Power games

The strategic interests of the US, France and Britain have coloured their reactions to uprisings in the Arab world. We look at comment on this issue, as well as Axel Weber's departure from the Bundesbank.

Euro-wise

Axel Weber's unexpected departure from the Bundesbank is an opportunity, however disruptive it may seem in the short term, writes the Financial Times.

... It liberates Germany from any obligation to choose a German president of the European Central Bank over one able to make the ECB work in German interests. Fortunately, those interests are aligned with those of the rest of the eurozone: Germany needs a president able to lead in difficult times. ... Since membership of the eurozone is no threat to German interests, its overriding aim must be to choose a president able to make it work as well as possible. ... 

Strong interests

The US, Britain and France have strong strategic interests in Bahrain which are in stark contrast with their own values, writes The Guardian. It is these interests that concern the three countries — not the threat of Islam.

... Manama is home of the US fifth fleet, whose main task is to protect Saudi oil installations and the Gulf waterways. Both [the US and Saudi Arabia] view the ruling al-Khalifa family as instrumental in containing Iran, which has long claimed the island as its territory. ... The generation demanding basic political rights are interested not in ideology, but in an end to tyranny and corruption. It should be clear where the west's interests lie.