COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS :

Washington Post, 22 Jun 11, by Karen DeYoung
Obama’s drawdown in Afghanistan will shift tactics in war
'The withdrawal of 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by next summer signals a coming shift in both where and how the war has been fought over the past two years.'

New York Times, 22 Jun 11, by David E. Sanger
Drawing Down, With a Vigilant Eye on Pakistan
'Though the president could not say so directly, one of the constraints on America’s retreat from a hard and bloody decade is the recognition that, more than ever, the United States will be relying on Afghanistan’s help to deal with the threats emerging from Pakistan.'

Washington Post, 22 Jun 11, by editorial staff
The president may be sabotaging his own Afghanistan strategy
'President Obama failed to offer a convincing military or strategic rationale for the troop withdrawals from Afghanistan that he announced Wednesday night. In several ways, they are at odds with the strategy adopted by NATO, which aims to turn over the war to the Afghan army by the end of 2014.'

Washington Post, 22 Jun 11, by David Ignatius
The decisiveness in Obama’s Afghanistan speech
'With tonight’s speech, the inflection point finally arrived. Obama announced a measured withdrawal of 10,000 of those surge troops this year -- more than military commanders might have wanted but far less than war critics have been demanding. In taking this course, he took ownership of the policy more decisively.'

Washington Post, 23 Jun 11, by Glenn Kessler
Obama’s ‘mission accomplished’ speech on Afghanistan?
'The decision to remove 10,000 at first leaves commanders significant flexibility this summer, allowing them to keep as many combat troops as possible and focus on rotating out support personnel. The pledge to remove another 23,000 troops by next September — in time for the presidential election — may be more difficult ...'

Washington Post, 22 Jun 11, by Jackson Diehl
Obama: The postwar era begins now
'That success in Afghanistan can be glimpsed — even taken as a given — will come as news to those few Americans who have followed the war closely. While there have been important tactical gains against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, they are, as commanders frequently put it, “fragile and reversible.” The Taliban is still strong in eastern Afghanistan, and its sanctuaries in Pakistan remain mostly untouched.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jun 11, by editorial board
Obama speech on Afghanistan war: the missing moral victory
'No matter what President Obama does after his speech on a partial troop withdrawal in Afghanistan, it is Afghans themselves who must rise up against the brutal tactics of the Taliban.'

Washington Post, 20 Jun 11, by Richard Cohen
Time to quit Afghanistan
'From the start, America’s huge investment in Afghanistan has been a mistake. It was always necessary, not to mention just plain right, to go after Osama bin Laden and kill every last member of al-Qaeda. That job has mostly been done. But the rest — the routing of the Taliban and the building of a democratic state — is beyond America’s reach. The troops — most of them — should come home.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jun 11, by Nzaar Ihsan
In Pakistan, denial is easier than heartbreak
'Pakistanis have long revered their Army as heroic and pure. Now, they're coming to terms with the fact that it might not be as awesome as they thought. Denial is a natural reaction.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Jun 11, by editorial board
In Arab Spring, truth can beget freedom
'From Syria to Morocco, repressive leaders at least now admit the woes their regimes cause. That admission can lead to success for pro-democracy protests.'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jun 11, by editorial board
Outsourcing democracy promotion
'Turkey, after seeing atrocities in Syria, joins a club of other regional, democratic powers like Brazil and Indonesia helping their neighbors.'

Washington Post, 07 Jun 11, by Henry A. Kissinger
How to exit Afghanistan without creating wider conflict
'For negotiation to turn into a viable exit strategy, four conditions must be met: a cease-fire; withdrawal of all or most American and allied forces; the creation of a coalition government or division of territories among the contending parties (or both); and an enforcement mechanism.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jun 11, by Graham E. Fuller
US should support Arab Spring, not Saudi Arabia's dangerous reaction
'Saudi Arabia is peddling the message of sectarian division, but that’s a dangerously inaccurate misreading of the what the Arab Spring is really about. If the US wants stability in the Middle East, it shouldn’t bow to Saudi Arabia’s opposition to Shiite Iran.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jun 11, by Clayton Jones
Bahrain protests and Obama's 'drop by' diplomacy
'President Obama just happened to "drop by" a White House meeting with Bahrain's crown prince today even as the government brutally suppresses protests. Why the secrecy?'

