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The two regional powers most affected by the turmoil in the Middle
East are going to be Iran and Israel. Life sometimes offers strange
parallels. There is much in common between the two intractable
adversaries.

These two non-Arab countries appear curiously "stable" in a region
caught in a maelstrom. No one points an accusing finger at either as the
"hidden hand" behind the turmoil in their

neighborhood - not even their worst detractors. In fact, both seem
taken by surprise by the torrential flow of events and are figuring out
how to assimilate the as-yet unfathomable meaning of what is unfolding.

Both are astute enough to know that small things ignite volcanic
eruptions - a sealed train running from Germany to Russia, a sermon
given by an old imam in exile under an apple tree on the outskirts of
Paris or a conscientious police officer refusing an order to fire on
agitators on a Tirana street. And neither can quite divine what secrets
the heaving streets of Cairo are still to yield.

But there is also a fundamental difference. For Iran, it all boils
down to how big a winner it is going to be. For Israel, though, it is
about cutting losses. But then, it is also a see-saw where the winner
cannot take it all.

Iran rides the wave

Tehran has been quick to speak out in support of the popular
uprising in Egypt. I... >>>