The Usual Weekend Links

As usual, barring something major occurring in Iran, I'll be off for the weekend — it's father's day in the US — meanwhile some readings to keep you busy:

• Start with the home team: at the new MEI website, you can now hear or download the podcast of yesterday's presentation by Pakistan's Imran Khan. (Clicking on the link starts the podcast.)
  

• At the Washington Institute, Mike Eisenstadt, one of the better military analysts in the business, offers his take on "The Security Forces of the Islamic Republic and the Fate of the Opposition".
  

• Some links at the Council on Foreign Relations to commentary on Iran.
  

• The Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University has its latest "Middle East News and Views" available online.
  

• Sadder news for us, though not for him: the excellent Lebanon blogger Qifa Nabki (Elias Muhanna) is returning to the US to work on his dissertation and, while still blogging, won't be on scene in Lebanon. His farewell to Beirut post has an amusing interchange with his doorman.

• Thomas Hegghammer has an interesting twist on al-Qa‘ida watching; being ignorant of British football I fear I may miss some of the humor.