Washington Post, 07 Jun 11, by Jackson Diehl
The Palestinians’ trick answer to Obama
'The chief Palestinian negotiator with Israel staked out a new position Tuesday in Washington: “We want to resume negotiations,” said Saeb Erekat, on the basis of President Obama’s recent Middle East address. There’s just one catch.'

Washington Post, 03 Jun 11, by Anatol Lieven
Five myths about Pakistan
'In the war on terrorism, where does Pakistan’s loyalty lie? If this nation is our ally, why can’t we trust it?'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 Jun 11, by editorial board
Obama must tell Saudi Arabia to keep Yemen's Saleh
'Yemen's leader must not be allowed to return. America's interest lies in the democratic aspirations of young Arabs, not oil. Obama should shift the Saudi relationship to one of universal values.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jun 11, by Chris Hennemeyer
Tyrants in Africa: little states, big problems
'If we can’t promote democratic values and responsive governance in microstates like Djibouti and Swaziland, we have no business attempting nation-building elsewhere.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Jun 11, by editorial board
Why young martyrs stir the Arab Spring
'The killing of a Syrian boy is the latest catalyst for Middle East protests. From Iran to Tunisia, young martyrs have exposed a regime's brutality.'

Christian Science Monitor, 26 May 11, by John Hughes
Don't dump Pakistan
'After the Osama bin Laden raid, the mood in Washington over Pakistan is sour. The US is right to challenge Pakistani actions and policies contrary to US interests. But giving Pakistan the cold shoulder and throwing it into the arms of China would be dangerously foolish.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 May 11, by Tariq Ramadan
Osama bin Laden is dead, but will West revive ties with Muslims?
'Once the rejoicing at Osama bin Laden’s death is over, the West must address the real issue at hand: its relationship with the Muslim world in light of the Arab Spring.'

New York Times, 20 May 11, by Michael E. O’Hanlon
Finally, a Fighting Force
'Afghanistan’s military and police have become increasingly reliable and effective.'

New York Times, 20 May 11, by Roger Cohen
Obama Draws the Line
'... President Obama made a brave speech telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that “the dream of a Jewish and democratic state cannot be fulfilled with permanent occupation” and urging him to accept Israeli borders at or close to the 1967 lines.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 11, by Ehud Barak
Netanyahu must take 'daring’ steps toward peace
'Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak discusses Netanyahu's US trip, Israel's need to make a bold peace proposal, and whether Israel can work with the newly unified Palestinian Authority.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 11, by editorial board
Obama's bold move on 1967 borders for Israeli-Palestinian talks
'President Obama had to push concrete US positions to get the Israelis and Palestinians on board the freedom train in the Middle East.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 11, by editorial board
Obama Middle East speech: That was the easy part
'In case people doubted – and they did – the United States is on the side of democracy protesters, Obama said in his Middle East speech. But he did little to help Americans or Arabs grapple with hard choices.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 11, by Dan Murphy
What's so 'shocking' about Obama mentioning 1967 borders?
'The US president is seeking a settlement freeze in the West Bank. Key aides in his administration are convinced that the further Israel expands its footprint beyond its pre-1967 borders, the harder achieving peace will become.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 11, by Bilal Y. Saab
Obama's Middle East speech: Good but irrelevant
'President Obama’s Middle East speech at the State Department today is likely to be positively received in Washington. Middle Easterners, however, will probably find it disappointing, or worse, irrelevant.'

New York Times 'Opinionator', 20 May 11, by Peter Catapano
No Disrespect
'Was President Obama's statement on the need for a Palestinian state a provocation or a bold challenge?'

New York Times Blog, 20 May 11, by Ross Douthat
The President’s Middle East Speech
'The evidence for the Bush-Obama foreign policy convergence continues to pile up ...'

