The Obama administration’s decision to engage Egypt is “a case of realpolitik over idealism,” concedes one official. But it’s also the right policy choice. President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi certainly doesn’t make it easy. His repression of dissent now rivals that of deposed President Hosni Mubarak. His campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood has broadened to include… اقرأ المزيد
BAALBEK, Lebanon: The Lebanese Army drove jihadi militants out of two strategic hilltop positions along the northeastern frontier with Syria Thursday, in a preemptive operation aimed at protecting residents of border villages from extremist groups. The Army said in a statement that its troops managed to “wrest full control” of the hilltop positions Sadr… اقرأ المزيد
Prussian King Frederick the Great offered this rebuke to those who refused to allow any concessions: “If you try to hold everything, you hold nothing.” President Barack Obama might make a similar retort to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attack on the alleged “bad deal” the United States is contemplating with Iran. Netanyahu rejects any… اقرأ المزيد
Hussein DakroubHasan Lakkis| The Daily Star BEIRUT: Prime Minister Tammam Salam will call for a Cabinet session next week despite the lingering dispute among ministers over the government’s decision-making mechanism, sources close to the premier said Wednesday. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri left for Riyadh Wednesday night following a 12-day stay in Beirut. Hariri… اقرأ المزيد
Osama Habib| The Daily Star BEIRUT: Lebanon’s successful issuance of its largest-ever Eurobond of $2.2 billion will meet the state’s short-term needs, but Parliament must approve further bond sales to cover all expenses for 2015, Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil said Tuesday. Khalil said the Finance Ministry was seeking to tap the market for… اقرأ المزيد
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi’s suggestion that our region needs a joint Arab military force to deal with escalating threats from armed factions in lands such as Libya is one of the most ridiculous ideas to emerge in the Arab world for years. The idea of joint Arab action for common security needs is good in… اقرأ المزيد