The U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, in flames on the night of Sept. 11, 2012. Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Middle East Protests: Signs Of Hope, Challenge For Fledgling Democracies -- Christa Case Bryant, Staff writer, Kristen Chick, Correspondent, John Thorne, Christian Science Monitor

The amplification of extreme voices is one consequence of budding democracies in the Middle East, but citizens insist that those voices remain on the fringe.

The Libyan public's backlash this weekend against a militant group blamed for killing Amb. J. Christopher Stevens underscores that the violent hatred unleashed by an anti-Islam film is supported by only a tiny fraction of Islam's more than 1.5 billion adherents. But as Arabs strive to establish new governments in the wake of the 2011 uprisings, those minorities pose challenges far beyond their size – not only for their governments, but for US policy.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Is America at War with Islam? -- Andrew Bacevich, Real Clear World

A survival plan for Syria’s Christians -- Basem Shabb, Daily Star

Turkey’s Massive Military Trial Opens Old Wounds and New Anxieties -- Pelin Turgut, Time

In the Middle East, a pro-American turn -- Washington Post editorial

New revelations about the Yom Kippur War raise questions about the Mossad -- Jake Wallis Simons, The Telegraph

Morsi opens a door on way to the UN -- National Editorial

As the Middle East goes, so goes the pivot? And other questions. -- Daniel Blumenthal, Shadow Government/Foreign Policy

China: Wang case kills reform hopes, shows ‘system’s legitimacy is crumbling’ -- Michael Allen, Democracy Digest

Obama Must Take On Putin -- David J. Kramer. Moscow Times


Be Very Careful, Beloved Spain -- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph

Russia: For the Love of Country -- Masha Gessen, New York Times

Al Qaeda's Dead Men Share No Secrets -- Marisa L. Porges, New York Times

Radical Islam inflicts acts of war on U.S.: Shariah and the Constitution cannot coexist -- Adm. James A. Lyons, Washington Times