Although Arab leaders often cite Turkey as a beacon of hope, they rarely acknowledge that the country's recent transformation from the "sick man of Europe" to one of the world's fastest-growing emerging markets would not have been possible had it not pursued regional synergies.

Here we go again. Syria's apparent use of a small amount of chemical weapons against its own people has many Republicans and conservatives calling for President Barack Obama to intervene. Yeah, easy, right? Just like Iraq.

In January of 2012, we asked Americans whether or not they were hopeful that the Arab Spring would bring about positive change. By more than two to one they answered in the affirmative. But in the tumultuous year and a half that has followed, Americans have lost that hope.

Once viewed positively by sizable majorities in almost every country across the region, Iran has experienced a precipitous decline in its favorable ratings. The change, it appears from my findings, is largely due to concerns with Iran's policies in Iraq, Syria, and the Arab Gulf region.

The great dilemma facing Egypt today is not whether the Morsi government or democratic rule can long survive; it is whether Egypt itself can long survive.

I would marvel at the students' optimism, their vision, and their instinctive sense of collaboration. And I would feel confident that they might very well be the generation to heal the divides that they inherited from the generations that had preceded them.

Short-term volatility and instability is inevitable as the regional push for change continues. The international community would be well advised to seriously help post-revolt nations manage transition and steer pre-revolt countries towards managed reform.

Instead of acting as spectators, enablers, or waiting for the United Nations or the United States to provide solutions, there are practical steps through collective Arab action that might make a real difference.

As President Obama prepares to launch his second term in the White House, he can take some comfort in the fact that positive attitudes toward the United States have once again risen sharply in several Arab countries.

The dictators of the Middle East, arising from the core of the Muslim world, disgrace the religion of Islam, forcing non-Muslims to conclude that it must be Islam that prompts rulers to forcibly establish sole proprietorships.

Arab monarchs pride themselves on having largely managed discontent in their countries. Yet, in the shadow of the civil war in Syria, it's monarchies like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain that are on the cusp of the region's transition from autocracy to more open political systems.

Like other Arab states over the past two years, Morocco has seen demonstrations by young people demanding political reform -- yet in contrast to neighboring countries, calls for the toppling of the king are relatively rare.

By Oliver Holmes and Mariam Karouny BEIRUT, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A huge car bomb that exploded in central Beirut during rush hour on Fr...