National Conversation

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 <style type="text/css">  .epi-panelMsg {font-family:Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;} .epi-indicator {z-index:999; overflow:hidden;background:#009900} </style>  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20101022083536cs_/http://www.thenational.ae/portal/templates/template0018/767f8042e63051f99e383b10359c71ca/dhtml-css.css"> <div class="grid-12"> <div class="clear"> <h1>The National <span>Conversation</span></h1> </div> <div class="intro"> <p><p>Commentary, analysis and debate about key issues in the UAE, the Middle East and further afield.</p></p> </div>  <div class="grid-6 grid-nested-first">   <div class="article-teaser"> <p class="posted-in">Posted In: <span>EDITORIAL</span></p> <p class="last-updated">Oct 22, 2010</p> <p class="byline"><span>National Editorial</span></p> <h4 class="headline"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/editorial/fractious-politics-distract-bahrain-from-solutions">Fractious politics distract Bahrain from solutions</a></h4> <p class="lede">One thing is clear when it comes to Bahrain: all parties must take a far more measured and responsible approach to politics and economic growth. <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/editorial/fractious-politics-distract-bahrain-from-solutions">Read article<span> Fractious politics distract Bahrain from solutions</span></a></p> <div class="comments-media"> <ul class="media"> </ul> </div> </div><br> <div class="article-teaser"> <p class="posted-in">Posted In: <span>EDITORIAL</span></p> <p class="last-updated">Oct 22, 2010</p> <p class="byline"><span>National Editorial</span></p> <h4 class="headline"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/editorial/export-promotion-efforts-can-aid-more-than-big-firms">Export promotion efforts can aid more than big firms</a></h4> <p class="lede"> Even tiny family concerns can benefit from initiatives like the one just announced in Dubai. <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/editorial/export-promotion-efforts-can-aid-more-than-big-firms">Read article<span> Export promotion efforts can aid more than big firms</span></a></p> <div class="comments-media"> <ul class="media"> </ul> </div> </div><br> <div class="article-teaser"> <p class="posted-in">Posted In: <span>EDITORIAL</span></p> <p class="last-updated">Oct 22, 2010</p> <p class="byline"><span>National Editorial</span></p> <h4 class="headline"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/editorial/the-benefits-of-having-the-dead-sea-scrolls-online">The benefits of having the Dead Sea Scrolls online</a></h4> <p class="lede">Access to one of the pillars of the great monotheistic religions has been a problem for a long time, but scholars now have new opportunities for research and analysis. <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/editorial/the-benefits-of-having-the-dead-sea-scrolls-online">Read article<span> The benefits of having the Dead Sea Scrolls online</span></a></p> <div class="comments-media"> <ul class="media"> </ul> </div> </div><br> <div class="article-teaser"> <p class="posted-in">Posted In: <span>EDITORIAL</span></p> <p class="last-updated">Oct 21, 2010</p> <p class="byline"><span>National Editorial</span></p> <h4 class="headline"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/news/a-deal-with-the-taliban-must-not-betray-afghans">A deal with the Taliban must not betray Afghans</a></h4> <p class="lede">As Taliban leaders slip in and out of Kabul for long-anticipated negotiations, the Afghan government and its western advisers must take care not to make a messy political situation even more so. <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/news/a-deal-with-the-taliban-must-not-betray-afghans">Read article<span> A deal with the Taliban must not betray Afghans</span></a></p> <div class="comments-media"> <ul class="media"> </ul> </div> </div><br>   <div class="ad-mpu">      <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(typeof(ord) == 'undefined') {var ord = ''; } if(typeof(surroundTag) == 'undefined') { var surroundTag = ''; } if(typeof(article) == 'undefined') { var article = ''; } if(typeof(category) == 'undefined') { var category = ''; } if(typeof(demographics) == 'undefined') { var demographics = ''; } if(typeof(vars) == 'undefined') { var vars = ''; } if(typeof(meta) == 'undefined') { var meta = ''; } if(typeof(Comp_Name) == 'undefined') { var Comp_Name = ''; } if(typeof(Country_Name) == 'undefined') { var Country_Name = ''; } if(typeof(Team_Name) == 'undefined') { var Team_Name = ''; } if(typeof(category) == 'undefined') { var category = ''; } 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<div class="contributors"> <h2>Contributors</h2> <div class="extract"> <h3 class="name"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ded7e91672448210VgnVCM200000e66411acRCRD">Alan Philps</a></h3> <p class="role">Journalist</p> <blockquote> <p class="text"> <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ded7e91672448210VgnVCM200000e66411acRCRD">Read more</a></p> </blockquote> </div> <div class="extract"> <h3 class="name"><a href="">Mick Randall</a></h3> <p class="role">Journalist</p> <blockquote> <p class="text"> <a class="more" href="">Read more</a></p> </blockquote> </div> </div>   <div class="article-teaser"> <p class="posted-in">Posted In: <span>EDITORIAL</span></p> <p class="last-updated">Oct 21, 2010</p> <p class="byline"><span>National Editorial</span></p> <h4 class="headline"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/unassigned-content/pay-musicians-their-due-in-royalties">Pay musicians their due – in royalties</a></h4> <p class="lede">The law exists to enforce intellectual property rights and ensure musicians are paid for the use of their music. What are needed are proper mechanisms to apply them. <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/unassigned-content/pay-musicians-their-due-in-royalties">Read article<span> Pay musicians their due – in royalties</span></a></p> <div class="comments-media"> <ul class="media"> </ul> </div> </div><br> <div class="article-teaser"> <p class="posted-in">Posted In: <span>EDITORIAL</span></p> <p class="last-updated">Oct 21, 2010</p> <p class="byline"><span>National Editorial</span></p> <h4 class="headline"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/editorial/balmy-beach-days-are-a-capital-attraction">Balmy beach days are a capital attraction</a></h4> <p class="lede">As the weather eases up and the water temperature drops, Abu Dhabi's beach seems to be getting nicer by the day. In the shallows, schools of small fish can be seen teeming, a good sign for both water clarity and quality. <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/editorial/balmy-beach-days-are-a-capital-attraction">Read article<span> Balmy beach days are a capital attraction</span></a></p> <div class="comments-media"> <ul class="media"> </ul> </div> </div><br> <div class="article-teaser"> <p class="posted-in">Posted In: <span>EDITORIAL</span></p> <p class="last-updated">Oct 20, 2010</p> <p class="byline"><span>National Editorial</span></p> <h4 class="headline"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/comment/kimchi-and-energy">Kimchi and energy</a></h4> <p class="lede">As the establishment of the new King Sejong Institute for language and culture at Zayed University shows, South Korea's rising tide has made waves even here in the Gulf. <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/comment/kimchi-and-energy">Read article<span> Kimchi and energy</span></a></p> <div class="comments-media"> <ul class="media"> </ul> </div> </div><br> <div class="article-teaser"> <p class="posted-in">Posted In: <span>EDITORIAL</span></p> <p class="last-updated">Oct 19, 2010</p> <p class="byline"><span>National Editorial</span></p> <h4 class="headline"><a href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/news/multiculturalism-is-not-dead-mrs-merkel">Multiculturalism is not dead, Mrs Merkel</a></h4> <p class="lede">Multiculturalism is unlikely to result in absolute success but abandoning it would result in a far greater failure. <a class="more" href="/web/20101022083536/http://www.thenational.ae/news/multiculturalism-is-not-dead-mrs-merkel">Read article<span> Multiculturalism is not dead, Mrs Merkel</span></a></p> <div class="comments-media"> <ul class="media"> </ul> </div> </div><br>   </div>   <div 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