عرب و اسلام سیاسی

A key player and an unrelenting obstacle in the Middle East peace process, Syria has long been a thorn in Washington's side when it comes to forging strategic alliances with powers in the region. But only after the events of 9/11 and Damascus's staunch opposition to the War in Iraq

Western powers and their regional allies are increasingly understanding that just talking to Syrian president Bashar al-Asad about his brutality will not be enough to stop it.

Now that one of the revolution's central goals has been accomplished, most Egyptians appear willing to move on, even though the military regime that Hosni Mubarak fronted is still very much intact.

Although the Syrian army has shown signs of fraying for some time, the potential for more serious fissures is beginning to emerge.

As it remakes the Middle East, the Arab Spring is also realigning U.S. and Turkish policies.

The stabilization of Iraq has become wedged on a plateau, beyond which further improvement will be a slow process.

Egypt's political future is being decided by the military, the Muslim Brotherhood, and protest groups in the streets.

The recent indictment of senior Hizballah figure Mustafa Badreddine has the group on edge, and for good reason.

Egyptians are becoming increasingly angry and frustrated about the slow pace of political change.