Juan Cole

‘Round Up the Usual Muppets’: Egypt’s Rulers Court Ridicule

‘Round Up the Usual Muppets’: Egypt’s Rulers Court Ridicule

JUAN COLE: Secret messages being transmitted via muppets on television ads? You couldn’t make it up.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

The Pros and Cons of Arab World Literary Prizes

The Pros and Cons of Arab World Literary Prizes

M. LYNX-QUALEY: There’s always bound to be heated debate about the merits of judging literature but the Arab world’s literary prizes attract particularly warm discussion.

 James M. Dorsey

Middle East Cloud Hangs over FIFA

Middle East Cloud Hangs over FIFA

JAMES M. DORSEY: The Middle East looms large as FIFA’s executive committee meets against the backdrop of a call for sweeping change.

 Common Ground News Service

Coalition Government: Way Forward for Egypt

Coalition Government: Way Forward for Egypt

MUSTAFA ABDELHALIM, CGNEWS: It works in many European countries and in Turkey. Why not in Egypt?

 Juan Cole

Ten Ways the Iranians Are Beating Sanctions

Ten Ways the Iranians Are Beating Sanctions

JUAN COLE: The last crackpot Neocon plan cost America $1 trillion and nearly 5,000 soldier’s lives. The latest one is meeting resistance.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

‘No Government Support’ for Arabic Literature

‘No Government Support’ for Arabic Literature

M. LYNX-QUALEY: Unlike most Western governments there is little appetite among any Arab government for the translation and promotion of literature. It’s a great shame.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

‘Writing the Revolution’: Two Authors Reflect

‘Writing the Revolution’: Two Authors Reflect

JENNIFER SEARS, ARABLIT: Two leading novelists attending an event in New York reflect on the role of intellectuals on this year’s events.

 Jonathan Cook

Egypt’s Direction Unnerves Israel and the U.S.

Egypt’s Direction Unnerves Israel and the U.S.

JONATHAN COOK: The political sands are shifting a little too quickly in the Middle East for Israel and the United States. Will they be able to keep up?

 Common Ground News Service

‘Business As Usual’ Not Possible for Israel

‘Business As Usual’ Not Possible for Israel

KHALED DIAB:The change convulsing the Middle East is being viewed fearfully by Israel. But there’s an opportunity for it to improve its relationships…

 Crossroads Arabia

Paper View: Arab Media at a Turning Point

Paper View: Arab Media at a Turning Point

CROSSROADS ARABIA: The passion for journalism remains, but today’s younger generation of aspiring journalists would be more picky as to where they would work…

 James M. Dorsey

Al Ahly Opposes Matches in Support of Protesters

Al Ahly Opposes Matches in Support of Protesters

JAMES DORSEY: Al Ahly SC has publicly rejected plans by the Egyptian Football Association, to restart suspended league matches behind closed doors.

 Mondoweiss

Egypt to Usher in Brave New World the U.S. will find harder to Control

Egypt to Usher in Brave New World the U.S. will find harder to Control

PHYLLIS BENNIS, MONDOWEISS: Do the principles on which the U.S. was founded apply to more than 300 million Arabs?

 Rachel McArthur

Coming Together: Why I’m Proud to be Egyptian

Coming Together: Why I’m Proud to be Egyptian

RACHEL MCARTHUR: Now I must admit that phrase had somewhat lost its meaning over the years. The government made its people lose the will to care.

 Mondoweiss

An Encounter with the Mukhabarat

An Encounter with the Mukhabarat

AHMED MOOR, MONDOWEISS: While I was taking refuge behind the Leader of the Free World, a man likely to be beaten thought it important to comfort me.

 Juan Cole

Egypt’s Class Conflict: An Elite, and Everyone Else

Egypt’s Class Conflict: An Elite, and Everyone Else

JUAN COLE: The failure of the regime to connect with working and middle classes, and its inability to provide jobs set the stage for last week’s events.

 Michael J. Totten

Conspiracy, Stupidity Hovers over Iran, Egypt

Conspiracy, Stupidity Hovers over Iran, Egypt

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: There’s nothing the Israelis can do to appease this stupidity. They are hated in part because the people who hate them are mad.

 Osama Al Sharif

Religious Strife, a Huge Win for Arab Enemies

Religious Strife, a Huge Win for Arab Enemies

OSAMA AL SHARIF: Christians are not the only victims of sectarian terror: Mosques, shrines, religious parades have been targeted indiscriminately, affecting Sunnis, Shias and other sects…

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Al Ahram’s New English Portal ‘gets bookish’

Al Ahram’s New English Portal ‘gets bookish’

M. LYNX-QUALEY: The Arab world’s highest circulating daily newspaper goes live with a beta version of its new English portal. There’s a strong focus on ‘the intellectual arena’.

 James M. Dorsey

Why the U.S. Should Push for Democracy in Egypt

Why the U.S. Should Push for Democracy in Egypt

JAMES M. DORSEY: Repression of the opposition, intimidation of the media and electoral restrictions may guarantee Mubarak’s win. But for the U.S., the perception it is perpetuating authoritarian rule may outweigh any benefits.