Outside the Beltway

The re-emergence of Obama foreign policy advisor Samantha Power to prominence has brought critics to the forefront

President Obama has pledged no slaughter and no ground troops for Libya. He may well be forced to pick one.

Ten days after sending American forces into kinetic military action in Libya, President Obama addressed the nation to explain “what we’ve done, what we plan to do, and why this matters to us.”

The uneasy coalition that coalesced around action in Libya will be strained by decisions to come.

Egyptian voters have approved amendments to Egypt’s constitution.

U.S. officials are making clear that the current mission in Libya may not lead to the end of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule. If that’s the case, then why are we there in the first place?

Did President Obama pull off a diplomatic masterstroke? Or is he muddling through?

The Obama Administration is asking the U.N. Security Council to authorize direct military intervention in Libya. The question is, why now?

Who wants that job? (And is willing to work that hard to get it?)

Establishing a no-fly zone in Libya won’t stop the Civil War, and it’s likely to draw the United States further into a conflict that it needs to stay out of.

Intervening to “help” the Libyan revolt is very tempting, but it’s a temptation we ought to resist.

The Moral High Ground Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Wouldn’t we be better off offering besieged rules exile in relative comfort in exchange for graceful exits?

The uprisings in the Arab world have led some to suggest that the Middle East isn’t “ready” to be free. They’re wrong.

Egypt takes another step towards constitutional reform.

Is Saudi Arabia the next domino to fall in the Middle East? The Royal family is hoping that money will be enough to make sure that doesn’t happen.

The Constitutional Reform Commitee has finished its work and will report its recommendations to the military.

Calls are coming from both sides of the aisle for the U.S. to do “something” about the situation in Libya. It would be better if we didn’t get involved.

Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi has issued a fatwa against Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi.

As in Baharain, the Libyan Government has reacted violently to the populist uprising sweeping the Arab world. The difference is the Libyans are doing it largely without anyone noticing

Like in Bahrain, the Libyan authorities are not tolerating protests.

The protests in Bahrain have taken a different path than those in Egypt.

Tweeting feels like IM’ing but it’s more like blogging.

Ten days is not a lot of time for constitutional reform.

The White House Press Office produces a blog, YouTube channel, Flickr photo stream, Facebook and Twitter profiles, and daily video programming.

What people (or transitional governments) say isn’t ultimately the issue. What they do is.

A few thoughts/historical examples, as to why I am guarded in my optimism on Egypt.

The military states that it will govern for six month or until elections are held.

Knowing his downfall was imminent, the former Egyptian dictator moved vast wealth out of rich of Western governments.