Epstein Secrets

nows what it takes to make his people happy. Unlike in Egypt and Tunisia, Syrians see Assad as part of the solution in their country, and not, like Hosni Mubarak and Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali, as part of the problem. He is young, closer to their age than both presidents had been to young Egyptians and Tunisian

ago, in a long, thrilling interview with the Wall Street Journal, Assad spoke about the stability of his regime, in sharp contrast to the crumbling Mubarak regime. But in the end, the shockwaves of the "Arab Spring" also reached Syria. The opposition is nourished by the hatred the Sunni majority in Syr

hing to see the United States using its diplomatic and military power in congruence with Arab states and international legitimacy, as manifested in UN Security Council resolutions. If Washington continues to act in a manner that can be interpreted as supporting the expanding pan-Arab citizen revolt, and assists th

ote counts from across the country indicated that the Islamist leader was ahead of rival Ahmed Shafiq, who was the last prime minister appointed by Hosni Mubarak and was widely considered the generals' preferred candidate. Preliminary results published in the state-run Ahram Online news site showed that, wit

amed Morsi, a protégé of the Brotherhood's strongman Khayrat Elshater. If anything, this "choice" is the incarnation of the doctrine that served Mr Mubarak for three decades, "either me — an authoritarian regime backed by the military, or the Islamists". Having alienated their partners and lost substan

the West should stand firm. Russia cannot be allowed to veto America's missile-defence plans in Europe. Nor should Mr Putin's continued blocking of UN Security Council resolutions authorising intervention in Syria be treated as an insurmountable bar to action, any more than it was in Kosovo in 1999. G20 leaders sh

G F I OM TO JANUARY 14 Tunisian president Ben All ousted - the first victory in the Arab Spring which spread across North Africa. FEBRUARY 11 Hosni Mubarak, the leader of Egypt, is forced to resign. FEBRUARY 15 First protests begin in Lib- yan city of Benghazi against Gaddafl. FEBRUARY 25 Following he

ch spread across North Africa. FEBRUARY 11 Hosni Mubarak, the leader of Egypt, is forced to resign. FEBR

d Sabha in Gaddafi's hands. MARCH 15 Fightback by Gaddafi forces sees them retake most of the rebel cities except Misrata and Benghazi. MARCH 17 UN Security Council authorises a no-fly zone and 'all necessary meas- ures' to enforce it. MARCH 19 Action by Nato begins. RAF planes in action over Libya, and a Brit

tary-General of the Arab League and a long-serving member of the Mubarak Government (including as Foreign Minister), later became a detractor of the Mubarak regime. Abul Futuh, an Islamist, recently deserted the Muslim Brotherhood and, given his prominence, his departure has the potential to split the M

ty government agreement and the closing of the Hamas Damascus office, has much to lose in a military confrontation with Israel. Syria: The March 21 UN Security Council Presidential Statement on Syria, approved by all 15 Council members, sends a strong and united message from the international community. The non- bi