News and Analysis (2/20/07)

Quagmire in Iraq and support for repressive regimes have allowed Al-Qaeda’s influence to extend into North Africa:

• North Africa Feared as Staging Ground for Terror (New York Times)
• Terrorist Networks Lure Young Moroccans to War in Far-Off Iraq (Washington Post)

Disclosure of US plans to attack Iran include wide list of military targets and would be set in motion by one of two ‘triggers”…

• US ‘Iran Attack Plans’ Revealed (BBC News)

…which has some Iranians very concerned:

• Tehran Alarm Over US Tough Talk (BBC News)

Evidence of Somalia’s power vacuum is apparent after some of the most intense fighting since the Islamic Courts Union was ousted last year:

• Heavy Shelling in Somali Capital (BBC News)

In spite of recent train bombing, Pakistan-India peace talks have not been derailed:

• India and Pakistan Press Ahead with Talks (Financial Times)

Op-ed explains how the Crimean Tatars independent political and religious civil society is a model for stopping extremism:

• A Lesson in Stifling Violent Extremism (Christian Science Monitor)

Alejandro

Alejandro Beutel is program assistant for the Minaret of Freedom Institute with expertise in religious freedom, democratization and security issues.