From Ovi, an article on Levinas' challenge to the modern European identity (and part 2 and part 3). From Eurozine, an essay on the city as stage for social upheaval; and on fish 'n' freedom fries: On regeneration and other London Olympic myths. The French Correction Christopher Hitchens on how Bernard Kouchner, the principled new foreign minister, shows how much France has changed of late.
From Logos, a series of articles on the Sudan crisis, including essays by Stephen Eric Bronner, Alex de Waal, and Douglas H. Johnson. Forget the handwringing over "genocide" in Darfur. What's happening in southern Sudan is enmeshed in a fight to control Sub-Saharan Africa's oil riches. Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka argues passionately for an end to fence-sitting over Darfur.
A dearth of politics in booming Dubai: Rapid change, emphasis on business overshadow concerns on rights. A review of The Khyber Pass: A History of Empire and Invasion by Paddy Docherty. An interview with Sonali Kolhatkar, author of Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence. A review of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and The Kabul Beauty School: the art of friendship and freedom by Deborah Rodriguez.
From the Journal of International Affairs, the untold story of the Iranian revolution is the slow economic decline of the country. A country that once boasted per capita income levels akin to Spain, now ranks ninety-seventh on the United Nations 2006 Human Development Index. Shirin Ebadi and Muhammad Sahimi on the follies of Bush's policy toward Iran. An interview with Benjamin Netanyahu on dealing with Iran.
An interview with Ed Husain, author of The Islamist: Why I Joined Radical Islam in Britain, What I Saw Inside and Why I Left. A review of City of Oranges: An Intimate History of Arabs and Jews in Jaffa. A review of Law, Violence and Sovereignty Among West Bank Palestinians. Struggling with Zionism: Can a nationalist people be a light among the nations? A review of The Struggle of Democracy Against Terrorism: Lessons From the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel. A review of The Power of Israel in the United States by James Petras.
A review of The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace. Gathering the Tribes: U.S. field commanders are finally beginning to tap the traditional networks that helped Saddam to stay in power. Laura Rozen on Kurdistan's man in Washington: Q ubad Talabani is one of those cultural anomalies who somehow seem like natural creatures of Washington. From GQ, War, A Love Story: Falling in love across enemy lines. It sounds like something out of a fairy tale. But nothing in war is simple. As this American soldier and his Iraqi wife found out, love in a war zone is difficult, it’s dangerous, and it really pisses off the brass.
From Slate, Suffer the Children: Now that Bush has talked about our kids, can we ask about his? Bush the Neoliberal: George W. Bush is more liberal than you might think. From National Journal, a public's right to know? Recent political campaigns have had their share of mudslinging, but it is only going to get worse as the Internet and dirty politics collide. Noam Scheiber on populist poseur Fred Thompson. The conservative Free Republic purges Giuliani supporters from its website. And on The Paul Paradox: Can a libertarian only win by losing?