Washington Post, 20 May 11, by Douglas A. Ollivant
Afghanistan has three wars at once. Let’s fight the right one.
'First, there is the fight against al-Qaeda and related terrorist groups. Second is the war to protect and support the fledgling Afghan government against the Taliban insurgency. The third war is the least understood but the most enduring: the internal social and cultural battle between the urban modernizers of Afghanistan, mostly based in Kabul, and the rural, tribal, anti-modern peoples who live in the country’s inaccessible mountain regions.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Apr 11, by editorial board
Arab uprising: What to do with dictators?
'Immunity or prosecution for the dictators of Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya? Trends favor prosecution, but it must be justly carried out.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr 11, by Helena Cobban
Syria protests: Is there a peaceful path to democracy?
Can Syria make a transition to democracy without facing the deadly battles now seen in Libya, or the repression in Bahrain? Yes, if enough leaders within Syria show vision and restraint, and if they are open to some outside mediation from South Africa, Turkey, and the US.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr 11, by editorial board
A massacre of Syrian protesters the US can't ignore
'The "Great Friday" protests in Syria, the largest so far, also saw President Assad's forces commit mass murder. Western leaders like Obama can no longer sit on the fence, hoping Assad is a reformer.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Apr 11, by editorial board
Slaughter in Libya's Misurata: Is this Obama's 'Rwanda'?
'NATO admits it can't help keep Qaddafi forces from slaughtering civilians in Libya's third-largest city, Misurata, which is key to the rebels' aims. Obama faces a humanitarian choice, as he did with Benghazi.'

New York Times 'Room for Debate', 26 Apr 11, with Micah Zenko
The Taliban Jailbreak and Afghanistan's Future
'What does the escape of nearly 500 militants say about the ability of Afghan forces to secure their country?'

Christian Science Monitor, 31 Mar 11, by Alastair Crooke
Libya vs. Bahrain: danger of the West's double standard
'The hypocrisy of the West's intervention on behalf of Libyan rebels in the face of its implicit endorsement of the repressive leadership in Yemen and Bahrain is stark. For the sake of Arab freedom and its own interests, the West must take sides against the Saudi-led counter-revolution.'

Washington Post, 27 Apr 11, by Fareed Zakaria
Will the CIA and Pentagon be ready for the next crisis?
'As Leon Panetta and David Petraeus move into their new jobs at the Pentagon and the CIA, they should use the occasion to fundamentally reorient U.S. intelligence and national security planning.'

Washington Post, 27 Apr 11, by Jackson Diehl
Palestinians launch their revolution
'If Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas moves forward with the reconciliation with the Islamic Hamas movement, it will mean he has written off the Obama administration and the peace process it has tried to broker, once and for all.'

New York Times, 24 Apr 11, by editorial staff
President Obama and the Peace Process
'... It is time for Mr. Obama — alone or, better yet, in concert with Europe, Russia and the United Nations — to put a map and a deal on the table [to negotiate an Israeli-Palestinian peace].'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Apr 11, by Angel Rabasa
Time to arm Libyan rebels: Here's how
'The options available to the United States and its partners in Libya have sharply narrowed. As the US did in Bosnia, NATO and others must develop a train-and-equip program for the Libyan rebels that would help the opposition government gain control, oust Qaddafi, and establish a democracy.'

Washington Post, 13 Apr 11, by William J. Dobson
Tunisia. Egypt. Yemen. Swaziland?
'For weeks, the pressure has been building in sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarchy. ... in anticipation of those protests, the regime struck first, launching a wide-scale crackdown against any groups or individuals it deemed a threat.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr 11, by editorial board
A more assertive France in Africa
'The world should be grateful for France's leading military roles in Libya and Ivory Coast. But the country is hardly replicating its historic role as la grande nation.'

New York Times, 13 Apr 11, by editorial staff
The Reality of Women at War
'The Pentagon should end its impractical and unjust ban on women serving in ground combat.'

New York Times, 13 Apr 11, by Nezar Alsayyad
Cairo’s Roundabout Revolution
'... revolutions do not happen in cyberspace, even if they start there. What happened in Tahrir Square during the revolution and the protests happening there now show that even in the 21st century, public space remains the most important arena for dissent and social change.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr 11, by John Yemma
Ivory Coast: Ending "big man" rule
'The international community's ouster of Laurent Gbagbo is important for humanitarian reasons, stability in West Africa, and to enforce the rule of law on a continent long plagued by the "big man" mentality.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr 11, by Francine Kiefer
Democracy update from Egypt
'The most important thing is that protesters are still demonstrating in Egypt, keeping pressure on the interim military council to move toward democracy, says Sherif Mansour. This program officer for the Middle East and North Africa at Freedom House, a watchdog group, is just back from Cairo.'

