THE DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE EVOLVING ISLAMIST THREAT TO AMERICA:  THE INTERNAL THREAT:  RADICALIZATION OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS, CREATING A VERY POTENT ISLAMIST FIFTH COLUMN INSIDE THE BORDERS OF THE U.S.A., ONE THAT POSES A SERIOUS & GROWING THREAT TO U.S. INTERNAL SECURITY -- A PROBLEM ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT:  COUNTERING ISLAMIST JIHADISM BY ENDEAVORING TO SPREAD WESTERN VALUES & WAYS OF GOVERNANCE IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD DOOMED TO FAILURE -- NEEDED:  AMERICA RETHINKING ITS STRATEGY FOR THE WAR ON ISLAMIST TERRORISM, BOTH AT HOME & ABROAD

THE NEW ARAB LIBERALS:  THE ORIGINS, NATURE, & FUTURE OF THE MOVEMENT -- THE ISSUE OF CULTURAL CHANGE & LIBERAL POLITICAL REFORM IN THE ARAB MIDDLE EAST -- HOW ARAB POLITICS & POLITICAL CULTURE PRESENT OBSTACLES TO THE RISE OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY IN THE ARAB WORLD -- ISLAMISM & PAN-ARAB NATIONALISM AS OBSTACLES TO DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONALISM, STABLE REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACIES, SECULAR STATES, OPEN SOCIETIES, & LEGAL GUARANTEES OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS & LIBERTIES TO INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS -- WHY CHANGE IN THE COMPOSITION OF ARAB POLITICAL ELITES IS ESSENTIAL -- THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION & PROGRESS TOWARD DEMOCRATIZATION

HOW THE IRAQI POLITICAL SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER IRAQ'S CONSTITUTION:  IS U.S. CYNICISM ABOUT IRAQI CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY WARRANTED?  THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE RULE OF LAW IN IRAQ -- WHY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT INTERFERING IN IRAQI JUDICIAL MATTERS -- THE REVISED ELECTORAL SYSTEM & THE TREND TOWARD GREATER POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN IRAQ -- THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARD IRAQ & IRAQI POLITICS

AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IN THE ISLAMIC MIDDLE EAST:  PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA & U.S. IRANIAN POLICY -- OBAMA'S ERROR IN EXERCISING RHETORICAL RESTRAINT ADMIST IRANIAN PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE TYRANNICAL REGIME OF THE AYATOLLAHS -- THE NEED FOR OBAMA TO DENOUNCE THE IRANIAN REGIME'S ATTACKS ON PEACEFUL DISSENT & SPEAK UP FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM, LIBERTY, & FREE ELECTIONS -- THE NEED FOR CONGRESS TO BECOME ACTIVE & SPEAK UP, IF THE WHITE HOUSE CONTINUES TO SHIRK ITS LEADERSHIP DUTIES IN THE AREA OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY & NATIONAL SECURITY

UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST:  DE-EMPHASIZING PROMOTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY & ONCE AGAIN EMBRACING MIDDLE EASTERN REGIONAL STABILITY AS A U.S. FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITY -- FACING THE DOWNSIDE OF A STRATEGY BASED ON THE IDEA THAT DICTATORS BRING STABILITY TO A REGION -- INSTABILITY AS A LOOMING THREAT IN FOUR WESTERN-ALLIED DICTATORSHIPS THAT MANY AT HIGH LEVELS IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PERCEIVE AS BULWARKS OF STABILITY:  EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA, TUNISIA, & OMAN

PARLIAMENTARY CONSIDERATION OF A LAW TO GOVERN PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS IN IRAQ:  PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE OVER HOW IRAQIS SHOULD ELECT THEIR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS:  GEOGRAPHIC CONSTITUENY-BASED ELECTIONS, OR A PARTY-SLATE ELECTION SYSTEM IN EACH PROVINCE?  EFFECTIVE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, POLITICAL STABILITY, THE RULE OF LAW, & INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY UNDER LAW WILL VERY MUCH DEPEND ON WHAT PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS LAW THE IRAQI PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO PASS

RELIGION, POLITICS, & GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEMS -- ISLAM, AUTHORITARIANISM, & CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY:  CAN ISLAM BE REFORMED IN SUCH MANNER AS TO BE MADE COMPATIBLE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY?  ISLAM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO EVOLVE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC DIRECTION, BUT MIDDLE EASTERN TRIBALISM & THE EXISTENCE OF A COMPELLING & POWERFUL ISLAMIST MOVEMENT OBSTRUCT MODERNIZATION & THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTITUTIONALISM, THE RULE OF LAW, CITIZENSHIP, CIVIL LIBERTIES, SEPARATION OF GOVERNMENT & RELIGION, EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS, GENDER EQUALITY, & THE OTHER PREQUISITES OF A GENUINELY CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC STATE

