1) The Coming Coup d'Etat? (4 December 2006)

2) At risk from the flames that are engulfing Iraq (28 November 2006)




 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15894450/site/newsweek/



The Coming Coup d'Etat?

Newsweek International, 4 December 2006 issue


"Once again, an Islamist is in power. Once again, the generals are
muttering angrily about how his government is undermining the secular
state—the foundation of modern Turkey. As I rate it, the chances of a
military coup in Turkey occurring in 2007 are roughly 50-50."

"To be sure, the military may exert its influence without resorting to
force. And if a coup were to happen, it would not necessarily
translate to a nondemocratic Turkey. More likely, it would simply mean
the end of Turkey's current "Islamist experiment" and a return to a
more conservative government—stalwartly secular, yes, but a democracy
nonetheless. Ironically, this Turkey might ultimately be seen to be a
better member of Europe than today's."



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 http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article2021210.ece



Leading article: At risk from the flames that are engulfing Iraq

The Independent, 28 November 2006


"Until Israel and the Palestinians began talking to each other
secretly in Oslo, Jordan was the regional power broker: a relatively
agreeable haven in a dangerous neighbourhood. The present King's
father, King Hussein, had perfected the diplomatic balancing act. He
constituted the pivotal regional power.

Jordan fulfils few of President Bush's one-time ambitions for his
greater Middle East. It is not by any manner of means a democracy;
civil rights are restricted. It is one of the countries that obliged
Washington by receiving prisoners under the programme of
"extraordinary rendition". At times like these, however, Jordan is
useful: geographically central, politically stable, cosmopolitan in
its make-up, it is unique.

Jordan's return to the international stage is one illustration of how
regional diplomacy is going back to the future."