On The Attack on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo
Last week, as the Israeli government was building a giant wall surrounding the Israeli embassy in Cairo, I opined that the wall should not be seen as a necessity because of anti-Semitism or a rejection of Israel, but rather as a reflection of the reality Israel has created for itself. Killing nine Turkish (and American) … Read more
Massive Cement Walls Make Good Neighbors!
From Issandr El Amrani: First there was the West Bank wall, then the Gaza wall, then the Israeli-Egyptian wall in Sinai — and now the Egyptian government is building a wall outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo to protect it from protests. It may be a necessary thing — all countries have a responsibility … Read more
The Egyptian Military’s Broken Promises
Since the Egyptian military helped the people bring down Hosni Mubarak and created the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to act as an interim government, there has been nearly no revolutionary changes, leading many to downgrade Jan25 from a revolution to a military coup. Despite the demands of the Egyptian people, SCAF has done … Read more
Can Sanctions Bring Down Assad?
It seems as though there is a new article everyday about how Assad is doomed in Syria with many claiming that sanctions alone will be able to bring down the Assad regime. In addition to some serious sanctions by the US the European Union recently announced a ban on oil imports/exports (though the ban will … Read more
NATO Troops to Enter Libya?
Max Boot reiterates the fact that the fall of Qaddafi is not the end of the problems facing Libya and concludes that the presence of western troops in is essential for the prolonged success of the Libyan revolution: But there remains a real danger of catastrophe, a la post-Taliban Afghanistan and post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, which each succumbed … Read more
The GCC and Buying Stability
Mathew Reed has a piece up on Middle East Progress looking at the amount of money spent by the Gulf monarchies on other countries: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is busy. In March they announced a $10 billion bail-out for Oman and Bahrain, the two poorest member states suffering from upheaval. Following the Egyptian revolution, Saudi … Read more
How to Determine if the Syrian Uprising is Successful
The editors of the Middle East Research and Information Project have a great article up about the uprisings in the Middle East (and how the uprisings are framed) and, specifically, in Syria. Two seemingly contradictory passages caught my eye that describe a Syrian uprising in pessimistic terms, but also as inevitably successful. Consider passage one: … Read more
The Islamist/Secular Dichotomy in Egypt
In Egypt, they warn, the Muslim Brotherhood will overtake the young secular activists who bravely brought down dictator Hosni Mubarak. In Syria, they have claimed, Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship may be brutal, but it is a lesser evil than a Sunni majority that will oppress Christians, Shiites, and women. Such anxiety plays perfectly into the ruling rationale of the region’s secular sultans, … Read more
Should We Be Concerned for Egypt’s Revolution
In The National Interest Marina Ottaway describes the chaotic nature of the transitional periods in Egypt and Tunisia as a consequence of a lack of an agreed upon transitional plan. The transitional governments in both countries are illegitimate and must make the fundamental shifts necessary to allow elections and the creation of an elected government. … Read more
Breaking News: Iran and Libya Concerned About Rights of Protesters!
Well this is all over the blogosphere. Duss has it, Keating has it, and Scoblete has it. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on the British police to show restraint in dealing with the rioters in England and suggests the state enter a reconciliation dialogue. Best part? Not a joke. I think. Ok maybe it was a joke. (Was … Read more
