European intelligence sources were surprised by the news of the alleged plot to blow up five U.S. airliners over the mid-Atlantic. This was not because a major strike by Islamist terrorists was in itself unexpected. But European intelligence organizations, sources said Saturday, had anticipated that the target would be an international institution, or the energy center of a major city, such as a large power station. Instead, the thwarted attack turned out to have echoes of 9/11. Though al Qaeda has not been firmly linked to the plot, the evident Pakistani connection brings it geographically close to Osama bin Laden’s [...]
Editors Note: In addition to publishing our own news and commentary articles, World Politics Review tracks news and commentary in major English-language print media. Our Media Roundup, published every weekday by 8:30 a.m. Eastern, links to each day’s must-read news and commentary articles. Today, Guy Taylor, our international news editor, files the first installment of what will become a regular look back at the week in opinion. To follow the news and commentary from the mainstream media, register and sign up to receive an email alert when the Media Roundup is published each morning. To look back at the news [...]
Despite virtual around-the-clock coverage of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, one important aspect remains poorly understood: the reaction of the 300 million strong “Arab Street.” Turn on any Arab television channel, though, and you can’t miss the rage and widespread support for Hezbollah and Hamas: streets roiling with protestors, callers to talk programs denouncing Israel and the United States, and clerics defending Hezbollah and calling for holy war. Five years after 9/11, the West still struggles to understand this rage that pushes Arab masses to view radical groups as heroic forces of resistance. On one extreme, there are those [...]