Washington Post, 08 Apr 11, by Karen J. Greenberg
Even at Guantanamo, a 9/11 trial can serve justice
'It is time to give up our long-standing protest and consider the good that can come from these trials — even if they are held at Guantanamo, and even if they are conducted by the military.'

Washington Post, 08 Apr 11, by Gary J. Bass
Why humanitarian wars can go so wrong
'All wars are terrifying gambles, but the wars justified with moral claims of humanitarianism carry a distinctively harrowing set of risks and problems — above all, the challenge of preventing massive human catastrophes with limited means.'

PBS NewsHour, 07 Apr 11, with Margaret Warner
With Recent Military Action, France Reasserts Global Leadership Role
'France has displayed increasing willingness to use its military to respond to conflicts from Libya to Ivory Coast. Margaret Warner discusses the new display of strength with The Sorbonne's Frederic Bozo and the Washington Post's Jim Hoagland.'

The Guardian, 02 Apr 11, by editorial staff
Libya: Defections and dilemmas
'From the beginning of the intervention the encouragement of defections has played an absolutely central role.'

BBC News, 01 Apr 11, by Kim Ghattas
Why Washington is at a loss over Syria
'The US seems to be scratching its head over how to handle anti-government protests in Syria, which is not an ally but is a big regional player ...'

Washington Post, 01 Apr 11, by Paul Wolfowitz
How to counter Gaddafi’s regime
'Despite the difficulties of assessing public sentiment in Libya, the international community must keep a few fundamental points in mind: A regime that enjoyed genuine loyalty from its people would not have to terrorize them. Nor would it depend so heavily on foreign mercenaries and hired militias to do its fighting. Yet while popular opinion is almost certainly against the regime, the balance of military power favors it.'

Washington Post, 01 Apr 11, by Meghan O’Sullivan
Will Libya become Obama’s Iraq?
'Despite the different circumstances, the Iraq war, and the Afghan war as well, offer hard-won insights about the nature of coalitions, the limits of military force and the power of unintended consequences.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Apr 11, by Howard LaFranchi
Libya fallout: Why Iran, North Korea now less likely to drop nuclear ambitions
'Had Qaddafi held onto his nuclear program, would he be hiding from Western warplanes? Libya's lesson will make it even harder for the US to reach a deal with Iran or North Korea.'

New York Times, 31 Mar 11, by David Brooks
The Defection Track
'The policy the administration publicly describes is constricted and implausible. ... Fortunately, the policy the Obama administration is actually implementing is more flexible and thought-through.'

New York Times, 31 Mar 11, by Mustafa Nour
The Myth of Syrian Stability
'Syria has been ruled by emergency law since 1963, under a strong-fisted security force; opposing (or even just differing) opinions can lead to arrest, imprisonment or, at the very least, travel restrictions.'

Washington Post, 31 Mar 11, by Charles Krauthammer
Syria’s ‘reformer’
'Here are insanely courageous people demanding reform — and the U.S. secretary of state tells the world that the thug ordering the shooting of innocents already is a reformer, thus effectively endorsing the Baath party line — “We are all reformers,” Assad told parliament — and undermining the demonstrators’ cause.'

New York Times, 31 Mar 11, by Roger Cohen
Obama’s Exceptionalism
'... [Obama] has joined a long line of U.S. leaders in discovering the moral imperative indivisible from the American idea.'

Washington Post, 31 Mar 11, by Ali Suleiman Aujali
How to help free Libya
'Let us be clear what this battle is about: We are fighting extremism and terrorism, and we are fighting for freedom and self-determination. After 40 years, we have no interest in trading one kind of terrorist for another.'

Washington Post, 30 Mar 11, by Fareed Zakaria
Does the U.S. really want to own Libya?
'... two weeks in, one can already see the pressures — mostly in Washington ... [Obama] is now taking broad ownership of Libya, and the U.S. military is engaging in a broader air campaign. This is mission creep, and it is a bad idea.'

New York Times, 30 Mar 11, by Robert F. Worth
On Libya’s Revolutionary Road
'The sudden, bloody transformation of normal citizens into rebels.'

New York Times, 30 Mar 11, by Nicholas D. Kristof
Democracy Is Messy
'Egypt is a mess. Nearly two months after street protests inspired a democratic revolution, the transitional military-backed government has proposed — you guessed it — a law banning protests. That’s partly because everybody is protesting ...'

