MUST-READS

• Saudi Educational System
  63 pct. of Saudi students in majors ‘unsuitable’ for market

  Only 9 percent of high school graduates have taken up technical and vocational programs in the kingdom compared with 41 percent in OECD member countries and 37 percent in Turkey. The global average of students who join technical and vocational colleges is 40 percent.

• Oil
  Shale, Saudi Arabia and Islamic State Leave Oil Bulls Sweating

  There was a time when headlines about jets bombing Middle Eastern refineries would have sent oil prices soaring. Granted, Islamic State's facilities aren't exactly world class. But it is telling that such violence is doing little to lift the price of crude. Brent is down 13% this year and looks set to post its weakest yearly average price since 2010, before the Arab Spring really got going.

• Iraq's Army
  Pentagon says it will take years to retrain Iraqi forces. Why so long?

  The assassination and intimidation campaign waged by Islamist militants, as well as the cronyism practiced by the former Iraqi prime minister, have led to an erosion of confidence, says the retired general who took command of the training effort for Iraqi security forces in 2007.

• Iran Negotiations
  Yes, a Nuclear Deal With Iran Is Still Possible

  As the Nov. 24 deadline approaches, the two sides have grown increasingly pessimistic that they will be able to agree on how many centrifuges Iran should be allowed to possess for its uranium enrichment program.

  • Iran Wire - At the UN, Rouhani Talks Tough
  • AP - US Considers New Offer to Iran at Nuke Talks
  • VOA - Exclusive: US Negotiator Cites Progress in Iran Nuclear Talks
• KASP
  Alabama Cool after Saudi Arabia – University Newspaper Interviews Saudi Student

  Alzughaibi Salman is a 19-year-old international student from Saudi Arabia. He is a sophomore at The University of Alabama majoring in electrical engineering in hopes of working for the Mercedes Factory once he graduates.

• Obama and the UN
  Obama calls on nations to confront extremists

  In his annual address to the United Nations, Obama urged all countries and religions — especially Islam — to reject the extremist ideologies that fuel bloodshed and threaten global stability. "As we look to the future, one issue risks a cycle of conflict that could derail so much progress," Obama said. "And that is the cancer of violent extremism that has ravaged so many parts of the Muslim world."

  • Reuters - UK's Cameron recalls parliament to sanction air strikes against Islamic State
• Saudi Sentences
  Saudi sentences three to death over terrorism charges

  The Special Criminal Court in Riyadh yesterday sentenced three Saudis to death and 20 others to prison terms ranging from five to 25 years over charges of joining an Al-Qaeda terrorist cell in the kingdom, the Anadolu news agency reported. The same court also sentenced four Saudis to death and 16 others to prison terms ranging from 16 to 23 years.

• Focus KSA
  Focus KSA – Arabian Gulf and Regional Challenges Conference – Katz (Video)

  The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Gulf Research Center hosted the “Arabian Gulf and Regional Challenges” conference in Riyadh (Sep 16-17, 2014). Dr. Mark Katz, a Gulf specialist who teaches at George Mason University was invited to participate. On his return to the United States he sat down to give Focus KSA a debrief.

  • SUSRIS - Focus KSA – Gulf Challenges Conference – Katz (Transcript)
• Air Strikes in Syria
  Syria: US begins air strikes on Islamic State targets

  US Central Command (Centcom) said Sunni Arab countries Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates "participated in or supported" the strikes

  • AP - Syria Says Washington Informed It Before Strikes
  • Washington Post - A New Battlefield
  • FT - US and allies attack Isis in Syria
  • Foreign Policy - U.S. Begins Airstrikes Inside Syria
  • Los Angeles Times - U.S. airstrikes expand to Syrian city of Aleppo
  • Bloomberg - Israel Shoots Down Syrian Warplane After Flight Over Golan
• Arab States
  Opinion: Costly Arab Delusions

  Consider Europe, where the notion of a nation-state was introduced at Westphalia in 1648. It was not until 300 years later, with the precursors to the European Union, that the peoples of Europe began to imagine themselves as part of a single entity. Today, the European identity has grown strong, but it is still rooted in the unique cultures of its individual countries. There is no Europe without Belgium, Poland, Portugal, or Norway.

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