Al Jazeera English's The Cafe hosts a 45-minute discussion with Jordanians across the political spectrum on the state of the country, the monarchy, and the prospect of "reform":
Al Jazeera English, Jordan, The Cafe Insurgents celebrate the seizure of the Bab al-Hawa border post on the Turkish-Syrian border, 19 July 2012
Although there are still loyalist checkpoints along some of the main highways (which are easily avoided using backroads), the rebel flag flies in many of the towns and villages in this flat, fertile agricultural region, creating pockets that function as informal safe zones free of government troops. Still, although vast swathes of northern Syria may have fallen out of government control, they are not necessarily firmly in the Free Syrian Army's.
Criminal elements also function within these pockets; groups that kidnap people for ransom (releasing them dead or alive after payment of a ransom or purchase of weapons), and that carjack civilian vehicles. Sometimes, those criminal elements operate under the FSA’s banner, prompting other FSA units to try and neutralize them via one of two ways --- firepower, or by leaning on local leaders with influence over certain families, tribes and areas. The FSA are trying to police their own ranks, while fighting the regime and competing for suppliers, supporters and resources with each other and with other armed groups like the Salafist Ahrar al-Sham brigades.
Claimed footage of insurgents in Deir Ez Zor, 2 July 2012
As they stood outside the commandeered government building in the town of Mohassen, it was hard to distinguish Abu Khuder's men from any other brigade in the Syrian civil war, in their combat fatigues, T-shirts and beards.
But these were not average members of the Free Syrian Army. Abu Khuder and his men fight for al-Qaida. They call themselves the ghuraba'a, or "strangers", after a famous jihadi poem celebrating Osama bin Laden's time with his followers in the Afghan mountains, and they are one of a number of jihadi organisations establishing a foothold in the east of the country now that the conflict in Syria has stretched well into its second bloody year.
See also Iran Feature: PhotoShopping a "Decent" Assad Family
The Latest from Iran (29 July): US Presents "Contingency Plan" for Attack to Israel
1351 GMT: Espionage Watch. According to The Times of India, Delhi Police have alleged that members of the Revolutionary Guards were involved in the 13 February bomb attack on an Israeli diplomat in the Indian capital.
The investigation report states that the five Guards members had discussed the plan to attack Israeli diplomats in India and other countries with Indian journalist Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi in January 2011, after Iranian nuclear scientists were allegedly attacked by Israeli intelligence services.
See also Egypt and Syria Feature: Comic Artists Get Serious
Sunday's Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Inside and Outside Aleppo
1921 GMT: Syria. The Guardian has a pair of stories on the growing role of jihadists in the conflict. Martin Chulov, drawing from residents and a Turkish smuggler, reports on the growing number of foreigners crossing into Syria from Turkey in the past two weeks, some saying that they are planning to travel to Aleppo to join the battle.
Many of the men reportedly come from the Caucasus, while others have arrived from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Gulf Arab states.
Insurgent leaders say about 15-20 foreign fighters have been crossing each day since mid-July, trying to join up with an estimated 200-300 foreigners already in the country.
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad speaks to Syrian fighters who claim connections with Al Qa'eda and car bombings.
Insurgents seize the Anadan checkpoint, three miles northwest of Aleppo, this morning
See also Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Is Aleppo "A Nail in Assad's Coffin"?
I spoke with Monocle 24's The Globalist this morning about developments in Aleppo and, equally important, beyond Syria's biggest city.
The take-away lines? Inside Aleppo, "the Assad regime cannot impose its authority", and outside it, "in large parts of Syria, especially in the north, the insurgents have taken control".
There is also analysis of the US position and its balancing of overt and covert action: "What the Americans want is for Assad to step down before there is an even worse situation....I think it's wishful thinking."
And there is conversation about the position of Syria's opposition: "To be honest with you, I don't think this is a question of what the opposition wants one year from now, three years from now, five years from now. I think the fight has overtaken that."
To listen to the discussion, go to The Globalist's homepage, click Play on the programme for 30 July, and go to the 11:57 mark.
Monocle 24, Syria, The Globalist 
The image of Mitt Romney, as a man fit for the demanding role of US President, has been seriously buffeted over the last few weeks. His reluctance to release more than two years of his income tax records, followed by the reaction in some circles to his criticism of the London Olympics, have seen a widespread questioning of the competency of his campaign.
But, with 100 days to go before the election, the big news is that --- despite these errors ---- Mitt Romney is still running in a virtual tie with President Obama for the White House. Obama has also made mistakes, notably ill-worded reminder to successful business owners 'that you did not build it on your own", and polls indicate that voters are sticking with their preferred candidate.
So the impact of these errors on both sides may not become fully apparent until the two meet face-to- face in the Presidential debates.
2015 GMT: Supreme Leader Watch. Ayatollah Khamenei has told an audience of "researchers, specialists, and innovators" that there is no insurmountable obstacle to Iran's "incessant" march of progress, “The Iranian nation is determined to reach its marked point through [strong] determination and resolve....The Iranian nation is in the middle of [events] and problems and pressures fall short of [influencing] decision, resolve and ideals of this nation.”
Then came the notable theme --- after months of denying the effect of sanctions on Iran, the Supreme Leader has declared a "resistance economy":
The economy of resistance is not a slogan, but a reality which should be realised.
One of the best manifestations and most effective components of the economy of resistance is knowledge-based companies which can make the economy of resistance more sustainable.
Photo: Morry Gash (AP)EA's British staff will be in Manchester today at the Olympics football (proper football, not American football), and our US staff will also be taking a well-earned break after a week of intense coverage.
Our updates from Iran and from Syria and Beyond will be limited today. In the meantime, please enjoy our Sunday features on comic artists in Egypt and Syria and on Iran's PhotoShop censorship of the Assad family.
We also invite readers to bring in news and ideas through our Comments section --- remember, to see the post immediately, you need to use Disqus.
Olympics 2012 2035 GMT: Syria. Christian Science Monitor correspondent Scott Peterson, who has just returned to Turkey for Syria, has spoken of the battle in Aleppo:
It was a very up and down fight at the very early stages....I think [the victory] took the rebel forces by surprise a little bit. They claimed they knocked out eight tanks....
It was surprising to feel the degree of optimism that some of the rebels there felt. Of course what they were concerned about wsa that the quality and the volume of the shelling...was going to yield kind of a destroyed neighbourhood.
Peterson said the supply of weapons to the insurgents markedly increased in the past few days, with many more rocket-propelled grenades and even DShK or "Dushka" anti-aircraft guns appearing.
Syria 
