democracy
J. Christopher Stevens, U.S. ambassador, murdered in Libya; Islamist extremists torch U.S. embassy in Egypt
September 13, 2012
Yesterday Islamist extremists attacked the U.S. embassy in Egypt. Islamist radicals in Libya murdered four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, pictured above.
Prior to serving as ambassador, Mr. Stevens did...
Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood crack down on Egyptian press
September 10, 2012
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has been cracking down on journalists, targeting those who criticize the Muslim Brotherhood.
This development is a sobering indicator of Egypt’s regression toward theocracy in the year and a...
Democracy is not a panacea – but with real commitment, it is a possible future
June 19, 2012
Last week’s Wall Street Journal ran a sobering piece by Bret Stephens in about the disappointing results of democratic elections the previous weekend. It’s true that democracy’s defenders have lately been mugged by...
Sharansky calls for support for reformers; Alusi cautions U.S. troop withdrawal a blow to human rights in Iraq; Havel, champion of democracy, dies
December 18, 2011
The Washington Post just ran this thought-provoking piece on the Arab Spring by former Soviet dissident refusenik and Israeli Parliamentarian Natan Sharansky. As I wrote last spring, Recent upheavals across the mideast from Egypt to...
Syrians defy Assad, the rebellion through the eyes of one Syrian-American
May 14, 2011
Recently I interviewed a Syrian-American acquaintance, a restaurateur in his mid-thirties, Ahmad (name has been changed for security reasons) about what it was like to grow up in Syria (he immigrated to the U.S. as a young adult) under the...
Iraqis Take to Street in Protest: “It Will Start Again Next Friday,” Obama Took “Great Action” in Snubbing Maliki, Says Alusi
February 28, 2011
Former Iraqi Parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi contacted...
Let This Be Obama’s JFK Moment
February 26, 2011
As pro-democracy demonstrators, autocratic rulers, and hard-line Islamist forces jockey for position across the Middle East, the region is up for grabs. No one knows how things will look when the dust settles. President Obama has a...
Israel and Jews Worldwide Should Support an Independent South Sudan
February 5, 2011
This week all eyes are on Egypt. It is uncertain who will succeed President Hosni Mubarak and what kind of government will be in power. But we should not miss other important developments. In a world where so few can truly be considered...
Tunisians Overthrow Dictator; World Watches and Waits
January 23, 2011
Last week’s street demonstrations and overthrow of Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali were fascinating and inspiring to behold.
As a believer in democracy who cheers people everywhere who show the courage to demonstrate –...
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jews
January 16, 2011
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is commemorated today, Monday January 17. Of course, Dr. King is first and foremost a hero because of his great work on behalf of African-Americans, for, and with, whom he won the human rights...