Why Has the Egyptian Revolution Stalled?
In addition to the regular reading list, I am offering a pretty good selection on Egypt. I am crazy behind this week and have not really had time to comment on all I want to, including many issues that are covered in these readings. Unsurprisingly, the main constant through all of these pieces is the … Read more
Implications of Turkey Cutting Military Ties with Israel on a Larger Scale
After Erdogan made a grand speech about rethinking Turkish-Israeli ties, Erdogan officially lowered diplomatic relations and suspended all military ties with Israel last night and this morning. Turkey, still rightfully upset with Israel, has decided to put some action behind their words and do this move. But what does the move intend to do? Is … Read more
What Will Ramadan do to the Opposition
Kal, over at the Moor Next Door, published some thoughts on how Ramadan, the Muslim holiday that will start on August 1st and run until August 29th, will change the nature of the Arab uprisings across the region. Kal focuses on the potential rise of Islamists in what has generally been a secular uprising, the … Read more
Why Would Anyone Want to be a Lebanese Politician?
It has never been easy to be in Lebanese politics. And that may be the understatement of the year. For the past few decades, Lebanon has been split into those who supported the Syrian control over the Lebanese political system and those who were pushing for sovereignty. Since its creation in 1982, Hezbollah has been … Read more
Blanford On How The STL Could Hurt Syria
In the pile of items that I have been meaning to get to is the possible Syrian portfolio of indictments to be handed down by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) after its investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The Tribunal has already handed out indictments for four Lebanese men, … Read more
The Danger of Flower Throwing
In response to the news that US ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, was welcomed by flower-throwing protesters when he visited the city of Hama on Thursday and Friday, Mustapha, of the Beirut Spring Blog, recalled the fickle nature of flower throwers: in 1982, Lebanese southerners greeted the invading Israeli army with flowers. While this seems … Read more
US Supports Dialogue by Calling for Regime Change? (And Other Syrian Happenings)
I have been away the last few days doing some camping and hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and have consequently missed a lot that I want to catch up on (the hiking was certainly worth it though). In Syria, there still (unsurprisingly) seems to be nothing but confusion and disagreement between the … Read more
The Party of God and Bringing Down Lebanon, Part II
I just finished summing up the STL indictment of four men in connection with the 2005 assassination of then Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon, noting that the STL may not be finished with its indictments. For now, the situation in Lebanon is truly wait and see. Hezbollah could be simply sacrificing these four men … Read more
The Party of God and Bringing Down Lebanon
So the big news today is the indictment of four Lebanese men by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) which was set up in 2007 to investigate the murder of then Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. This is big news, of course, because this initial indictment could spread to include senior members of both Hezbollah and … Read more
Minor Obstacles for National Dialogue in Bahrain
National dialogues talks are set to begin in Bahrain in a week, but already things are not looking promising for the scarred and divided island nation. The opposition movement saw its entry into the Arab Spring violently struck by the ruling Khalifa family while hundreds of opposition members were arrested and thrown in jail. The … Read more
Chris Keeler
Chris Whitman
