Libya: Lessons On Intervention From A Bush Advisor

Meaghan O'Sullivan, former Deputy National Security Adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan, wrote an op-ed applying lessons from those conflicts US to Libya. The piece has elicited contrasting responses. Tom Ricks described "a visceral unhappiness reading it," while Andrew Exum called it a mix of nostra culpa, honest talk and warnings. One lesson: have clear goals. While the Bush administration explicit goals for Iraq, there were high-level disagreements over importance of democracy-building. ...

Iran: As Tensions Rise, Movement Hits Home in Washington

InsideIRAN.org provides an interesting analysis of Iran's internal political situation. Using anonymous sources, Arash Aramesh writes that the Iranian regime may be trying to create a split between conservatives and ultra-conservatives as a replacement for the reformist calls for real change; creating a "moderate" conservative split in the party might give reformists another outlet and serve as an alternative to replacing the regime.As Iran's political environment intensifies, the regime's crackdown on the ...

Carpenter and Wittes: Cook Wrong on Democracy Funding in Egypt

Writing on the Middle East Strategy at Harvard blog, Scott Carpenter and Tamara Cofman Wittes take umbrage at Steven Cook's suggestion that democracy and good governance programs in Egypt are not worthwhile. Carpenter expresses disappointment with the casual manner in which Secretary Clinton has addressed democracy and human rights, equating these issues with economic development.  He also asserts that Cook incorrectly assumes that limited  headway  under President Bush indicates that future ...

The Brass Crescent Awards

Voting is now open for the fifth annual Brass Crescent Awards: "The Brass Crescent Awards, a joint project of altmuslim and City of Brass, is an annual awards ceremony that honors the best writers and thinkers of the emerging Muslim blogosphere (aka the Islamsphere). Nominations are taken from blog readers, who then vote for the winners." Polls close by the end of the day today so vote now!

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