New York Times, 30 Mar 11, by Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt
C.I.A. Agents in Libya Aid Airstrikes and Meet Rebels
'The Central Intelligence Agency has inserted clandestine operatives into Libya to gather intelligence for military airstrikes and to contact and vet the beleaguered rebels battling Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces, according to American officials.'

New York Times, 30 Mar 11, by Michael Slackman
Syrian Leader Blames ‘Conspiracy’ for Turmoil
'The much-anticipated speech by the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, on Wednesday was a well-choreographed effort to showcase his firm grip on power, as he refused to offer concessions and labeled pro-democracy demonstrators as either “duped” or as conspirators in a plot to destroy the nation.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Mar 11, by Ryan James Girdusky
Libya intervention: US cannot afford to 'go in search of monsters to destroy'
Change in Arab governments may come moderately, as in Morocco, or with the blood of thousands, as in Libya. But it is not in America's interests to intervene. US action in Libya may result in big civilian causalities, anti-US blowback, and a loss of treasure America can ill afford.

Christian Science Monitor, 23 Mar 11, by John Yemma
The Libya campaign: Who will lead?
President Obama wants the US to take a backseat in the military campaign. But it is far from clear who will take charge.

Christian Science Monitor, 23 Mar 11, by Adam Hinds
Six ways for US to reset relations in the Middle East
The United States has an image problem in the Middle East. Years of supporting regional dictators and occupying Iraq have undermined influence. The current upheaval provides a rare opportunity for the US to reset regional relations.

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Mar 11, by Sheila Carapico
Yemen: six 'facts' to question
With Yemen in upheaval, US pundits have peddled inflated fears about the threat it poses. While it’s easy to identify risk factors, circumstances don’t spell the kind of chaos Americans most fear ...'

New York Times 'At War', 08 Mar 11, by C.J. Chivers
Qaddafi’s Arms Bazaar, Slowly Exposed
'Over the years, weapons have flowed into and out of Colonel Qaddafi’s Libya, sometimes openly and sometimes via subterfuge.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar 11, by Mark Pfeifle
Web's identity crisis: Tool of freedom or repression?
'Policymakers, diplomats, and military officials must harness the Internet's profound possibilities while managing its capabilities to destroy innocent people and harm democracies throughout the world.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Mar 11, by editorial board
World help for rebels in Libya: Is a no-fly zone the only answer?
'Obama wants Qaddafi to leave, but a no-fly zone may not be doable or adequate. Also a humanitarian crisis may demand a stronger response.'

New York Times, 07 Mar 11, by Roger Cohen
Libyan Closure
'Hearings should be held in the U.S. Congress and throughout Western legislatures on these questions: How did we back, use and encourage the brutality of Arab dictators over so many years? To what degree did that cynical encouragement of despots foster the very jihadist rage Western societies sought to curb?'

Washington Post, 14 Mar 11, by Jennifer Rubin
The Mubarak mistake repeated in Bahrain
'... Bahrain is not the only country that has failed to learn something over the past couple of months. It seems the Obama administration is just as dense.'

New York Times, 24 Feb 11, by Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
A Saudi Prince’s Plea for Reform
'... unless many Arab governments adopt radically different policies, their countries will very likely experience more political and civil unrest. The facts are undeniable ...'

New York Times, 22 Feb 11, by Elif Shafak
Finally, Turkey Looks East
'Recently ... the Turkish elite has started paying much more attention to Egypt. A few years ago the governments of Turkey and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding to endorse cooperation and broaden military relations.'

New York Times, 22 Feb 11, by Manjushree Thapa
Nepal’s Stalled Revolution
'... we have learned that it is easier to start a revolution than to finish one. Overthrowing the monarchy was difficult, but institutionalizing democracy is harder still.'

New York Times, 19 Feb 11, by David E. Sanger
When Armies Decide
'There comes a moment in the life of almost every repressive regime when leaders — and the military forces that have long kept them in power — must make a choice from which there is usually no turning back: Change or start shooting.'

Washington Post, 24 Feb 11, by Fareed Zakaria
In the Middle East protests, a seismic shift
'We are all looking at each crisis individually as it breaks out. But if we step back we can see that this is really a seismic shift and that it will in time reverberate throughout the region.'

