Mubarak Going Fourth

Third World Goes Forth  is back to blogging, and has a sharp take on why Mubarak might not leave in the fairly swift way that Ben Ali left in Tunisia.   Basically, he says that the power structure in Egypt is way too tied to Mubarak to let him leave, as they would all be swept away with him.

The people closest to him stand almost no chance of continuing in his absence, for they are too closely associated with the figurehead. And so whereas the Tunisian elite were happy to see Ben Ali go – well not happy, perhaps, but in a bad situation for them it was the best option – the Egyptian elite cannot afford to be without Mubarak, for then they too will lose everything. They have no option but to stand and fight, and I imagine they aren’t going to allow Mubarak to escape to a desert holiday home while they take all his flak.

I'm a big fan of this blog, and while it would a little hypocritical of me to criticize unexplained absence from blogging, I will say I'm glad it is back.

Blogroll

Also thanks to that conference I was keyed into Selected Wisdom, an excellent newish blog by Clint Watts.  It is a lively and no-bullshit approach to CT, and you would all do very well to read it.  Of course, you probably already do, and I am again late to the party.  Still glad to be there, though.  A permanent link is on the side now. 

Waq al Whaaa???

Sorry for the awful awful title.  But Greg has emerged from his Pynchonian silence to blog back at Waq al-Waq.  Catch it before it fades away, somehow.

Niqab News

Haley Sweetland Edwards, who was once kind enough to post her thoughts on the niqab on this very blog, has a piece up in Slate's XX page.  It is about France's ban of the burqa.  It is well-argued, and shows the difficult and frustrating dilemma of taking your own commitment to plurality seriously- it is sometimes uncomfortable, and there is no hard line dividing right and wrong.  It is easy on the extremes, but difficult the closer you get to the middle. 

Haley is also now writing from the Caucuses at The Haley Bureau, which is an unassailably cool thing to do, and the official position of Always Judged Guilty is immense jealousy.   There is a longer piece on the burqa controversy up there now. 

New Blog to Follow

Aaron Walton, one of the great commentators during The New Republic Talkback heyday, has started a blog called One Disgusted Democrat.  Far from merely being a liberal bitch-fest, it is an clear call to action for those sick of Republican perfidy.   Good analysis, good advice on what to do.  Read it.   There will be a link on the side from here on out.

Pakistan

One of the nice things about having a blog is that people send you their own blog, and they are generally interesting.  No one ever sends me blogs with pictures of cats or anything, which is mostly nice.  I mean, if you want to, that is cool- I like cats.  Not a lot, but I feel as if I am getting off topic here.

Anyway, here is a blog about Pakistan, written from a Pakistani perspective.  There are several writers, full of passion but without being ideologues.  It is very good, and the comment section is lively.  So go there.

If you want a listing of blogs about cats go here.

Bleakonomy

Want to say thanks to my good friend Dr. Dan for the shoutout at his blog.  Bleakonomy is linked on the side of this site, and you should check it out.  The topics on there are varied, and Dr Dan and friends are talented, interesting and funny writers.  There are always good debates about medical issues, including an ongoing fascinating one on obesity and health.  You will not find that here, because I am not smart enough.  So go there.  Do it now!