Outside the Beltway

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

Global poverty has plummeted in recent years.

There are a number of signs coming out of Libya that indicate the regime is in serious trouble despite the willingness of the state to use violence on the crowds.

The situation in Bahrain continues to evolve as the state has pulled back the stick.

The crackdown in Libya is turning into a massacre.

In the Middle East, protesters are marching for democracy. In the Midwest, they’re protesting against it.

The ongoing saga of piracy off the coast of Somali is about to get Americans’ attention again, as a yacht containing four U.S. citizens has been hijacked.

The Gaddafi regime is facing its most serious challenge in its 41 year history.

The Bahraini state appears willing to continue to use force against its population.

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

The unrest continues as those killed during protests are buried. Plus some facts about Bahrain.

Americans drink less than Europeans and far less than Russians.

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

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

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

It turns out the Iraq War was indeed based, in part at least, on a lie.

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.

The Egyptian military is promising a quick transition to new civilian leadership. Will they live up to their promise?

Ellis Goldberg, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington and an expert on Egyptian politics, has a pessimistic view about the likelihood that the military is interested in democratization.

Was Mubarak’s speech last night in defiance of the military?

So, what are the constitutional provisions for presidential resignations in Egypt?

While the jubilation in the streets of Egypt is fully warranted, make no mistake: the next move (indeed, the next several) belong to the military.

Hosni Mubarak has stepped down — for reals this time.

While earlier in the day the indications were that Mubarak was on his way out, Mubarak himself had different plans it would seem. The question becomes: now what?

Hosni Mubarak refuses to step down. Things in Egypt may be about to get bad.

Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak is expected to step down after 17 days of pro-democracy protests.