In the aftermath of the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day in 2009 by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) moved to increase airport security. Passengers flying “non-stop” to the US were subject to enhanced screenings, including in some cases a full-body pat-down. But, immediately, TSA realized that this placed an “extraordinary burden” on airports and airlines and TSA moved to develop a “regime” that would subject a “reduced pool” of passengers to “enhanced screenings.”

On January 13, 2010, it was announced a list of fourteen countries of interest. The list included: Cuba, Sudan, Syria, Iran (four countries on the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism) and Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. The new regime meant all passengers traveling from any of the fourteen countries would, regardless of nationality or US citizenship, be subject to increased security and possible violations of privacy.

Newly published cables from WikiLeaks shed light on reactions from leaders of countries on the list.

Inspired by the Arab uprising, protesters on three borders marched into Israel and triggered violent responses from Israeli security, leading to at least 15 dead.

And, finally, we showed that people can demand that their government help find the solution. Given modern, technologically advanced 21st century medicine, it is, in fact, the least we should expect from our government.

A government that is the solution, not the problem — like the one you promised and delivered for so many of my dead friends.

Looking at this as a pan-Arab uprising changes the calculations dramatically. From the United States’ perspective, it forces policymakers to think about how to properly deal with an entire region seeking to pull off the shackles of monarchies and authoritarian dictatorships, not one rogue protest movement in one country or another. That Arab Spring that George Bush and the neocons would come to the region simply by bombing the bejeezus out of Iraq is here because of completely different factors. It’s clear that our policymakers have no idea how to react. Thinking about this in a regional sense rather than protecting this or that ruling regime may help.

As a cartoonist, columnist, radio host, TV guest and graphic novelist, Ted Rall has always been hard to categorize. Rall is liberal and an environmentalist, to be sure, but he’s a peculiar brand of both. He’s not scared of guns or all gun owners and he’s got a strong law-and-order streak. He seems to dismiss popular “peak oil” theories that anticipate a rapid and disastrous fall-off in petroleum production. He’s equally critical of Democrats and Republicans.

Rall is most notorious for his U.S. political commentary. A 2004 cartoon criticizing football player-turned-soldier Pat Tillman, who was killed by “friendly” fire in Afghanistan, is easily Rall’s most famous work. But arguably Rall’s most unique and important work has grown out of his infrequent jaunts through foreign conflict zones, particularly in Central Asia. A trip to Afghanistan in 2001 produced the graphic novel To Afghanistan and Back, one of the best and most prescient books on the now decade-old war. For all that, Rall’s most eloquent work isn’t political at all. His memoir The Year of Loving Dangerously recounts his turbulent but passionate youth.

In 2008, I had the chance to host an FDL book salon with Jeff Sharlet when his book, The Family, was released. Drawing on his experiences living at one of the organization’s houses as well as his significant research into the history of this secretive religious group, Sharlet’s bestselling book exposed us all to this frightening circle of influence.

News reports from regional newspapers indicate Israel wants the U.S. to stop providing financial assistance for arms purchases. Apparently the $2.2 billion in military aid to Israel hasn’t been enough “proof of love.”

Deadly fighting breaks out on Israel-Lebanon border after IDF forces try to trim hedges on Lebanese side of border fence.