Epstein Secrets

Iran not only exerts considerable influence over Iraq's prime minister, Noun al-Maliki, and his government, but it also has good relations with the Kurdistan's ruling clans, especially the Talibani family, and many Shia factions based in central and southern Iraq. Secondly, illicit trade with Iran brings

nd at the polls in recent months, the modification is mainly less moderate, not more. For example, the Brotherhood belatedly joined the protests in Tahrir Square, but after Mubarak fell, its leaders opposed any "supraconstitutional" guarantees of individual freedoms and then barred members from furth

tator to surrender his nuclear program (and helped expose the Abdul Qadeer Khan nuclear EFTA_R1_01992710 EFTA02681495 12 network); the birth in Kurdistan of an island of civility and free markets and the birth in Iraq of a diverse free press. But Iraq will only be transformational if it truly becomes

unity, and equal rights for all. For eighteen days last winter, that model for a new and democratic Egypt seemed plausible; it was being lived in Tahrir. Copts and Muslims, women and men, youth and the elderly, secular and religious protested and prayed together and shared tents and meals. The Copts

ue," Esam el-Erian, one of the party's leaders, insisted to me. But that is exactly what the urban, secular moderates, who actually did spearhead the Tahrir revolt, fear. They are only now forming parties and trying to build networks that can reach the millions of traditional Egyptians living in the count

uation in Bahrain and Syria occupied by internal problems, the only country willing and able to do the job is Iran. All eyes are now focused on Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud al-Barazani, who has said he will launch a new initiative to bridge the gap between Maliki and Allawi. A 15-man committee has been f