Marc Lynch, an expert on Iraqi politics, says that despite security gains in Iraq, the political situation remains unsettled, suggesting progress might be ephemeral.  

Youssef Ibrahim, a risk consultant and the former Middle East correspondent for the New York Times, discusses the flood of money lining Persian Gulf coffers.

Economist Nouriel Roubini argues the $700 billion U.S. bailout bill will not alleviate frozen credit markets in the short term and encourages a series of steps to alleviate the current crisis.