Ramadan Karim!

I will have more about various developments later today, but first and most importantly I want to wish my Muslim readers a gracious and fruitful Ramadan on this first day. Coinciding almost exactly with the long days and intense heat of August this year, the fast will be challenging and the dramatic events shaking the region may intensify. But I hope the rewards of the month will also be evident. Ramadan Karim! Ramadan Mubarak!