Bahrain Opinion: The West's 21st Century Gives Way to a Regime's Dark Ages

One of the dubious perks of being a male, liberal Afghan living in the West is constantly being asked questions for which you have few answers. Of the hundreds of enquiries about my country,the most enduring remains this one: “Why do you think Afghans still refuse to live in the 21st century?” --- the 21st century being a euphemism for the century where apparently human rights are respected.

Well, the answer is far more complicated than something like, “Well, I don’t know, maybe, because it’s too expensive to live in a world full of iPhones, 3-D television sets, Hummers and such.” But the truth can be a mangled landscape of bitterness –-- something my Western compatriots may not choose to ponder.

Take Bahrain, for example.

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Yemen Special: Three Days That Escalated a Conflict (Johnsen)

Sanaa, YemenThis escalation by government forces will likely have far-reaching consequences.  Already the fighting on Tuesday had been more intense than Monday, with tribal forces shelling the Ministry of the Interior and taking over different government buildings.

It isn't clear where this headed, or what can be done from the outside, probably not much.  President Saleh has let slip the dogs of war.  This is likely to get worse before it gets better.

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US Politics Analysis: Setting Out the Medicare Crisis

An ideological clash looms over the reality that health care costs are on an unsustainable upward curve. Both parties have different and deeply divergent opinions on how those costs should be controlled, but the Medicare Trustees Report unequivocally sets outs:

The sizable differences in projected Medicare cost levels between current law and the illustrative alternative scenario highlight the critical importance of finding ways to bring Medicare costs --- and health care costs in the U.S. generally --- more in line with society's ability to afford them.

Quite how that "critically important'"solution can be found in the existing political climate remains a mystery.

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Iran Snap Analysis: Ahmadinejad's Future? Follow the Oil....

Ahmadinejad at Abadan, 24 May 2011Ahmadinejad, unsurprisingly but perhaps ironically in light of the fire nearby, declared on national television that Iran would lead the world in the production and distribution of oil, marking its technological and economic advance. 

He gave that statement as President. But he also was preaching as the Minister of Oil --- the one who wants to be the personal representative of Iran's leadership at the OPEC meeting in two weeks' time.

And, even if those flames behind him were accidental, they were a vivid marker that some other people in Iran do not want him in that position.

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Israel Video & Transcript: Prime Minister Netanyahu's Speech to US Congress

NETANYAHU: I am deeply honored by your warm welcome. And I am deeply honored that you have given me the opportunity to address Congress a second time. Mr. Vice President, do you remember the time we were the new kids in town? And I do see a lot of old friends here. And I do see a lot of new friends of Israel here. Democrats and Republicans alike.

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Obama in Britain: Scott Lucas on the BBC

I had a chat with BBC West Midlands today about President Obama's visit to Britain and the "essential relationship". The take-away line is that this is "more style than substance", both on the international front and in US politics --- the difficult issues such as Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the future of NATO will not make a public appearance. 

But it was not all cynicism --- we discussed Obama's skills at being "President of the World", and we even had the chance to bring in the Royal Family (for them, this visit is a big win) and Michelle Obama.

The item starts just after the 1:03.00 mark with a report from a correspondent, followed three minutes later by my discussion with host Ed Doolan.

The Latest from Iran (24 May): Ahmadinejad's Son-in-Law v. Ahmadinejad's Advisors

2015 GMT: Human Rights Watch. Seyed Mohammad Marandi of Tehran University explains why Iranian officials are declaring that they will imposed sanctions on named US individuals, including former military commanders and Administration officials: "The United States and its allies, including certain EU members, are violating human rights more than any other country in the world."

2005 GMT: Election Watch. Minister of Interior Mostafa Mohammad Najjar has given an assurance that the Government will not interfere in the 2012 Parliamentary elections.

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Yemen, Syria, Libya (and Beyond) LiveBlog: A Battle in the Capital

Sounds and images of Monday's battle in Sanaa in Yemen (see 0500 GMT):

2040 GMT: Yemeni officials say 38 people have died in the clashes in the capital Sanaa, 24 from the regime's security forces and 14 supporters of tribal leader Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar.

1915 GMT: Thanks to James Miller for taking the LiveBlog through the afternoon.

Reports from Yemen indicate that supporters of the tribal leader Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar now control the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education buildings.

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Iran Latest: An Oil Refinery Burns During Ahmadinejad's Visit (Erdbrink)

A deadly blast during the inauguration of a major oil refinery by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad killed 2 and injured 20, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported Tuesday.

Authorities ruled out any form of sabotage and instead spoke of an industrial incident caused by a gas leak at the Abadan oil refinery, one of the largest and oldest industrial complexes in Iran.

According to Mehr, a ‘testing machine’ exploded almost directly after it was placed in the area where Ahmadinejad was preparing to give a speech.

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Yemen Snapshot: US and European Union Spin in Futility --- What to Do? What to Do? (DeYoung)

Armed Men Trap Ambassadors in UAE Embassy, 22 May 2011As Yemen's President Saleh repeatedly backs away from a deal for transition of power and armed clashes escalate on the streets of the capital Sanaa and other cities, the US and the European Union seem to be spinning helplessly, entangled in their alliance with Saleh in the War on Terror.

Karen DeYoung reports for The Washington Post:

The Obama administration and its Arab and European allies are reassessing their military and economic support for Yemen in a desperate search for ways to force President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s resignation before civil war erupts.

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