PBS Newshour, 22 Feb 11
Frontline Examines Muslim Brotherhood's 'Strong, Layered' Role in Egypt
'The Muslim Brotherhood, long banned in Egypt and framed by ousted President Mubarak as an extremist group, is shaping its role in post-Mubarak Egypt.'

PBS Frontline, 22 Feb 11
Revolution in Cairo
'As the protest movement in Egypt sent shock waves throughout the country -- and the world -- FRONTLINE dispatched teams to Cairo for this special report.'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Feb 11, by John Yemma
Bahrain, Iran, and the limits of revolution in the ethnically divided Middle East
'The Egyptian uprising has inspired people throughout the Middle East. But because of deep ethnic differences, the wave popular unrest is crashing into other countries in vastly different ways.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb 11, by Martin van Creveld and Jason Pack
Upheaval in Qaddafi's Libya isn't just another Arab uprising
'Libya's motley modern structure is largely tribal – without centuries of nationalist history or a strong military like Egypt or Tunisia. Libya is an ideologically driven oil state, but Qaddafi's grip has prevented real economic reforms. The tides are turning his brutal hold, but what happens next?'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb 11, by Ariel Zirulnick
How absolute is Qaddafi's power? 4 key questions.
'This backgrounder offers a look at how the eccentric dictator came to power – and how he's held on to it for 41 years.'

Christian Science Monitor, 23 Feb 11, by John Yemma
Goodbye, Qaddafi: Why these sorts of dictators are done
'Flamboyant dictators like Col. Qaddafi are a vanishing breed in a world where even their own citizens can now see how abnormal they are.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Feb 11, by Dan Murphy
Iran warships through the Suez Canal? Messaging, opportunism, and fearmongering.
'... the flurry of reporting on the issue points to the regional agendas of both Israel, Iran, and Egypt as they respond to the stunning events of the past week.'

Washington Post, 10 Feb 11, by Eugene Robinson
U.S. must take the walk to democracy with Egypt
'The flowering of homegrown democracy in Egypt ... is far from certain - not just because Mubarak remains, having transferred "some" of his powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman, but also because the overthrow of the Egyptian police state is far from complete.'

Al Jazeera, 09 Feb 11
Syria: 'A kingdom of silence'
'Analysts say a popular president, dreaded security forces and religious diversity make a Syrian revolution unlikely.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Feb 11, by editors
Goodbye, Qaddafi: Why these sorts of dictators are done
'Flamboyant dictators like Col. Qaddafi are a vanishing breed in a world where even their own citizens can now see how abnormal they are.'

Washington Post, 04 Feb 11, by Josiah Bunting III
Two books on military-industrial complex
'Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Military-Industrial Complex'

New York Times, 03 Feb 11, by editorial staff
Egypt’s Agonies
'President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt could have done many things after he announced he would not run for office again. ... Instead, Mr. Mubarak is making a ruthless bid to retain power.'

New York Times, 03 Feb 11, by Roger Cohen
Hosni Mubarak Agonistes
'This great city’s not finished, but the peaceful phase of Egypt’s pro-democracy uprising is.'

New York Times, 30 Jan 11, by Ross Douthat
The Devil We Know
'The United States supported Mubarak for so long because of two interrelated fears: the fear of another Khomeini and the fear of another Nasser. Both anxieties remain entirely legitimate today.'

New York Times 'Room for Debate', 01 Feb 11
Mubarak's Role and Mideast Peace
'The uprising in Egypt has created turmoil for Israeli and Palestinian leaders, who have their own complicated relationships with the Mubarak regime.'

Washington Post, 01 Feb 11, by Jena McGregor
Egypt: Obama's communication highwire
'What do you say when you're faced with the leadership dilemma of siding with your moral principles or the interests of the country you lead?'

New York Times, 03 Feb 11, by Tarek Masoud
An Exit Plan for Mubarak
'... there may still be a chance to effect the “orderly transition” that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has called for. Paradoxically, it requires that Mr. Mubarak stay on, but only for a short time ...'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Feb 11, by Ahmed Zewail
A bold plan to resolve crisis in Egypt
'Egyptian Ahmed Zewail won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1999. Here he gives four steps to make the transition to democracy in Egypt.'

