Epstein Secrets

ch conflicts. The challenge is creating a dialogue among people who profoundly mistrust each other — and averting a pell-mell civil war. President Obama is embracing the logic of a political settlement for Afghanistan with his speech Wednesday night. With Osama bin Laden dead, Obama can claim that A

across the countries of the Middle East and North Africa. One response that is often heard is a note of cautious optimism, captured in US President Barack Obama recent speech at the State Department when he referred to the "promise of the future." But sometimes we also hear the populist smears that have be

ach other — and averting a pell-mell civil war. President Obama is embracing the logic of a political settlement

te of cautious optimism, captured in US President Barack Obama recent speech at the State Department when

imitations, its borderless online conversations are offsetting the region's political, religious, social, and cultural balkanization. The people of West Asia and North Africa are talking among themselves, even if their governments remain remote. That is a source of hope, if not yet of the systematic and

final arbitrator of reconciliation with Hamas, Abbas could keep the Islamists bottled up. Since then, however, Abbas's position has deteriorated. Barack Obama's inability last fall to back the Palestinian leader's pursuit of an Israeli settlement freeze in the West Bank demonstrated one time too ma

rbitrator of reconciliation with Hamas, Abbas could keep the Islamists bottled up. Since then, however, Abbas's position has deteriorated. Barack Obama's inability last fall to back the Palestinian leader's pursuit of an Israeli settlement freeze in the West Bank demonstrated one time too many how

n presidential candidate since 1924, no matter how pro-Israel, has won more than 40 percent of the Jewish vote. Usually it is closer to 20 percent. Barack Obama is not going to break that record. Jews are less than 2 percent of the American population, but they are major players in the Democratic Party. De

r the revolt to a degree captured in a remark by President Obama. In answering a question from a staff member, Ob

argument, and plunge instead into a pluralistic discourse that will engage whole populations. SHI'ITE ABSOLUTISM, SUNNI ROYALTY Some societies of West Asia ("Middle East"), nevertheless, are markedly averse to concepts of civil society, most notably Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran, of course, projects Pers

12, http://tribunc.com.pk/story/373066/us-afghan-pact-does-not-rule-out-drone-strikest Accessed 16 May 2012. 78 See M.K. Bhadrakumar, 'Iran queries Obama's pact with Karzai', Asia Times, II May 2012, http://www.atimes.com/atitnes/South_Asia/NE I I Df0l.html. Accessed 28 May 2012. 7° Which has tics wi

ans themselves. But here again, the goal was to make Iran's `enemies' uncomfortable, not to destabilise its neighbour.° 62 As it is better known in West Asia, with Hezbollah. See for example Augustus Richard Norton, Hezbollah. A Short Story. Princeton University Press, 2007, pp.72 and 110. 63 Mir H Sadat

such conflicts. The challenge is creating a dialogue among people who profoundly mistrust each other - and averting a pell-mell civil war. President Obama is embracing the logic of a political settlement for Afghanistan with his speech Wednesday night. With Osama bin Laden dead, Obama can claim that Ame

each other - and averting a pell-mell civil war. President Obama is embracing the logic of a political settlement

g across the countries of the Middle East and North Africa. One response that is often heard is a note of cautious optimism, captured in US President Barack Obama recent speech at the State Department when he referred to the "promise of the future." But sometimes we also hear the populist smears that have been

limitations, its borderless online conversations are offsetting the region's political, religious, social, and cultural balkanization. The people of West Asia and North Africa are talking among themselves, even if their governments remain remote. That is a source of hope, if not yet of the systematic and co