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Syria: Cutthroat “Mukhabarat” of Middle East

Analysts say a popular president, dreaded security forces and religious diversity make a Syrian revolution unlikely. A key factor for stability within Syria is the popularity of President Bashar al-Assad Despite a wave of protests spreading across the Middle East, so far the revolutionary spirit has failed to reach Syria. Authoritarian rule, corruption and economic hardship are characteristics…

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The Nightmare for Israelis: The Muslim Brotherhood

A Palestinian protester sets ablaze a U.S. flag in the West Bank city of Ramallah, in support of the anti-Mubarak protests in Egypt — While there was rejoicing in Cairo, concern was palpable in Israel over Hosni Mubarak’s stunning ouster from the presidency by pro-democracy demonstrators on Friday. Israelis worry that transition in their southern…

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Palistine & Israel: These are the stubborn facts

Some of Israel’s worst critics are fond of saying that Israel behaves like America’s spoiled child. I’ve always found that analogy excessive. Say what you want about Israel’s obstinacy at times, it remains the only country in the United Nations that another U.N. member, Iran, has openly expressed the hope that it be wiped off…

OBAMA: THE GRAND ILLUSION

Will President Obama go down in history for having set a new course on foreign policy, or for having shown unexpected continuity with his predecessor? As one of his first acts after taking office, President Barack Obama signed an executive order to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay within one year. “This is me,”…

No war likely on Lebanon-Israel border – for now

No war likely on Lebanon-Israel border – for now Photo released by Hizbollah’s press office on Thursday shows the Shiite Party Secretary General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah (3rd right) meeting in Beirut with Ali Akbar Velayati, adviser for international issues to Iran’s Supreme Religious Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (AFP photo) By Rana Moussaoui Agence France-Presse…