Juan Cole

The Top Five Foreign Policy Changes That Face the United States in 2012

The Top Five Foreign Policy Changes That Face the United States in 2012

JUAN COLE: Many of the dangers to which I pointed in last year’s list still exist, of course, but a whole host of new difficulties has emerged.

 James M. Dorsey

Egypt and Yemen: Protestors Being ‘Marginalised’

Egypt and Yemen: Protestors Being ‘Marginalised’

JAMES M. DORSEY: Powerful forces are at work in both Egypt and Yemen to mould the emerging political landscape to benefit these particular players.

 Juan Cole

Egyptian Protesters Demand Military Step Down in Wake of ‘Blue Bra’ Beating

Egyptian Protesters Demand Military Step Down in Wake of ‘Blue Bra’ Beating

JUAN COLE: If the military can depict the youth as wild men to the middle classes, it thinks it might remain in power, with a fig leaf of elections.

 Rania Al Malky

Egypt Elections: What a Difference 365 Days Makes

Egypt Elections: What a Difference 365 Days Makes

RANIA AL MALKY: A year on bitterness has given way to gratitude. Had the elections not been so rigged, the uprising might have never have happened.

 Lucy Emmerson

Egypt Braced for Final ‘Free and Fair’ Results

Egypt Braced for Final ‘Free and Fair’ Results

LUCY EMMERSON: Many people were voting for the first time. “Last time I didn’t vote because my vote didn’t matter,” said Fatima Abdullah…

 Ramzy Baroud

Turkey Foreign Policy Falls Over Syrian ‘Abyss’

Turkey Foreign Policy Falls Over Syrian ‘Abyss’

RAMZY AL BAROUD: However, the Syrian uprising in March leading the country down the road to civil war – has forced Turkey to abandon its ‘zero-problems’ foreign policy.

 Juan Cole

Netanyahu: The ‘Mr Wrong’ of the Middle East

Netanyahu: The ‘Mr Wrong’ of the Middle East

JUAN COLE: If there’s one person you can count on to mis-read virtually every aspect of developments in the Middle East today it’s Binyamin Netanyahu.

 Michael J. Totten

The Real Issues Facing Egypt’s Christians: A Religious Leader Speaks Out

The Real Issues Facing Egypt’s Christians: A Religious Leader Speaks Out

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Sectarian clashes between Christians and Muslims are increasing daily throughout Egypt. Coptic leaders are understandably cagey…

 Juan Cole

Gingrich’s Crusade: It’s not an ‘Arab Spring’, it’s ‘an anti-Christian Spring’

Gingrich’s Crusade: It’s not an ‘Arab Spring’, it’s ‘an anti-Christian Spring’

JUAN COLE: In their quest to find an ABM (‘Anyone But Mitt’), the American Right have hit upon Gingrich. Let’s hear what he has to say about the MidEast.

 Tabsir

Yemen: The Desperation of Ali Abdullah Salih

Yemen: The Desperation of Ali Abdullah Salih

DANIEL M. VARISCO: It’s the ‘same old, same old’ with Yemen’s recently returned President, blather, bluster and baloney. In the words of the song ‘he just keeps hangin’ on’

 Chris Keeler

Why Israelis Are Spooked by Arab Democracy

Why Israelis Are Spooked by Arab Democracy

CHRIS KEELER: Events have combined around the region to leave Israel feeling very isolated indeed. But many commentators there simply refuse to understand the reasons why they’re in this position.

 Rob L. Wagner

The Saudi Arabian Electoral ‘Experiment’ Continues

The Saudi Arabian Electoral ‘Experiment’ Continues

ROB L. WAGNER: There has been a lot of criticism of Saudi Arabia’s upcoming municipal elections. Some groups, however, know how best to work the system.

 James M. Dorsey

Libya: MidEast Model or Revolution To Go Awry?

Libya: MidEast Model or Revolution To Go Awry?

JAMES M. DORSEY: Libyans unlike Egyptians and Tunisians will be in a position to dismantle the former regime’s apparatus.

 Common Ground News Service

TweetNadwa: 140 Seconds to Say It As You See It

TweetNadwa: 140 Seconds to Say It As You See It

MEHRUNISA QAYYUM, CGNEWS: Inspired by Twitter a grassroots Egyptian organisation has set up an online forum that limits participants to 140 seconds air time.

 Michael J. Totten

Ex Brotherhood Members Speak Out

Ex Brotherhood Members Speak Out

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: What exactly is the Muslim Brotherhood’s ‘game-plan’ for Egypt? One way of finding out is to talk to former loyalists…

 Lucy Emmerson

Mubarak: Trial of Century Must Be Beyond Reproach

Mubarak: Trial of Century Must Be Beyond Reproach

LUCY EMMERSON: As Saleh, Al-Assad and Gadaffi watch this trial, the message must be clear: no one is above the law, everyone will someday be held to account.

 Michael J. Totten

The Struggle for Egypt’s Soul Has Only Begun

The Struggle for Egypt’s Soul Has Only Begun

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: I’ve spent a lot of time with the key players in Egypt’s developing democracy. It’s very clear that the real battle for the country’s – and the region’s – future has just begun.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Aswany, IPAF, Translators: Daoud Takes Aim

Aswany, IPAF, Translators: Daoud Takes Aim

M. LYNX-QUALEY: In a wide-ranging discussion at the Shubbak festival Hassan Daoud, the Lebanese novelist and journalist, had much to say…

 Michael J. Totten

First Impressions Again: An American Re-visits Cairo

First Impressions Again: An American Re-visits Cairo

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: It’s my first trip back to the ‘Capital of the Arab World’ for a while and though much remains as ever there have been striking changes since the revolution.

 Sarah Grebowski

Jihadists’ ‘About-Face’ Sign of a New Egypt

Jihadists’ ‘About-Face’ Sign of a New Egypt

SARAH GREBOWSKI: The extraordinary has become ordinary in Egypt these days. But the conversion of one organisation to democracy demonstrates the speed and scale of transformation.