We　show　that　the　coherent　coupling　of　atomic　qubits　at　distant　nodes　of　a　quantum　network,　composed　of　several　cavities　linked　by　optical　fibers,　can　be　arbitrarily　controlled　via　the　selective　pairing　of　Raman　transitions.　The　adiabatic　elimination　of　the　atomic　excited　states　and　photonic　states　leads　to　selective　qubit-qubit　interactions,　which　would　have　important　applications　in　quantum-information　processing.　Quantum　gates　between　any　pair　of　distant　qubits　and　parallel　two-qubit　operations　on　selected　qubit　pairs　can　be　implemented　through　suitable　choices　of　the　parameters　of　the　external　fields.　Selective　pairing　of　Raman　transitions　also　allows　the　generation　of　spin　chains　and　cluster　states　without　the　requirement　that　the　cavity-fiber　coupling　be　smaller　than　the　detunings　of　the　Raman　transitions.　©　2010　The　American　Physical　Society.