* The NY Times explores Natan Sharansky’s ideas on democracy and values, and how his new book, “The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny & Terror,” has already won him one important fan. President Bush is expected to refer to the book in tonight’s State of the Union address.
* The LA Times reports that Russia is trying to assert itself in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iraq and Iran.
During their visits to Moscow, Palestinian leader Abbas and Syrian President Bashar Assad won not only pledges of Kremlin support as a broker in the Mideast peace process but assurances that Russia maintained the right to sell “defensive” weapons systems to Arab nations in conflict with Israel….
Syria, which obtained forgiveness of nearly three-quarters of its $13.4-billion military debt with Moscow during Assad’s visit last week, appears to be hoping that a more assertive Russia will benefit Arabs in negotiations with Israel. Russian officials have called for the inclusion of Lebanon and Syria in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, the withdrawal of Israel from Arab lands occupied during the 1967 Middle East War and the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
* The Washington Post reports that democracy isn’t faring so well in Egypt, which will hold a national referendum in October on President Hosni Mubarak’s leadership. With the government cracking down on opposition, Mubarak — the sole candidate — stands to be re-elected to another six-year term.
