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 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.

 Crossroads Arabia

“Après Moi, le Déluge.” What lies post Mubarak?

“Après Moi, le Déluge.” What lies post Mubarak?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: The big question, of course, is ‘After Mubarak, what?’ I’m sure Mubarak feels, as did Louis XV, Après moi, le déluge.

 Omar al-Issawi

The End of the Age of Mediocrity, the Rise of the Age of the People

The End of the Age of Mediocrity, the Rise of the Age of the People

OMAR AL-ISSAWI: For years I’ve observed with great sadness Arabs who glorified the achievements of a distant past while offering nothing for the future.

 Alexander McNabb

Egypt’s Uncontrolled and Uncontainable Tweets of Rage

Egypt’s Uncontrolled and Uncontainable Tweets of Rage

ALEXANDER MCNABB: Blocking Twitter won’t stop word getting out. You’re as well to try and stop grains of sand falling through marbles.

 Osama Al Sharif

The Palestine Papers and the Dilemma of Peace Talks

The Palestine Papers and the Dilemma of Peace Talks

OSAMA AL SHARIF: The documents underline an important fact; the Palestinian leadership today has one goal in mind – to reach a deal with Israel at any price.

 Hisham Wyne

The Hard Truths and Betrayals Revealed by The Palestine Papers

The Hard Truths and Betrayals Revealed by The Palestine Papers

HISHAM WYNE: The release of the Palestine Papers will be seen as pivotal. Fundamental truths have been revealed.

 Juan Cole

Palestine Papers: ‘Peace process? What Peace Process’

Palestine Papers: ‘Peace process? What Peace Process’

JUAN COLE: The 1600 documents leaked to Al Jazeerah could spell the end of the PLO and drive the nail in the coffin of the so-called ‘peace process’.

 Naseem Tarawnah

Evolution not Revolution To Spark Jordan Reform

Evolution not Revolution To Spark Jordan Reform

NASEEM TARAWNAH: The issues bringing Jordanians onto the streets are of Jordanian origin and will be solved by Jordanians. Fundamental change is not on the agenda.

 American Bedu

Saudis Will Resist Women Drivers, Legal or Not

Saudis Will Resist Women Drivers, Legal or Not

CAROL FLEMING: The movement to allow women to drive in Saudi appears irresistible. There’s lots to be done, however, to improve male attitudes.

 Steve Royston

Islamaphobia and the Clash of Civilizations

Islamaphobia and the Clash of Civilizations

STEVE ROYSTON: If I was advising the UK on a strategy to contain Islamophobia, it would be to communicate the distinction between faith and behaviour.

 Ramzy Baroud

Generalizing Tunisia: What’s the (Real) Story

Generalizing Tunisia: What’s the (Real) Story

RAMZY BAROUD: Understanding Tunisia as just another “Arab regime”, another possible podium for al-Qaeda’s violence, is convenient but also unhelpful…

 James M. Dorsey

MidEast Nations Fight For FIFA Tournaments

MidEast Nations Fight For FIFA Tournaments

JAMES M. DORSEY: Middle Eastern nations are competing to stack up successful bids to host major soccer events in an effort to position themselves as regional hubs for sport.

 The Moor Next Door

Bouazizi’s Self-Immolation Spreads to Mauritania

Bouazizi’s Self-Immolation Spreads to Mauritania

TMND: Thus far, four Algerians and an Egyptian and a Mauritanian each have lit them selves on fire in protests meant to recall Bouazizi…

 James M. Dorsey

Tunisia: A Case of Careful What You Wish For?

Tunisia: A Case of Careful What You Wish For?

JAMES M. DORSEY: Ben Ali’s departure has thrown Tunisia into turmoil. The country, at least for now has lost tourism, one of its main sources of foreign income…

 Juan Cole

Wikileaks: U.S. Knew Tunis Gov. Rotten

Wikileaks: U.S. Knew Tunis Gov. Rotten

JUAN COLE: Cables show that the U.S. was fully aware of the debilitating level of corruption in Tunisia, and its anti-democratic implications.

 Bassam Sebti

Al Jazeera Delivers Lesson in Journalism to U.S.

Al Jazeera Delivers Lesson in Journalism to U.S.

BASSAM SEBTI: Shame on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News for intentionally ignoring a gripping event that could directly affect U.S. foreign policy.

 Steve Royston

After Tunisia: Choosing the Society We Want

After Tunisia: Choosing the Society We Want

STEVE ROYSTON: It’s about building societies in which people are not afraid to think for themselves, and are free to express themselves without fear of censorship or persecution…

 James M. Dorsey

Protests & Cessation Threats Set Stage for Change

Protests & Cessation Threats Set Stage for Change

JAMES M. DORSEY: A wave of protests across the Arab world sets the stage for the redrawing of the political map of the Mideast and North Africa.

 The Moor Next Door

Making Sense of Algeria’s Riots: Why, What Next?

Making Sense of Algeria’s Riots: Why, What Next?

TMND: Many Algerians today feel just as their parents and siblings did in 1988: there are two castes in the country, the official and the unofficial.

 James M. Dorsey

Money Talks: Qatar’s WC Bid Fits SWF Strategy

Money Talks: Qatar’s WC Bid Fits SWF Strategy

JAMES M. DORSEY: Flush with cash, Qatar spared no cost in its campaign to win the bid the World Cup. But are there ethical questions here?