Opinion | Columnists

Linda S. Heard

Linda S. Heard is an award-winning British political columnist and guest television commentator with a focus on the Middle East. A former journalist and editor, she has lived and worked in Cyprus, Greece, Algeria, Bahrain, Dubai and Lebanon and is currently based in Egypt. Compilations of her articles have been published in two books: An Enemy Called Apathy and Essays for Truth-seekers.

Recent Articles

Monday May 20

Egypt president Mursi under fire from all sides

Egypt president has a far bigger problem than a sick economy, tribal conflict and disenchanted Salafists. His relationship with the military is now under strain
Monday May 13

Afghanistan’s sovereignty, a bad joke

Whoever replaces Karzai at the helm will be little more than a US puppet as long as American troops and armoury remain scattered around Afghan soil
Monday May 6

Israel adds fuel to the fire in Syria

If Al Assad is foolish enough to strike Tel Aviv, the US will inevitably be dragged into a complex fray that could easily escalate to a stage when America is forced to strike Iran, which Netanyahu wanted all along
Monday Apr 29

Barack Obama’s ‘Syria red line’ returns to haunt him

If the US does nothing, it will be blamed for being a bystander to crimes against humanity. But intervention can ignite a major regional conflagration
Monday Apr 22

Does Boston bombing suspect deserve the tag of ‘enemy combatant’?

Senators baying for Dzhokhar’s blood must know that every US national is entitled to have his day in court no matter how heinously criminal he proves to be
Monday Apr 15

Twisted minds celebrate Thatcher’s passing

One can understand venom spewing from the mouths of pea-brained, drunken louts, but when ministers refuse to attend her funeral, one cannot but think there is something rotten in the state of Britain
Monday Apr 8

Is Pyongyang playing a game of bluff?

Kim Jong-un is more dangerous than his father. He is young, not overly bright and ambitious. His behaviour is inconsistent and he is egocentric
Monday Apr 1

UK coddles fat cats, throws poor to dogs

Cameron government’s policy of slashing social benefits to service the burgeoning debt is not only immoral, but also comes with dire social implications impacting crime figures and public unrest
Monday Mar 25

Israel-Palestine: Sectarianism, a malevolent legacy of western powers

Middle East has been consistently manipulated and duped by nations obsessed with preserving their geopolitical and economic interests
Monday Mar 18

Obama’s Israel trip offers no hope

Nothing concrete for Palestinians or the two-state solution is likely to emerge from the US president’s visit to Tel Aviv, which is little more than a dutiful facade