The fake republics are goners; the monarchies have a fighting chance. That's my conclusion after a short visit to the Middle East and discussions with officials and analysts there.

Al Qaeda's message that violence, terrorism and extremism are the only answer for Arabs seeking dignity and hope is being rejected each day in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and throughout the Arab lands.

The courage of the Syrian protesters is remarkable, for they face prison, torture, or death every time they lift a banner.

Syria's population is 74% Sunni Muslim.

Cheney's memoir is not about 9/11, or solely about Bush's administration, but about his entire life and political career.

The Assad regime has lost the consent of the governed, and it is difficult to see how a replacement Alawite regime would be able to regain this consent.

While all Alawites fear vengeance against their entire community should Assad fall, there are varying degrees of loyalty to the Assads.

There is no softer target in GOP primaries than the United Nations and foreign-aid spending.

Barack Obama's military triumphs will come neither in long wars nor even short ones, but in a series of raids.

President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military attack against our enemies, regardless of the risks and collateral damage, so long as it is over by the time I have to announce it.'

Pundits are used to analyzing the gap between what our ideals suggest and what our security interests require.

What does 'politicizing intelligence' mean? Using intel, or more often, partial intel, to produce an effect in line with White House policies rather than giving a full picture of a particular situation.

When freedom of the press is threatened, the United States should be leading efforts to protect it.

Tunisian liberals say that the U.S. Embassy in Tunis is unengaged with their efforts to make sure the Tunisian model remains one of expanding freedom.

The Egyptian military and the government of Israel have long had a common interest in maintaining order and fighting terrorism in Sinai.

The Obama administration appears to regard intelligence leaks and briefings more or less like briefings by the Democratic National Committee or White House flack Jay Carney. You use any information at hand, classified or not, and you spin it any way you like, fairly or not.

The presence of jihadis in Syria should be no surprise.

Does anyone believe that Kofi Annan scares Bashar Assad?

Can Israelis be wistful? It is not the characteristic we usually associate with them; more typically they are said to be tough, sweet, angry, thoughtful, demanding - not wistful.

The devastation of the ancient Christian community in Iraq is well known.

Pinochet took power in a 1973 military coup that the United States supported.

On the human rights side, administration policy has been marked by indifference. When the people of Iran flooded the streets to protest the theft of their presidential election in June 2009, President Obama was silent for 11 days.

Egypt needs law and order in Sinai to save the tourist industry in Sharm el-Sheik and prevent the area from becoming a base for terrorists that will target Egypt itself, as well as Jordan and Israel.

The story of the Jews in the Bible is replete with incidents of their ingratitude to God for His gifts to them: incidents that just as repeatedly merit and receive punishment.