Links 22-24 August 2011

The first link in this week's links, about Kurds at a Syrian opposition advocating dropping the "Arab" from "Syrian Arab Republic" is interesting because it echoes some of the debate about the Libyan TNC's transitional constitution, which does not say that post-Qadhafi Libya is Arab. That's a first for Arab states, most of which either gained independence or were created in the age of Arab nationalism. We can expect these debates to have wider ramifications in the Arab world and provoke some debate, notably from Arab nationalists and some Islamists who see Arab identity as core to their worldview. 

• “Syrian Republic” or “Syrian Arab Republic”? | Al Jadid
• Of "Instructors" and Interests in Iraq | MERIP
  Fascinating look at US forces remaining in Iraq and the SOFA.
• Maan News Agency: Rush to cover up bloodshed in Palestinian camp
  near Latakia, Syria.
• The Mind of Egypt's Military - By Michael Wahid Hanna | The Middle East Channel
• Libya: Policy Options for Transition | Chatham House
• The end of Gaddafi is welcome. But it does not justify the means | Simon Jenkins | Comment is free | The Guardian
• Israel is increasingly linked to right-wing causes in U.S. — Haaretz
  Of course: it IS a right-wing cause.
• The empty pieties of David Grossman
• Foreign policy: intervention after Libya | Editorial
  The argument over liberal interventionism.
• Gulfsands Petroleum in oil payments to Assad cousin - FT.com
• A New Special Relationship
  Egypt-Israel post-Mubarak.
• Assad's Chemical Romance - By Leonard Spector | Foreign Policy
  And why shouldn't Syria keep its chemical deterrent, Assad or not?
• Can the Colossus Be Salvaged? Egypt’s State-Owned Press in a Post-Revolutionary Environment - Carnegie
  Nathan Brown.
• Rebels claim the victory – but did the Brits win it?
  On the NATO Special Forces operating in Libya, UNSC 1973 notwithstanding.
• Qadhafi’s Fall and the Sahel
• Carlos Latuff: The voice of Tripoli – live from Rio
  Jack Shenker profiles Carlos Latuff
• Jason Burke on Islamic Militancy | FiveBooks | The Browser
• Gaddafi is gone. Long live unity, democracy and the rule of law | Hisham Matar | Comment is free | The Guardian
  "Gaddafi is gone. Long live unity, democracy and the rule of law" - Hisham Matar #Libya #Feb17
• Demolitions by Israel increase fivefold, says new UN report | The Electronic Intifada
  20 minutes to pack before bulldozing.
• Log In - The New York Times
  More on Seif from the NYT: "His appearance raised significant questions about the credibility of rebel leaders."
• Log In - The New York Times
  More on Seif from the NYT: "His appearance raised significant questions about the credibility of rebel leaders."
• «Le risque terroriste reste élevé en Algérie» - Actualité - El Watan
  RT @tweetsintheME: French foreign ministry warns travel to southern Algeria, bc of security threats/social protests:
• Libye : le silence troublant de l’Algérie - Le Matin DZ - Les idées et le débat
  RT @tweetsintheME: I hadn't heard this before, Algerian embassy looted in Tripoli:
• Latest Updates on the Battle for Libya - NYTimes.com
  Rebels lied about having Seif Qadhafi:
• Untitled (http://twitter.com/mchancecnn/status/105801089168842752/photo/1)
  Here's the picture I took sitting next to #Saif #Gadhafi! Certainly not detained! Exclusive!! #cnn #libya #tripoli
• Libya: neighbourhood watch | Editorial
• Libyan triumph exposes the west’s double standard for Palestine
• FLASH: Al-Akhbar in ENGLISH
  Lebanon's great paper.
• Wendell Steavenson: The view from inside the Syrian crackdown.
  Abstract of a letter from Damascus