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After years of insecurity, instability, unemployment, and increasing corruption across the political spectrum, Iraqis are turning to democratic protest to make their voices heard.
In order for Iraq to maximize petroleum wealth and meet the country’s economic demands, clearer lines of authority between the central government and the regional governments need to be drawn and Baghdad may have to manage resources more directly.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula now poses the greatest single terrorist threat to the United States—a greater danger even than al-Qaeda’s senior leadership.
Proposed amendments to Egypt’s constitution meet some longstanding opposition and civil society demands but may also create new uncertainties.
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood faces the challenge of converting selected parts of a movement with a broad social, religious, and political set of agendas into a more narrowly focused political party.
In both the West Bank and Gaza, security sector rebuilding and restructuring occurs without democratic governance and a constitutional order, which threatens not only the region's long-term security but also the ability to achieve Palestinian statehood.
In spite of the massive popular protests that have swept away two Arab strongmen and shaken half a dozen monarchies and republics, the Arab world has yet to witness any fundamental change in ruling elites and even less in the nature of governance.
The Egyptian public must recognize that freedom from authority and corruption requires citizens who follow through with the measures needed for reconstruction and institutional reform, not merely the removal of individual personalities from power.
Since Iran’s power in the Middle East is due chiefly to its political influence, rather than its military prowess, U.S. policy should aim to dilute Tehran’s influence abroad and strengthen moderate forces within Iran.
If the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood cannot manage the tensions within the organization between young members with new energy and the old guard, they may not be able to position themselves as central to Egypt’s political transition.