U.S. FOREIGN POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST:  U.S. PROMOTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY IN IRAN -- U.S. GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF EFFORTS TO DEVELOP & STRENGTHEN AN INDEPENDENT CIVIL SOCIETY & DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM WITHIN THE BORDERS OF IRAN:  A VITAL TOOL TO ENCOURAGE IRANIAN MODERATION & AVERT MILITARY ESCALATION OR A NUCLEAR IRAN

THE BUSH PRESIDENCY & UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY:  THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIPLOMACY & INTERNATIONAL POLITICS -- HOW A MAJOR WORLD POWER'S BROKEN PROMISES IMPACT UPON INTERNATIONAL CRISES -- THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF DETERIORATING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S.A. & ONCE-STAUNCH ALLIES SUCH AS TURKEY, ISRAEL, TAIWAN, JAPAN, & SOUTH KOREA -- HOW WELL HAS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION LIVED UP TO ITS COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM & STABLE CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY IN ISLAMIC NORTH AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST?

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS A BEACON OF LIBERTY & DEMOCRATIC ORDER TO THE WORLD:  THE COMMON NATIONAL CULTURE WHICH DEFINES THE AMERICAN NATION & DISTINGUISHES IT FROM EVERY OTHER NATION ON EARTH -- AMERICA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE OF CONSTITUTIONALISM, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY UNDER LAW, POLITICAL & ECONOMIC FREEDOM, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANISM, & DEFENDING & PROMOTING THESE VALUES, BELIEFS, & INSTITUTIONS -- THE U.S.A. AS WORLD LEADER IN DEFENDING FREEDOM & CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AGAINST THE NEW ENEMY, ISLAMISM & ITS VERY DEADLY INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC TERRORIST NETWORK

UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST:  THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S PROMOTION OF THE RULE OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS, & CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY IN MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES -- HOW & WHY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ABANDONED THE DEMOCRATIZATION AGENDA -- WEAKNESSES IN PRESIDENT BUSH'S FOREIGN POLICY TEAM -- THE WEAKNESS & DISORGANIZATION OF BUSH'S NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL & ITS FAILURE TO COORDINATE POLICY ACROSS AGENCIES -- HOW CAREER BUREAUCRATS IN THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY & THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE FUNCTION AS STUMBLING BLOCKS TO THE EFFECTIVE CONDUCT OF AMERICAN FOREIGN & NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY

VIEWING THE U.S. INVASION & OCCUPATION OF IRAQ AS ONE BATTLE IN A LONG WAR: ALAN CARUBA ARGUES THAT IT IS TIME FOR A STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ, THAT WE NEED TO BRING OUR MILITARY FORCES HOME IN ORDER TO RETRAIN, REBUILD, RE-EQUIP, & EXPAND THEM TO MEET THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD IN THE LONG WAR WITH ISLAMISM

THE MIDDLE EAST, HAMAS, TERRORISM, & THE ISRAELI-ARAB CONFLICT:  HAMAS' OPERATION OF A TYRANNICAL DICTATORSHIP OVER THE PALESTINIANS IN GAZA & THE WEST BANK -- HAMAS' CONTINUING ACTS OF TERROR AGAINST THE STATE OF ISRAEL & ENDORSEMENT OF MISSILE STRIKES ON ISRAELI CIVILIANS -- HOW THEIR FUNDING & SUPPORT OF HAMAS & OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS HAS REAPED HUGE DIVIDENDS FOR IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, & OTHER MUSLIM STATES OF THE MIDDLE EAST -- HOW WESTERN EQUIVOCATION, VACILLATION, & LACK OF RESOLVE CONTRIBUTE TO TERRORISM & DICTATORSHIP IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S ABANDONMENT OF ITS PROMOTION OF THE RULE OF LAW, CONSTITUTIONALISM, FREE & UNFETTERED ELECTIONS, REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, & HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTIONS IN MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES

THE MIDDLE EAST, MIDDLE EASTERN POLITICAL REGIMES, & UNITED STATES AID TO MIDDLE EASTERN DISSIDENTS:   TO WHAT ENTENT & IN WHAT WAYS SHOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGE & SUPPORT POLITICAL DISSIDENTS & PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS IN MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES GOVERNED BY OPPRESSIVE, TYRANNICAL REGIMES?   SHOULD PROMOTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY & INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY UNDER THE RULE OF LAW BE A FOREIGN POLICY GOAL OF THE U.S.A. IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

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