Atlantic Council blogs

Those Muscular Poles

By Wall Street Journal

Germany’s Botched Drone Policy

By Judy Dempsey, Strategic Europe

From Judy Dempsey, Strategic Europe: [A] botched and expensive project to produce a drone system for the Bundeswehr could be [Defense Minister Thomas] de Maizière’s undoing.

Hagel Discusses F-35, Afghanistan, and Syria with Dutch Minister of Defense

By American Forces Press Service

From American Forces Press Service: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel hosted the Netherlands’ Minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert at the Pentagon today, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

US Lawmakers Seek to Block Sharing of Missile Defense Data with Russia

By Desmond Butler, AP

From Desmond Butler, AP:  Republicans are trying to block Obama administration overtures to Russia on missile defense, creating a potential obstacle to arms control talks.

Can the ‘Rebel’ Campaign Bring Down Morsi?

By Tarek Radwan

The short answer is no, but the Tamarod or ‘Rebel’ campaign can certainly create a massive headache for President Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, and the security apparatus. Tamarod campaigners have made an impressive splash on the Egyptian political scene in recent weeks, collecting signatures from ordinary citizens to demonstrate a […]

Slow Growth Could Delay Russia Military Spending

By Alexander Kolyandr, Wall Street Journal

From Alexander Kolyandr, Wall Street Journal:  Russia could postpone its ambitious military spending program as an economic slowdown forces the government to review its spending plans, the country’s finance minister indicated Wednesday.

The Islamist Rift Within Egypt

By Fady Salah

Over a period of 18 days, Egyptians of different ideologies and backgrounds united against former president Mubarak in a remarkable scene that likely won’t be witnessed again. A few weeks after Mubarak’s ouster, with SCAF assuming power, Egyptians started establishing political parties and groups, stimulated by their ideological differences. Theoretically, the emergence of a multi-partisan […]

Top News: Egypt Court Acquits 7 Policemen in Jan 25 Killing of Protesters

By Egypt Source

A North Cairo criminal court on Wednesday acquitted seven Egyptian security personnel who had been accused of firing on unarmed anti-regime protesters during Egypt’s January 2011 Tahrir Square uprising. Eyewitnesses testified to the prosecutor general that the defendants, who include four policemen and three mid-ranking officers, murdered one protester and attempted to murder 11 others.

Syria: America’s Stake

By Frederic C. Hof

The 15-3 vote on May 21 in the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee authorizing the administration to provide lethal and nonlethal assistance to vetted elements of Syria’s armed opposition is a potentially significant step toward encouraging President Barack Obama to reverse the decision he made nearly a year ago to deny lethal assistance.

Kerry: ‘Thousands of Hezbollah Militia’ in Syria

By Arshad Mohammed and Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Reuters

From Arshad Mohammed and Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Reuters:  Washington threatened on Wednesday to increase support for Syria’s rebels if President Bashar al-Assad refuses to discuss a political end to a civil war that is spreading across borders.