Egypt: The Spring of the Patriarch / France: The Seductive Mme Le Pen / French Boss-Nappers' Last Stand

This week's columns for The Daily Beast:

Egypt's Arab Spring Gives Way To Spring Of The Patriarch
With a new constitution to approve and a military strongman to elect as president, there's a terrible inevitability to the course of events in Egypt over the next few months.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/10/egypt-s-arab-spring-gives-way-to-spring-of-the-patriarch.html

The Seductive Madame Le Pen
She is the rising power in French and European politics, but what lies behind the smile?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/09/the-seductive-madame-le-pen.html
also see snapshots: http://christopherdickey.blogspot.fr/2014/01/the-anglo-american-press-association.html

The French Boss-Nappers' Last Stand
France's labor unions are weak and getting weaker. When they take executives hostage, as workers did at a Goodyear factory on Monday, it's an act of desperation.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/07/the-french-boss-nappers-last-stand.html

And for something a little lighter, don't miss my snapshots on http://instagram.com/thedailybeast