Links August 8th to August 9th

Links from my del.icio.us account for August 8th through August 9th:

• The Mysterious Downfall of Assef Shawkat (August 2008) – Mideast Monitor on how Shawkat has been retired and Bushra exiled
• The Middle East and America’s election | Who would be best for the Arabs? | Economist.com – Majority skeptical of either candidate, even if Obama charms some
• FT.com / World – Arrests in Syria follow murder of general – Intrigue among the Syrian oligarchy
• Family’s Donations to McCain Raise Questions – NYTimes.com – Bizarre Arab-American donations to John McCain
• WRONG. . .WRONG. . .WRONG: Obama Lets Muslim Advisor Resign – The Washington Note – Very good, strong Clemons post about Obama's spinelessness of Arab-Muslim issues