Juan Cole

‘We Will Close Down Twitter’: Erdogan’s Attempt Fails

‘We Will Close Down Twitter’: Erdogan’s Attempt Fails

JUAN COLE: Let it be a warning to dictators around the world – a clumsy attempt to shut down Twitter in Turkey back-fires.

 Juan Cole

The End of the ‘Turkish Model’? Erdogan Loses It

The End of the ‘Turkish Model’? Erdogan Loses It

JUAN COLE: He has accomplished much but has been caught in a swirl of corruption allegations and is soundingly increasingly shrill

 Juan Cole

For Netanyahu Iran Is About ‘Apocalypse’ and ‘Mushroom Clouds’

For Netanyahu Iran Is About ‘Apocalypse’ and ‘Mushroom Clouds’

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu demanded on Sunday that the world community constrain Iran to change its “genocidal policy” toward Israel, in the course of a speech in which he attacked President Obama’s current round of negotiations with Iran over its civilian nuclear enrichment program.

JUAN COLE: It appears that a light foam forms on Binyamin Netanyahu’s lips when he begins speaking about Iran. Not all Israeli politicians are like him

 Mondoweiss

‘Thanks for Meeting Malala. But What About Other ‘Malalas’?’

‘Thanks for Meeting Malala. But What About Other ‘Malalas’?’

MONDOWEISS: In an open letter to President Obama a young Pakistani woman welcomes his meeting with Malala but asks about victims of U.S drone strikes

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

The Influence of The Father: Strong But Varied Views

The Influence of The Father: Strong But Varied Views

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: The influence that ‘the father’ has exerted over leading female politicians has varied considerably

 The View From Fez

‘Isolated and Abandoned’: Morocco’s Islamists On the Ropes

‘Isolated and Abandoned’: Morocco’s Islamists On the Ropes

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Two years after sweeping to power Morocco’s ruling party is living on borrowed time, it seems

 Common Ground News Service

Violence: The Cancer At the Heart of Tunisian Society

Violence: The Cancer At the Heart of Tunisian Society

MOHAMMED MESSAI, CGNEWS: Rather than being a last resort the lure of the gun is proving irresistible to all across the political spectrum

 Juan Cole

‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ in Obama’s Terror Speech

‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ in Obama’s Terror Speech

JUAN COLE: Some praise is due but Obama remains wedded to the idea that extra-judicial assassination is an effective counter-terror tool.

 Juan Cole

Kafka Visits Cairo: Bassem Youssef’s Interrogation

Kafka Visits Cairo: Bassem Youssef’s Interrogation

JUAN COLE: ‘Explain what you meant by this punchline’. Yes, the surreal became real for Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef this week.

 Mondoweiss

72 Hours With Obama: He’s Israel’s BFF

72 Hours With Obama: He’s Israel’s BFF

If you ever had a burning desire to see the American-Israeli alliance shine, there wasn't a better place to be than Jerusalem last week.

MONDOWEISS: If you had a desire to see the U.S.-Israeli alliance shine, there wasn’t a better place than Jerusalem last week.

 Rania Al Malky

Egypt: Suspicions SCAF Plans to Neuter Democratic Progress Must Be Met Full On

Egypt: Suspicions SCAF Plans to Neuter Democratic Progress Must Be Met Full On

RANIA AL MALKY: No matter reservations we have about the next parliament, clearly to be dominated by Islamists, it must be given full authority…

 Mishaal Al Gergawi

GCC Thought Leaders: Step Up and Connect

GCC Thought Leaders: Step Up and Connect

MISHAAL AL GERGAWI: In the GCC what we need is an intellectual evolution of enlightenment not a political
revolution against government.

 Steve Royston

Democracy Performance Review : Could do Better

Democracy Performance Review : Could do Better

STEVE ROYSTON: The concept of government for the people and by the people – is as far from a reality at the end of 2010 as it ever was.