Middle East

Votes Versus Rights

The debate that's shaping the outcome of the Arab Spring.

BY CHARLES KURZMAN | FEBRUARY 10, 2012

A Failure to Communicate

Why doesn't Israel understand the Arab Spring?

BY SALMAN SHAIKH | FEBRUARY 9, 2012

Embarrassment of Riches

Natural resources would seem to promise easy money. Welcome to the dark side.

BY PETER PASSELL | FEBRUARY 9, 2012

Don't Count on a Syria Intervention

In the end, Americans just aren't interested in getting involved in promoting democracy overseas.

BY SCOTT CLEMENT | FEBRUARY 8, 2012

Sex for Sale in Beirut

Lebanon's "super nightclubs" straddle the line between brothel and strip club.

BY SULOME ANDERSON | FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Syria's Ground Zero

The city of Homs is bearing the brunt of Bashar al-Assad's bloody crackdown.

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

The Coming Civil War in Afghanistan

It's not inevitable, but it's more likely than ever before. Here's how to avoid the worst.

BY ARIF RAFIQ | FEBRUARY 3, 2012

The World in Photos this Week

Soccer riots in Egypt, Merkel heads to China, and an anniversary in Tehran.

FEBRUARY 3, 2012

The Cynics at the Gates

The world is more prepared to stop atrocities than ever before, but it is still unwilling -- or unable -- to actually bring those atrocities to an end.

BY JAMES TRAUB | FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Cairo's Undercover Strongman

Meet Murad Muwafi, the most important man in Egypt you’ve never heard of.

BY MAGDY SAMAAN | FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Brothers in Arms

Vladimir Putin's stubborn support for the Syrian regime is intended to shore up his faltering support within Russia.

BY MICHAEL WEISS , JULIA PETTENGILL | FEBRUARY 2, 2012

Finish Him

Without international intervention, there's a good chance that Syria's dictator, Bashar al-Assad, could still rule for years.

BY DANIEL BYMAN | FEBRUARY 2, 2012

Ultra Violence

How Egypt’s soccer mobs are threatening the revolution.

BY JAMES M. DORSEY | FEBRUARY 1, 2012

The Monitor, Merrimac, and Middle East

American presidents love to describe the U.S. commitment to Israeli security as "ironclad." But do they mean it?

BY ROBERT SATLOFF | JANUARY 31, 2012

Crude Awakening

In Iraq's turbulent politics, whoever controls the oil production wields the power. And that might soon be ExxonMobil.

BY BEN VAN HEUVELEN | JANUARY 31, 2012

Mexican Standoff

Republicans have a historic chance to win the Hispanic vote. They're shooting themselves in the foot.

BY MICHAEL A. COHEN | JANUARY 27, 2012

Hard Times in Hebron

Can the thriving Palestinian economy survive as millions of U.S. aid dollars slow to a trickle?

BY JACKIE SPINNER | JANUARY 27, 2012

The World in Photos This Week

The Chinese New Year, the anniversary of the Arab Spring, and Angela Merkel's golden goose.

JANUARY 27, 2012

Egypt’s Revolutionary Narrative Breaks Down

With Hosni Mubarak long gone, a heavily Islamist parliament in place, and the military in uneasy command of the country, who speaks for the revolution?

BY LAUREN E. BOHN | JANUARY 26, 2012

Back to Tahrir

Amazing photos of the massive crowds that rallied on the anniversary of the Egyptian revolution.

JANUARY 26, 2012

Talking 'Bout Negotiation

The five big reasons why critics say talks with the Taliban won’t work -- and why they’re wrong.

BY SHAMILA N. CHAUDHARY | JANUARY 25, 2012

What Happened to My Revolution

Five influential Egyptian protesters look back on a tumultuous year.

BY SARAH A. TOPOL | JANUARY 24, 2012

Guns and Butter

Countries around the world are finding that military involvement in private business is a major barrier to reform. But pensioning off CEOs in uniform is easier said than done.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | JANUARY 24, 2012

A Forward Strategy of Freedom

It's neither perfect nor pretty, but the Arab Spring proves that neoconservatives were right all along.

BY ELLIOTT ABRAMS | JANUARY 23, 2012

The Military-Political Complex

Why is Barack Obama standing to the right of conservatives when it comes to cutting the defense budget?

BY JAMES TRAUB | JANUARY 20, 2012

One Fine Day in Liberation Square

One year ago, Egyptians took to the streets in protests that shocked the world, and changed the course of the entire Middle East.

BY ASHRAF KHALIL | JANUARY 20, 2012

Stop the Madness

Despite all the hype, Iran's nuclear program has yet to violate international law. It's time to calm down, think, and above all halt the rush to war.

BY YOUSAF BUTT | JANUARY 19, 2012

Enough Already

It's time to talk to the Taliban.

BY STEPHEN HADLEY AND JOHN PODESTA | JANUARY 18, 2012

The Top 10 Trends in Global Freedom

One might expect, given last year's headlines across the Middle East -- as well as promising political developments in authoritarian countries from Myanmar to Cuba -- that 2011 was a banner year for freedom. The reality is more complicated.

BY ARCH PUDDINGTON | JANUARY 18, 2012

The Iraqi Revolution We'll Never Know

Imagine for a moment that the United States never invaded Iraq. Would the Arab Spring have toppled Saddam anyway?  

BY MICHAEL WAHID HANNA | JANUARY 17, 2012