The critical determinant of actual fertility levels in Muslim and non-Muslim societies alike at the end of the day would appear to be attitudinal and volitional, rather than material and mechanistic.

The Transitional National Council (TNC) has pledged to move rapidly to elections, but there are still many outstanding questions about control of the entire country, the ability to manage fractious tribes, how elections would take place, armed citizens, recalcitrant Gadhafi family members. In some ways, getting Gadhafi was simpler than rebuilding the country he terrorized for so long.

Everybody who pays attention to these sorts of things knows Muslim societies are almost uniquely immune to the forces that have been driving down fertility rates on every continent for decades. But everybody, it seems, fell asleep before the final act.

Forces allied to the former Gadhafi regime could still threaten a fragile new government using guerilla and terrorist tactics. It would be a mistake to underestimate his tenacity or to dismiss the warning of his son Seif that "We will fight to our very last man, woman, and bullet."

In Egypt and Tunisia, the unions are at their most influential position in decades.

A book review of Ted Morgan's My Battle of Algiers.

Bill Eagleton was incorruptible and a gentleman. He never joined the ranks of more recent American diplomats and military officers by seeking to cash in his connections and his position for consulting positions or contracts.

The turmoil in Egypt most likely will not increase oil prices, but if it does, there are still arguments to be made to why it is worth it.