Hezbollah’s recent tour de force in Beirut has helped reignite political talks in its favor…
- Hezbollah Emerges in Forefront of Power in Lebanon (Washington Post)
…however, its victory comes at a very high price, as sectarian flames re-ignite with a new intensity:
- In Lebanon, Sectarian Tensions May Endure Even if Political Deal is Reached (Voice of America)
Egypt’s civic movements seek to gain steam going digital, but Cairo’s Leviathan state is there ready to crackdown:
- Fledgling Rebellion on Facebook Is Struck Down by Force in Egypt (Washington Post)
Economic concerns in the Middle East provide traction for Islamists to gain further ground at the grassroots level and in the ballot box:
- Food Crisis Creates an Opening for Muslim Fundamentalists (Los Angeles Times)
- Islamists Dominate Kuwait Polls (BBC News)
Part of a larger counterterrorism strategy with Taliban militants, Pakistan secures the release of its ambassador after three months of capture…
- Militants Free Ambassador of Pakistan in Exchange (New York Times)
… meanwhile, Pakistan’s lawyer movement aims to ratchet up the pressure after disappointment with politicians’ failure to restore the judges:
- Lawyers Up Pressure On Pakistan Coalition Over Judges (Reuters/Wiredispatch)
