US Mulls Seeking Broader Deal In Nuclear Talks With Iran The Obama administration might put forward a broader proposal to Iran during the next round of nuclear talks scheduled for later this month, diplomatic sources told Al-Monitor. Laura Rozen on the thinking behind the "go big" approach rather than the more incremental one presented at a meeting last month in Baghdad. Iran
Activists Say Syrian Opposition Is Mismanaging Refugee Relief Activists and relief workers on the ground in Syria, Lebanon and beyond accuse the Syrian National Council (SNC) of mismanagement of aid money and failing to carry out its duty towards the Syrian people, reports Salam Hafez, as the humanitarian situation deteriorates. Originals
Former Iranian Negotiator Faults His Nation's Nuclear Diplomacy Iran undercut its own negotiators by withholding from them key details of its nuclear program, according to a new book by a former senior Iranian diplomat. Barbara Slavin writes that the book makes the failed diplomacy of the past decade easier to understand, and concludes that the key is to improve US-Iran relations. Iran
Vote Shafiq: Warts and All, Mubarak Ally is Better Choice Neither candidate in the runoff for Egypt's presidency is very appealing, writes Daniel Serwer, but only a president with some secular appeal can restore balance, even if he is an anti-revolutionary figure. Ahmed Shafiq will try to protect the remnants of the old regime, but he will also seek compromise and yield to pressure. Egypt
Camp David Pact Should Survive Egypt Vote, But Revisions Likely All of Egypt's presidential candidates have had to address the Camp David accords, the peace treaty with Israel that many Egyptians reject. But Ashraf Khalil writes that none of them has made it a central campaign issue, and that no matter who wins, the treaty will likely survive, though perhaps in modified form. Egypt
Baghdad and Erbil Clash Over Oil The Iraqi energy sector is more divided than ever, writes Denise Natali. As Baghdad insists on central control over the country’s resources, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is busy developing its own oil market. A cold war is brewing between Baghdad and Erbil as the Iraqi prime minister consolidates power and the Kurds attempt to check it. Iraq
Pressure Mounts on Russia To Switch Horses in Syria Russia won't give up its alliance with Syria, writes Barbara Slavin, but it may be convinced to detach from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. While the Houla massacre didn't horrify Russian President Vladimir Putin as much as the West, it did raise stakes as the clock runs down on UN monitors and Ramadan approaches. Syria
Yemeni Nobel Winner to the World: Stop Helping Saleh Al-Monitor's Sophie Claudet sat down with Tawakul Karman, the 2011 Nobel Prize Peace winner who became the face of Yemen’s Arab Spring, at Brookings’ US-Islamic World Forum in Doha. The passionate yet remarkably humble 33-year-old journalist and activist spoke of her hopes for her country and the revolution. Yemen
Erdogan's Abortion Gaffe The Turkish prime minister's latest off-the-cuff remarks that compared the killing of 34 Kurdish civilians by military jets to abortion sparked fierce debate and left many utterly baffled, writes Jody Sabral. Women’s rights groups reacted immediately, saying Erdogan was once again politicizing women's bodies — just like the head scarf ban. Originals
Yemeni Youth Condemn Drones, Call for Halt to Saleh Clan Support Danya Greenfield talked with Yemeni youth leaders who feel that US drone attacks against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) create more enemies than they destroy. While the youths resent past support for the Saleh regime and current bombing campaigns, they're aware of the need for US involvement if there is to be a democratic transition. Yemen
