Egypt’s Sufis see Islamist threat after Mubarak
By Shaimaa Fayed and Abdel Rahman Youssef / Reuters CAIRO/ALEXANDRIA: Down the narrow alleyways of Cairo's Sayyeda Zeinab neighborhood, 100 men sway their heads and clap in rhythm as they invoke…
Rights group initiative aims to include people in writing the constitution
CAIRO: The Hisham Mubarak Law Center launched an initiative titled “Let’s Write Our Constitution” to include the Egyptian people in the process of drafting the constitution. The portrayal of the…
Tahrir Square’s ‘conspicuous’ flaw
By Philip Whitfield CAIRO: Jack Welch built what became the most valuable company in the world making tangible things. Welch was a kid with hope in his heart and an empty…
Liberal parties say might enter elections with a unified roster
By Tamim Elyan CAIRO: A number of liberal parties said that they are considering forming a coalition and competing in the upcoming legislative elections with a unified roster and will push…
NATO and the New Turkey
By Sinan Ulgen ISTANBUL: Turkey joined NATO at the beginning of the Cold War to gain United States protection in the event of a Soviet attack. Back then, Turkey was clearly…
How to set goals
By Bjørn Lomborg COPENHAGEN: At this century’s start, leaders from every country agreed to pursue the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. The ambition was to improve significantly the lot of the…
Israel’s choice vis-à-vis Palestine’s bid for statehood
By Jerome Segal COLLEGE PARK, Maryland: Having despaired of productive negotiations with the Netanyahu government and having lost confidence in the Obama administration, the Palestinians are expected to seek recognition of…
Reset Turkey/EU Relations
By Javier Solana MADRID: Just five months ago, Osama bin Laden was alive, Hosni Mubarak was firmly in control in Egypt, and Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali ruled Tunisia with an iron…
Are Saudi women next?
By Mai Yamani LONDON: The unexpected visibility and assertiveness of women in the revolutions unfolding across the Arab world — in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, and elsewhere — has…
The ASEAN Heart of Asia
By Sirin Pitsuwan JAKARTA: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) stands at a defining moment. Its member states are constantly being evaluated for their economic potential and desirability as a…