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The question isn't how frightening ISIS is. It's what actual threat it poses—and how to contain that threat without causing more harm.

So Ted Cruz made quite a scene at the In Defense of Christians gala dinner the other night, getting booed off the stage for comments about the relationship between Christians and Israel. The Middle East-focused group invited the Southern Baptist senator to keynote its event, and it's no surprise that these representatives of distinct branches of the Christian tree have some differences.

Juan Cole tells the backstory of the revolutions in North Africa, exploring events in the context of their cultural setting. His conclusions are optimistic yet grounded in realism.