Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The U.N.-backed international tribunal's investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri could either help end Lebanon's political violence or shatter the country's fragile stability after decades of civil war.
As unrest in Egypt continues, no formal leader has emerged who can represent the variety of protesters who have taken to the street, leaving it unclear who will negotiate with the regime on the protesters’ behalf.
The current protests in Tunisia and Egypt and the subsequent unrest in the region provide an incentive for Arab states to address political reform and the Arab-Israeli peace process in tandem.
The unrest in Egypt is growing increasingly violent and the longer the protests continue, the more difficult it will be for the Mubarak regime and the protesters to reach an agreement.
In the wake of the protests in Tunisia and Egypt, the United States has an opportunity to assist countries transition into stable democracies and to pressure allies in the Arab world to implement reforms before it is too late.
The continuing unrest in Egypt will have longstanding consequences both in the region and for U.S. foreign policy initiatives, including the war on terror and Arab-Israeli peace.
The demonstrators in Egypt have not been placated by President Mubarak’s recent announcement that he will not stand for reelection. If Mubarak remains in power, the protests are likely to continue.
As the popular uprising against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak continues and the pro-western government of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is replaced by a government supported by Hezbollah, the United States is losing key allies in the region.
The United States has not persistently pressed the Egyptian government to enact democratic reforms and it is too late to call on Mubarak to implement reforms now.
As Egyptian protestors call for a change of leadership, significant questions remain about the role of the army in brokering an agreement, what a new government might look like, and who would lead it.