Links 15-16 January 2012

• Regime still using Mubarak-era tactics to crush dissent, say lawyers | Al-Masry Al-Youm
  Some say worse than Mubarak. By @sarahcarr.
• People have the right to revolt against tyrants, says grand sheikh | Al-Masry Al-Youm
• Five myths about the Arab Spring
• For once I agree with Fouad Ajami.
• Egypt: Dismantle Tools of Repression
  HRW's recommendations to the new parliament.
• A look inside AQIM « al-Wasat – الوسط
  On the Mali-Niger side.
• Asserting Its Sovereignty, Iraq Detains American Contractors - NYTimes.com
  No kidding they don't like mercenaries. Probably want to replace these with their own.
• April 6 Movement calls on People's Assembly to 'instantly' end emergency law - Ahram
  Bet they won't.
• Is Mubarak's trial going anywhere? | Al-Masry Al-Youm
  A good roundup of where things stand.
• Charlie Rose - Continued discussion about Iran
  Feat. Gary Sick, David Ignatius. etc.
• On anniversary of Gaza war, we will remember IDF soldiers who destroyed Palestinian families - Haaretz
  Amira Hass.
• Veteran Israeli settler leader says democracy has become obstacle to settling the land - The Washington Post
• Algeria: The “dur” who came in from the cold « al-Wasat – الوسط
  I had missed this excellent post on recent intrigue in Algeria's regime.
• New Statesman - Israel's law keeping Arab families apart
• Edging toward intervention in Syria - Intervention - Salon.com
  Paul Mutter.
• Russia protecting its Middle East allies - The National
• Felix Arabia: Observations from Cairo
  A harsh take with a lot of truth in it.
• Hysterical 'Anti-Semitic' Claim Backfires – Forward.com
  That someone has to actually write this is scary: "The fact is, my non-Jewish colleagues at CAP — indeed, all Americans — should be able to criticize Israel’s actions irrespective of their ethnic identity."
• The Empires Strike Back - NYTimes.com
  On France and Turkey in the M.E.
• Syria, in Deep Crisis, May Be Slipping Out of Control - NYTimes.com
  Shadid.
• BBC News - Shia protester 'shot dead' in Saudi Arabia
• BBC News - Syria crisis: Qatar calls for Arabs to send in troops
• “Israel, if you want to be welcome in U.S., don’t pull this kind of crap.”
  +972 interviews Mark Perry.
• Inside Story - Egypt's Islamists: Threat or opportunity?
  Feat. Josh Stacher, Diaa Rashwan - interesting.
• Arabs in the shadows of their neighbors -by Hisham Melhem | The Middle East Channel
• Spoils of Ben Ali regime remain elusive - FT.com
• MEI Editor's Blog: Can This Possibly Be Real? Apparent Syrian Pro-Asad Propaganda Video Uses Darth Vader Theme
• ‫ولي العهد يدشن حديقة الحيوانات بالرباط‬‎ - YouTube
  The crown prince of Morocco visits the revamped Temara zoo. I used to love that place as a kid.
• Whoever Killed the Scientist Was Aiming at Much More « LobeLog.com
• The Bibi Connection | Al Akhbar English
  How Bibi is gunning for Barack, by Max Blumenthal.
• EU on verge of abandoning hope for a viable Palestinian state - The Independent
• Morocco's elected government vies with king's men  | ajc.com
• On Iran, how far is too far? - Los Angeles Times
• Why Iran Assassinations Are Backfiring, Aiding Nuclear Program - The Daily Beast
• Britain and Bahrain: just good friends
  Of Bahrain and its lobbyists.