links for 2010-11-30

• Interesting Times: The Right to Secrecy : The New Yorker
  Idiotic comment by George Packer that Wikileaks have "produced no MyLais" when so few are still out.
• Middle East Policy Council | The Special Relationship with Israel: Is It Worth the Costs?
  Long piece on US-Israel special relationship: not worth the costs, but here to stay because US scared of Israel.
• MIDEAST: Egypt's Duplicity Stands Exposed - IPS ipsnews.net
  Cam McGrath on the impact of Wikileaks on Egypt - unlike much of the Egyptian media, he doesn't downplay.
• TALES OF A PRINCE
  A very anodyne cable about a Saudi prince in Jeddah, his cheapness, and Prince Charles.
• Wikileaks: Israel tried to plan Cast Lead with Egypt, PA
  Ehud Barak in Dec. 08 asked Egypt, PA, to take control of Gaza "once Hamas was defeated" in Cast Lead.
• gary's choices - Wikileaks, Iran and War
  Gary Sick on Iran, the US and Cablegate.
• Light rail. Heavy losses.
  Interesting post on China taking loss in Saudi railway project. Loss leader?
• Egypt's Weakness on Display in Elections - Council on Foreign Relations
  Steve Cook on the Egyptian elections - a display of weakness. And for Washington too.
• Egypt's Parliamentary Elections
  Weak statement by State Dept on Egypt elections end on conciliatory note.
• FT.com / Middle East / Politics & Society - Comment: Egypt’s ‘as if’ election lays ground for succession
  Roula Khalaf: Egypt showed progress is fully reversible and political openings can be closed.
• Today, is Egypt Honored, or Humiliated? Asharq Alawsat Newspaper (English)
  Sharq al-Awsat toad defends Egypt after elections.
• Egypt's elections: Some skilful rigging | The Economist
  The Economist on Egypt's elections: For the smoothest possible transition, [Mubaarak] needs the tamest possible parliament.