The current quest for an Iranian constitution reflects a realization by opponents of the Iranian regime that, if they hope to galvanize support from the Iranian “street,” they need to paint a much clearer picture of the future they desire.
Baghdadi's successor hits the ground running;
Some tentative liberalization in Sudan;
Turkey's ultimatum to Europe;
Algeria steps up counter-terror ops
Next year is shaping up to be a crucial test for one of America's most enduring Middle Eastern alliances.
Iran is a complex and cosmopolitan melting pot made up of multiple, competing ethnic identities kept in check by a strong central authority — but just barely.
Seventy years after the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty and the formation of the Atlantic Alliance, the West's most powerful and enduring military bloc is suffering from deep systemic dysfunctions.