A Day With The African Refugee Development Center

Levi Felix, 12.28.2009

Chieft Activist Officer at Causecast.org and ThisIsTheWorldWeLiveIn.com

Did you know that there are more than 18,000 African refugees in Israel? The majority of them living in Tel Aviv? Now we do.

Jimmy Carter Apologizes For Ever Criticizing Israel

MJ Rosenberg, 12.28.2009

Senior Fellow Media Matters Action Network

Israel's security and survival depend on ending the occupation and it is the status quo lobby that should be falling on its knees for continually promoting policies that will end the Jewish state. Not Carter.

The Nile's Future War

Mohamed Elmenshawy, 12.28.2009

the Bureau Chief for Egyptian Daily “Ashorouk” in Washington, DC.

Thousands of years ago, the Nile River gave birth to civilization. Today, that same water may be North and East Africa's undoing.

The Terrorists Will Be Released and They Will Murder Again

Yossi Zur, 12.28.2009

Mawaz Abu Sharach and Majdi Amro, the two murderers of my seventeen year-old son, are currently in jail. But they could soon be freed with a thousand others, all in exchange for one Israeli prisoner.

Egypt Blocks Americans From Gaza March, Stops Aid Convoy

Robert Naiman, 12.28.2009

Policy Director of Just Foreign Policy

The government of Egypt is taking a spectacularly hard line against international solidarity efforts in support of civilians in Gaza on the one-year anniversary of the Israeli invasion.

In Iran, Dissent Becomes Resistance and Insurrection May Follow

Giles Slade, 12.28.2009

Recovering academic writer

It would be condescending to say that say democracy is coming to Iran as painfully as a toddler cuts his first teeth. This toddler happens to be 5,000 years old.

Investing in Iran: Five Reasons Why American Philanthropists Should Support the Iranian Opposition

Trevor Neilson, 12.28.2009

President, Global Philanthropy Group

The opposition in Iran desperately needs support, and wealthy individuals in the United States are well positioned to provide it.

Iran Is Burning in Revolution; Not Recognizing It Can Lead to Calamity

Sam Sedaei, 12.29.2009

International Civil Resistance Trainer, Producer, International Affairs Contributor

No one wants to see another anti-American regime in Iran following the current one. If that's not what we want, then we must stand up with the protesters when it counts.

Al Hurra, Still "A Bad Idea"

James Zogby, 12.28.2009

Founder and president of the Arab American Institute

Al Hurra, the US government-funded television network, was a bad idea when it was launched in 2004. It has failed, and yet it won't die any time soon.

Childhood Christmas Wonder Reborn in a Place You'd Never Guess (Hint: They're Too Big to Fail, Too)

Yvonne R. Davis, 12.28.2009

President and CEO of DAVISCommunications

I experienced the rebirth of the hope, excitement and magic of this holiday -- and of all places, where it came together for this resurrection was at the Wafi Mall in Dubai.

Fighting Hate...With Hate?

Jillian York, 12.28.2009

Boston-based writer and activist

The JIDF, or Jewish Internet Defense Force, started as a collective of activists dedicated to the noble cause of combating antisemitic speech online. ...

Khamenei is the New Shah: There Will Be (More) Blood

Steve Clemons, 12.27.2009

Publisher of "The Washington Note"

Khamenei has become the new Shah -- hated by so many that it seems implausible that Iranian elites will ever be able to operate without much distrust and fear of each other.

Gaza Freedom Marchers Warned by Embassies

Jillian York, 12.27.2009

Boston-based writer and activist

The Gaza Freedom March, an international caravan for peace set to culminate in a nonviolent march alongside the people of Gaza on December 31 to end t...

GOP Plays Soft on Terrorism Card Again

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, 12.27.2009

Political Analyst and Social Issues Commentator

It didn't take long for anti-terrorism hawks from Joe Lieberman to GOP congresspersons to dump the lax security, terrorist watch breach, and faulty al Qaeda intelligence on President Obama.

Thwarted Plane Bombing Shows Continuing Threat and Diversity of Jihadist Radicalism

Brian Levin, J.D., 12.28.2009

Director, Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, California State University

A worldwide struggle by a transnational movement aided by the Internet and social media enables would-be "lone" fanatics anywhere to market themselves to terror groups as recruits.

South Beirut Bomb Blast Targets Hamas Official

Josie Ensor, 12.29.2009

Journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon

Three bombs planted under a car belonging to a Hamas member exploded in the Hizbullah-stronghold of south Beirut Saturday night, killing two.

Avatar and Public Diplomacy

John Brown, 12.29.2009

Adjunct Professor of Liberal Studies, Georgetown University

Watching it last Saturday morning, I reflected -- as a former foreign service officer involved in public diplomacy -- about paraplegic Marine Jake Sully's ventures into Pandora.

Up with Avatar: The Aughts & 2009 In Capitalist Perspective

Michael B. Laskoff, 12.26.2009

"...content against obedience..." W.S.

As the year and the decade draw to a close, I'm strangely optimistic. True, there are many reasons for pessimism. But over the past week, I have found reasons to at least be cheerful in popular entertainment.

My 2009 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 1]

Chris Weigant, 12.26.2009

Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)

Welcome once again to our year-end wrap-up and awards ceremony. Honesty dictates that I immediately genuflect to The McLaughlin Group, from whom I have stolen all these award categories.

How the Story of Christmas Saved Islam

Kamran Pasha, 12.25.2009

Hollywood filmmaker, author of "Mother of the Believers"

I would like to share a Christmas story that many people today do not know. The true story of how the tale of Jesus and Mary saved the nascent religion of Islam from annihilation.

The Sad End of Romanian Jewry

Alan Elsner, 12.25.2009

Author, Journalist

In a classic Yiddish theater song from the 1920s that is still popular today, Aaron Lebedeff, known in his day as "the Maurice Chevalier of the Yiddis...