In June 2007 the Arab world will mark a bitter anniversary in its modern history, namely the passing of forty years since the six-day war with Israel. For the Arabs, their decisive defeat in June 1967 occupies a very special, if not unique place in their region's post-independence era. Perhaps this is because the event was laden with significance - political, cultural, economic and of course military - in a way that was unprecedented at the time. Indeed, one might go so far as to call it the first defining moment of the modern Arab world.

Gamal al-Banna discusses the execution of Saddam Hussein opposing those who were skeptical of the verdict--death sentence.

Gamal al-Banna discusses the execution of Saddam Hussein opposing those who were skeptical of the verdict--death sentence.

Fifty years ago this month, October 1956, saw the outbreak of what in English is known as the Suez crisis, and which in Egypt and throughout the Arab world is referred to as the "tripartite aggression."

Quite interesting is the discretion of some Arab countries not to provoke Syria's feelings toward its withdrawal from Lebanon. Quite interesting is this cautiousness in comforting Damascus regarding the continuity of its strategic interests in Lebanon following the withdrawal. As if logic calls for compensating Syria for the damages that have resulted from the termination of its domination over the little sister. As if those people prioritize the Syrian interests over the Lebanese ones and wish that Syria hadn't extended Emile Lahoud's term in office…and that Hariri was not killed…otherwise the situation would have remained as it was.

Quite interesting is the discretion of some Arab countries not to provoke Syria's feelings toward its withdrawal from Lebanon. Quite interesting is this cautiousness in comforting Damascus regarding the continuity of its strategic interests in Lebanon following the withdrawal. As if logic calls for compensating Syria for the damages that have resulted from the termination of its domination over the little sister. As if those people prioritize the Syrian interests over the Lebanese ones and wish that Syria hadn't extended Emile Lahoud's term in office…and that Hariri was not killed…otherwise the situation would have remained as it was.

If it is yet undiscovered by Washington, it is bound to be revealed sooner or later: In Iraq, America is not only fighting insurgents remaining from the ousted Baathist regime and some "lunatic" volunteers who supported it, but is also fighting a regional system, which survived passing decades resisting change regardless of its source, goals, and tools.

Saudi Prince Abdallah’s peace initiative endorsed at the Beirut Arab League summit in March 2002 raises a number of issues and questions that the Arab world must address: Can the Arab states enter a new age of economic, political, and social development without a just peace that puts an end to the Israeli occupation of Arab lands and relieves the region of a state of war that offers only a desolate future?

Saudi Prince Abdallah’s peace initiative endorsed at the Beirut Arab League summit in March 2002 raises a number of issues and questions that the Arab world must address: Can the Arab states enter a new age of economic, political, and social development without a just peace that puts an end to the Israeli occupation of Arab lands and relieves the region of a state of war that offers only a desolate future?

Beneath the surface, the Arab condition is not well. Regimes that appear stable may be merely arthritic. Bombastic leaders are actually anxious, popular opinion is in flux.

Beneath the surface, the Arab condition is not well. Regimes that appear stable may be merely arthritic. Bombastic leaders are actually anxious, popular opinion is in flux.

Iraq's invasion of Kuwait ushered in a new phase in inter- Arab relations. For the first time, an Arab state had violated the territorial integrity of another Arab state, occupied its capital, and displaced its population. Following the liberation of Kuwait by the U.S.-led international coalition, the search began for ways to prevent a repetition of Iraq's attempt to gain hegemony through naked aggression. The Gulf states and the U.S. adopted a containment strategy after the war but the region has still weathered several crises of the magnitude most recently experienced in 1998.

Iraq's invasion of Kuwait ushered in a new phase in inter- Arab relations. For the first time, an Arab state had violated the territorial integrity of another Arab state, occupied its capital, and displaced its population. Following the liberation of Kuwait by the U.S.-led international coalition, the search began for ways to prevent a repetition of Iraq's attempt to gain hegemony through naked aggression. The Gulf states and the U.S. adopted a containment strategy after the war but the region has still weathered several crises of the magnitude most recently experienced in 1998.