A glimpse into the inner workings of subsidized Egyptian bread: Michael Slackman, “Egypt’s Problem and its Challenge: Bread Corrupts,” New York Times, Jan. 17, 2008.
BBC Middle East- January 6th 2009
Israel 'expands Gaza offensive'
Israeli forces reportedly widen their ground assault in the Gaza Strip to include Khan Younis in the south, after fierce clashes around Gaza City. - January 5th 2009
New US embassy opens in Baghdad
The new US embassy in Baghdad - one of the largest and most expensive ever built - is officially opened Iraq's capital. - January 5th 2009
Tehran offers to 'protect' Ebadi
Iran says it will provide security for Nobel Peace Prize-winning lawyer Shirin Ebadi, amid global concern for her safety. - January 4th 2009
Baghdad bomb kills Shia pilgrims
A female suicide bomber kills at least 35 Shia pilgrims including Iranians near a shrine in Baghdad, Iraqi police say. - January 2nd 2009
European flight lands in Baghdad
The first commercial flight between Europe and Iraq in at least 17 years lands at Baghdad airport. - January 2nd 2009
Suicide bomb kills many in Iraq
A suicide bombing kills at least 23 people at a Sunni gathering in a town south of Baghdad, Iraqi police say. - January 1st 2009
Iraq takes control of Green Zone
Iraq takes control of the Green Zone in Baghdad and assumes more powers over foreign troops based in the country. - December 31st 2008
Britain hands suspects to Iraqis
Two Iraqis accused of murdering UK soldiers are handed over to Iraq despite a bar by the European Court of Human Rights. - January 5th 2009
Casualties rise in Gaza offensive
Casualties pour into packed hospitals in Gaza as Israel continues its offensive, losing three soldiers overnight. - January 5th 2009
Obama's strategic silence on Gaza
The BBC's Richard Lister reports on President-elect Barack Obama's unwillingness to comment on Israel's invasion of Gaza.
- January 6th 2009
{ 3 } Comments
This article reminds me of a couple issues that we have discussed in our class. One is the problematic mindset of leaders of rentier states and another is stereotypes of Arabs - uncaring and indolent natures.
I am simply astonished that Egypt has been
(continued) I am simply astonished that Egypt has been living with this chaos for so long and the government has not undertaken significant reforms. Is it because the government does not care much about people or because it is incompetent to fix the problem?
The problems are not so much lack of caring or incompetence as excessive bureaucracy and excessive reliance on centralized planning and administration (both of which some say date back to Pharaohnic times). These got a modern big boost when Nasserism took hold in the 1950s. Add a measure of corruption and you have the situation we see today. There is a lot more that could be said about this (excessive reliance on subsidized commodities, for example).
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