Protests have erupted in the Persian Gulf state of Oman, an oasis of stability for decades. Though the uprisings triggered a crackdown from security forces that resulted in several fatalities, Oman’s leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, remains popular. We’ll discuss the situation with Middle East scholar Joe Kechichian, who is a regular visitor to the sultanate. And on Global Notes, Jerome and Radio M host Tony Sarabia chat with Libyan-American hip hop artist Khaled M about his music and Qaddafi’s defiant stand. Khaled lives in Chicago but grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, home to a Libyan-American community active in opposition politics.