The Layalina Review: Volume VII No. 13 | Layalina Productions, Inc.

The Layalina Review

	The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media. Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors. Published 26 times per year, the review is free to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats. The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks in part to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation of Illinois.
Statistic of the Week More than 85% of the people in Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon combined have followed news about political demonstrations in the region, and in Arab countries there is widespread optimism that the protests will lead to more democracy, according to a recent study. PDF RSS Twitter Facebook Recent Issues Vol. VII No. 12: 06/03-06/16, 2011 Vol. VII No. 11: 05/20-06/02, 2011 Vol. VII No. 10: 05/06-05/19, 2011 Archives Subscribe to our Publications Layalina Review Staff Leon Shahabian Senior Editor Anne Hagood Managing Editor Heather Stephenson Contributor Selina Singh Contributor Deniz Polat Contributor Katherine Russo Contributor Lorraine Jablonsky Contributor Sasha Scott Contributor The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.	VOL. VII NO. 13, June 17-June 30, 2011 US-Pakistan: Strange Bedfellows Relations between the US and Pakistan further deteriorate following the covert assassination of Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil. Experts suggest that both nations should coordinate efforts, however, to eradicate the Al-Qaeda threat. Afghan Withdrawal: Next Campaign Move? President Barack Obama’s announcement of his withdrawal plan from Afghanistan generated positive reactions from Afghan leadership. However, commentators in the US took a more cynical approach, arguing that his sights aren't set on the future Afghanistan, but rather his re-election in 2012. Tunisia’s Difficult Transition Ousted Tunisian president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and his wife were recently tried in absentia and sentenced to 35 years in prison for offenses committed during his two decades in power. Meanwhile, Tunisia struggles with a debate over Internet censorship and a controversial tourism ad. Saudi Women: Driving Change Frustrated Saudi women lead driving protests to highlight numerous social inequalities within the country. Such remonstrance, however, faces conservative backlash denouncing the women’s demands for reform. Pressure’s on Al-Zawahiri Following the May 1st death of Osama bin Laden, his second-in-command, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, will take his place as the new leader of Al-Qaeda. This change in leadership has analysts questioning whether Al-Zawahiri will be a unifying factor in the organization. Yemen’s Political Morass As Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh remains in Saudi Arabia recovering from his injuries, local and international demands for his step down reach new levels. Meanwhile, conflicting reports emerge from Yemen addressing the president’s return. Bahrain Sentences Protestors to Death The recent sentencing of ten Shiite activists accused of plotting a coup against Bahrain’s Sunni rulers during the Arab Spring protests in the kingdom have analysts worried that sectarian tensions will be reignited. Nearby, several bloggers in the UAE were also put to trial for criticizing their government. Training Citizen Journalists in the Arab World The US government is developing new technology to evade government censorship and Internet blockages in the MENA region in order to provide a platform for citizen journalists.

The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media.

Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors.

Published 26 times per year, the review is free to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats.

The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks in part to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation of Illinois.

Statistic of the Week
More than 85% of the people in Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon combined have followed news about political demonstrations in the region, and in Arab countries there is widespread optimism that the protests will lead to more democracy, according to a recent study.

Recent Issues

Vol. VII No. 12: 06/03-06/16, 2011

Vol. VII No. 11: 05/20-06/02, 2011

Vol. VII No. 10: 05/06-05/19, 2011