice of healthcare reforms, the loss of two governor’s races in …

“Iran is not your typical adversary in the military sense. Its available arsenal doesn’t simply include conventional weapons. Rather it is their unprecedented influence in post-Saddam Iraq, their domination of the fragile Afghan economy and their support for Hezbollah in Lebanon that, combined with their nuclear programme, pose such a serious threat to the regional interests of the United States and, perhaps most notably, Israel.”

(c) wallyg
As excuses go, “being emotional,” is not a belter. But I’ve heard it twice last week. The first time was after Congressman Joe Wilson faced a barrage of criticism for shouting, “You lie” at …

Proponents of same-sex marriages argue that this is the “perfect time” to focus more attention on the issue. But, is the struggle for gay marriage the right direction for the US GLBT movement today? Is “Gay Marriage” more trouble than its worth?

(c) EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy on the US Supreme Court is a masterful stroke.
Although Republicans have pointed to her use of “empathy” in judicial deliberations and controversial judgements …

(c) jurvetson

In the aftermath of the Cold War, America was crowned its ‘Unipolar moment’ and George Bush was to preside over a nation that had unprecedented power and legitimacy in a new world. A decade …

(c) EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
There must be something like 12,712,159,642,129,052 articles in the blogosphere proclaiming Obama’s genius. A further 233,123,120, people who would quit their jobs, pack their bags and head to a distant, barren island …