Washington Post, 01 Feb 11, by Richard Cohen
A democratic Egypt or a state of hate?
'The next Egyptian government - or the one after - might well be composed of Islamists. In that case, the peace with Israel will be abrogated and the mob currently in the streets will roar its approval.'

Washington Post, 31 Jan 11, by editorial staff
Misconceptions about the Egyptian crisis
'While Washington and the world anxiously awaited the outcome of that test of strength, debate continued on the stakes and the dangers of the Egyptian revolt. Unfortunately, the discussion has been infected by considerable misinformation.'

New York Times, 02 Feb 11, by Scott Atran
Egypt’s Bumbling Brotherhood
'... here’s the real deal, at least as many Egyptians see it. Ever since its founding in 1928 as a rival to Western-inspired nationalist movements that had failed to free Egypt from foreign powers, the Muslim Brotherhood has tried to revive Islamic power. Yet in 83 years it has botched every opportunity.'

Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan 11, by Anne Mariel Peters
Protests in Egypt: the real reason for Obama's two-handed game
'Commentators have castigated the Obama administration for not demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak and the institution of democratic elections. Yet this 'passivity' may not be a function of support for Mubarak’s dictatorship but rather a desire to retain the Egyptian military as a reliable partner throughout rapidly changing political circumstances.'

Washington Post, 01 Feb 11, by Michael Gerson
Arabs' urge for self-government shouldn't be a surprise
'If the alternatives to Mubarak's rule are poor, it is because he did his best to make it so. American complicity in this strategy was often described as "realism," helping to ensure the stability of a favorable regime.'

Washington Post, 01 Feb 11, by Eugene Robinson
For Egypt's Mubarak, push has come to shove
'The Obama administration has done a creditable job of gently edging Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak toward some sort of gilded exile. Now it's time to push. Hard.'

Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan 11, by Howard LaFranchi
Egypt protests: Did Jimmy Carter just throw Obama under the bus?
'Former President Jimmy Carter said Sunday what many experts are thinking: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak must go. But President Obama has shied away from making such a statement, even as the Egypt protests escalate, leading to some criticism.'

Washington Post, 01 Feb 11, by Marc A. Thiessen
Protester: 'We believe America is against us'
'The United States has vital interests in Egypt that must be protected - and the best way to do so is to stand with the Egyptian people as they demand their liberty. Clearly we do not want a radical regime to come to power, as it did in Iran after the fall of the shah. But it is not Mubarak's fall, but his continued autocratic reign, that would strengthen the hand of the extremists.'

Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan 11, by editorial board
In Egypt and Tunisia, the rise of the Islamists?
'The fear of freedom for Egypt, Tunisia, and other Arab countries is that it might give rise to the rule of extreme Islamists, creating Iranian-style theocracies. This fear does not match the reality.'

CBS News, 01 Feb 11, by Joshua Norman
After Egypt, How Will the Dominoes Fall?
'In the 20th Century, the phrase "domino effect" brought to mind the spread of communism to vulnerable states. Today, a popular anti-government uprising in Tunisia has turned that phrase on its head, as protesters throughout the Middle East have begun rising up against their governments in support of more democratic reforms.'

Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan 11, by editorial board
How history might really be made in Egypt
'Yes, the power of ideas such as freedom drives the protests in Egypt. But a surprise glitch might bring down Hosni Mubarak, as it did Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines.'

Daily Nation, 01 Feb 11, by Maurice N. Amutabi
Popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and lessons about democracy in Africa
'For the first time, information and communication technology (ICT) is defining democracy in Africa. The Internet, cellphones, social sites and all kinds of media devices are being used to mobilise people to remove bad rulers.'

The Guardian 'Comment is free', 01 Feb 11, by Slavoj Žižek
Why fear the Arab revolutionary spirit?
'The western liberal reaction to the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia frequently shows hypocrisy and cynicism.'

Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan 11, by Adrian Hong
US message to Arab world matters -- and Obama is sending the wrong one
'Sitting on the sidelines may cost us more than our regional standing; it may cost us our own ideals.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Feb 11, by Charles V. Peña
Pentagon cuts don't cut it. Want to really save money? Get a new security strategy.
'Billions in Pentagon cuts touted by Gates and Obama recently don’t represent real decreases to defense spending. With troops in more than 150 of the world's 195 countries, the US needs to abandon its cold-war era deployment strategy. It's time for our wealthy allies to pull their weight.'

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