Syria's Morning After: What About Plan B?

As Syria's condition gets more critical, it seems that the 'Friends of Syria' need a Plan B; Reactions to El-Shater's candidacy; Egypt's Porn conundrum; Land Day highlights the age-old fundamental problems; Photo essay of life in the Palestinian territories.

International powers need to take into account previous cautionary tales, such as Iraq, when discussing their options.

Security Clearance [2]

The hunt for 'plan B' - planning for 'the day after' in Syria

We get so wrapped up in our plans that we forget the alternatives. It appears to be that way with the situation in Syria, as all the involved parties are thinking of a one-track solution. "Expectations are low for Sunday's Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul, where representatives from more than 70 nations and international organizations will gather to discuss ways to hasten the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. The reason is simple. The most critical piece is missing: Plan B."

Egyptian Chronicles [3]

El Shater's candidacy reactions : Even his daughter is shocked like the rest of us

The candidacy of Khairat El-Shater's bid for president sort of came out nowhere, as the Muslim Brotherhood claimed that they would not sponsor a candidate for the Egyptian presidency. Well, no predicted this one, even El-Shater's own family! "The biggest and surprising reaction we got in those few hours is the reaction of Sara Khairat El Shater, the daughter of Egypt's newest presidential candidate. Sara has published a very interesting status on her Facebook profile, 'I am shocked from the candidacy of my father after knowing the news like the rest of Egyptians. God help us'"

Muftah [4]

Porn: Egypt’s Public Enemy #1

As usual, instead of focusing on important issues such as employment, literacy and poverty (the list could go on), the new Egyptian government has decided to make porn 'public enemy #1' instead. In either respect, voicing an opinion on the topic can be interpreted as one thing: damned if you, damned if you don't. "It’s difficult to tell how much support for such positions exists among the Egyptian body politic. To vocally oppose such moves could be seen (or at least distorted to seem) as an advocacy of porn, an untenable position in mainstream Egyptian society. At the same time, I don’t have so little faith in the Egyptian people as to think that this blatant posturing will go unnoticed."

Sixteen Minutes to Palestine [5]

When the clashes erupt, who is to blame?

If there is one constant you can count on, it is the Palestine/Israel conflict. This Land Day, it proved to be the same old blame game. Although it wasn't expected that this day would go without violence, the marchers faced a quite a beating from the IDF. Yet, there are certain things that can't be suppressed, no matter how much violence afflicted. "But one thing is for certain: no occupation, no Land Day. If Israel didn’t maintain a military presence in the West Bank, if it respected international rulings and dismantled its wall, if it applied itself to the human rights standards it demands from the world, there would be no reason to ask who struck the first blow because there likely wouldn’t be any reason to clash, as the news puts it, in the first place."

Annie's New Letters (& Notes) [6]

Washington Post Photo Essay: Life in the Palestinian territories

With Land only a few days ago, it's apt that pro-Palestine American blogger Annie is highlighting this photo essay of 'life in the Palestinian territories' featured in the Washington Post.