In-depth
Writing in the National Interest, Daniel Byman and Zack Gold take a look at the rise of the once-outlawed Salafist movement in post-revolution Egypt, and the implications for the country.
Putting aside anti–United States terrorism, Egypt continues to have a Salafi terrorism problem of its own. In the mid-2000s, a Salafi group calling itself Tawhid wal Jihad (Monotheism and Holy War) emerged in the Sinai. The group targeted Egypt’s relationship with Israel by bombing the town of Taba in 2004, where Israeli vacationers cross into the Sinai; it targeted Egypt’s tourism sector with both the bombing in Taba and bombings in the Sinai resort towns of Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab in 2005 and 2006, respectively; and it targeted Egyptian secular nationalism, as the bombings coincided with the Egyptian public holidays of the October War anniversary in 2004, Revolution Day in 2005 and celebration of the ancient Egyptian Spring Festival in 2006. In theory, these groups might be less hostile to the government with Salafis in power. In practice, the opposite might be true.
All 20 of Iran’s major trading partners have exemptions to the sanctions now imposed on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program, claims a Wall Street Journal editorial.
We’ve never considered sanctions likely to persuade Iran to drop its nuclear program, but it’s dangerous to pursue them half-heartedly while claiming progress and keeping the international temperature down as Iran’s centrifuges spin. That’s been the Obama Administration’s consistent approach, and it’ll probably continue at least through Election Day in November.
Daily Digest
Times of Israel: Assad says he would have preferred if downed jet were Israeli
Haaretz: Iran simulates long-range missile attack on airbases in region, beyond
Jerusalem Post: Parties dig in on IDF draft positions as coalition teeters
Ynet: Bibi’s choice
New York Times: U.S. Adds Forces in Persian Gulf, a Signal to Iran
Washington Post: Iranian authorities acknowledge impact of sanctions
Wall Street Journal: Gadhafi-Era Spy Tactics Quietly Restarted in Libya
