Blogging is fast becoming a serious threat to traditional authority in the region, be it political or religious.

Blogging is fast becoming a serious threat to traditional authority in the region, be it political or religious.

Ali Salem, Egypt's most prominent playwright, has been banished from his country's cultural circles due to his views favoring normalization with Israel.  Since his first trip to Israel, however, he has been unable to find producers for his work in Egypt, and none of his 25 plays have been performed there for many years. The following are excerpts from an interview with 'Ali Salem in the London Arabic daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat in June 2006.

Ali Salem, Egypt's most prominent playwright, has been banished from his country's cultural circles due to his views favoring normalization with Israel.  Since his first trip to Israel, however, he has been unable to find producers for his work in Egypt, and none of his 25 plays have been performed there for many years. The following are excerpts from an interview with 'Ali Salem in the London Arabic daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat in June 2006.

On May 16, 2005, Kuwaiti women were given the right to vote and the right to run for political offi ce. Previously, many had doubted the likelihood of such change, but Kuwaiti women were able to take the fi rst step toward deepening democracy and reversing backwardness. Those who fought for suffrage were accused of ruining the social fabric of Kuwait, of being anti-religious and anti-nationalist.

On May 16, 2005, Kuwaiti women were given the right to vote and the right to run for political offi ce. Previously, many had doubted the likelihood of such change, but Kuwaiti women were able to take the fi rst step toward deepening democracy and reversing backwardness. Those who fought for suffrage were accused of ruining the social fabric of Kuwait, of being anti-religious and anti-nationalist.

ALI SALEM: Yes, we'll have more progress because you will take share in our troubles. There is no first world, there is no second or third world; there is a village called this planet. And if somebody is dangerous in a village close to Cairo, this person, the same person, will be very, very dangerous in Hamburg, in London, in Paris, in New York. Thousands, thousands of the Americans died in order to have a better life for both of us. Yes. You know, it was our battle against these extremists.

ALI SALEM: Yes, we'll have more progress because you will take share in our troubles. There is no first world, there is no second or third world; there is a village called this planet. And if somebody is dangerous in a village close to Cairo, this person, the same person, will be very, very dangerous in Hamburg, in London, in Paris, in New York. Thousands, thousands of the Americans died in order to have a better life for both of us. Yes. You know, it was our battle against these extremists.

No Arab people have been so traumatized by dictatorial rule, foreign adventurism, and war as the Iraqis under Saddam Husayn. To a considerable extent, the cause has been the Iraqi regime's failure to build a national identity that includes all Iraqis. It was this absence of integration that contributed directly to the rise of Saddam Husayn, who emerged from Iraq's need for a power stronger than its divisions.

No Arab people have been so traumatized by dictatorial rule, foreign adventurism, and war as the Iraqis under Saddam Husayn. To a considerable extent, the cause has been the Iraqi regime's failure to build a national identity that includes all Iraqis. It was this absence of integration that contributed directly to the rise of Saddam Husayn, who emerged from Iraq's need for a power stronger than its divisions.