Topic: Marc Lynch

Israel and Egypt: The view from Cairo

The Israel-Egypt relationship can't be the same again.

Opinion: Amid Arab Spring fires, why isn't Lebanon in flames?

While its neighbors are in turmoil, Lebanon has endured with relative calm throughout this Arab Spring. What's Lebanon's secret?

The future of Al Qaeda and its likely leader

Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's chief strategist, is poised to take command of a group that has been in decline for years.

Bin Laden's death puts exclamation point on Al Qaeda's demise

A threat remains from the Al Qaeda core as well as the splinter groups it inspired. But bin Laden's global terrorist franchise and its grand vision of challenging 'imperialist' America is waning.

An Arab popular revolution (well, sort of) in Tunisia

Opinion: US commitment to Iraq will pay off across the Middle East -- and avert a historic error

Both those who supported the surge and those who pressed for withdrawal should support continued US involvement in order to consolidate Iraq's fragile political and security gains. Disengaging now could undermine the entire long-term strategic relationship.

How WikiLeaks trove will affect US-Arab cooperation on Iran, Yemen

The WikiLeaks release of diplomatic cables could put Arab leaders in a tight spot – and make America's diplomatic dance a bit more awkward in the region.

Five countries where the GOP victory could make a difference

Foreign policy is typically the executive branch’s domain because that is the branch that decides who the US negotiates with and what gets offered in those negotiations. However, Tuesday’s Republican victory, particularly the GOP takeover of the House and leadership of some key committees, has the ability to affect the US's dialogue, and in some cases policy, on a few key US relationships with other countries.

Osama bin Laden threatens French troops, criticizes France burqa ban

Osama bin Laden said France’s ban on Islamic full-face veils for women, like the niqab or the burqa, was unjust, and justified Al Qaeda attacks on French soldiers in Afghanistan.

Obama's popularity may be down in US, but he's even less popular among Arabs

President Obama's popularity in the US has declined sharply this year and he's always been unpopular in Israel. But his numbers have plunged the most in countries that had high hopes for change in the Middle East.

After Taliban Baradar arrest, does Bin Laden matter?

Pakistan announced the arrest of the most senior Afghanistan Taliban commander since 2001, Taliban number 2 Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. With growing intelligence cooperation between the US and Pakistan, could Osama bin Laden be next?

Obama vs. bin Laden: A battle for Muslim hearts

Two recordings from the Al Qaeda chief and his deputy may signal that Obama's overtures, particularly his speech in Cairo Thursday, have put the organization on the defensive.

With Arabs, Obama never had a honeymoon

Two recent polls show that Arab nations have not embraced the president the way other areas of the world have.

First Kuwaiti women win Parliament seats, but political deadlock may persist

The vote may do little to end volatility in Kuwait, which has seen three elections in three years.

Israeli strikes in Gaza risk political win for Hamas

The Islamist militants in Gaza may emerge as a symbol of defiance, much as Hezbollah did in its 2006 war with Israel.

Opinion: Why U.S. strategy on Iran is crumbling

Gulf states no longer want to isolate Iran.