We were an outsider civilization that was going to calm and shape the Arab Middle East. Today our enterprise is in ruin. The Ottoman metaphor is relevant because we tried, however unconsciously, to be like them.
It may well be that the Israel-Palestine conflict is but a reflection of the Middle East's inherent instability. Unfortunately this means that the area's fate, and that includes Israel's, will be determined by blind historical forces rather than by foresight and planning.
A recent awkward exchange is evidence of the Obama administration's continuing failure to accurately assess and effectively respond to Islamist political successes in Egypt and elsewhere.
The Egyptian protests have featured virtually no explicit anti-American or anti-Israel overtones. They have focused almost exclusively on Mubarak's misrule rather than the U.S. role in enabling it.
Thirty years ago, ABC-TV delighted and outraged sci-fi fans with its new series, Battlestar Galactica, a lovable beneficiary of Star Wars' success. Happy Birthday, BG!