Atlantic Council blogs

Europe’s New German Question

By Julian Lindley-French

Almost sixty years ago to the day, the European Defense Community (EDC) Treaty was signed in Paris. Under pressure from an America facing a possible war on two fronts – Korea and Europe, the aim was to create a European Army that would see West Germany re-armed to provide manpower for the defense of Europe […]

What does Interim Operational Capability mean for NATO missile defense?

By the White House

The Regime Strikes Back and the Revolution Strikes Out / النظام يرد الصفعة والثورة تضيّع فرصة

By Haitham Tabei

The results of the first round of the presidential election in Egypt last week reflect a number of different variables that have influenced voters over the past fifteen months since the revolution. The outcome of the first stage of this historic election – advancing the Brotherhood’s candidate Mohamed Morsi and Mubarak’s former Prime Minister Ahmed […]

Carter Center Issues “Generally Positive” Assessment of First Round Voting

By Mara Revkin

The Carter Center has released a preliminary statement on the first round of Egypt’s presidential election. The statement acknowledges that restrictions on international monitors have limited the scope of the Carter Center’s mission, making it impossible to draw conclusions about the process as a whole. In addition to delayed accreditation by the Egyptian government, which prevented […]

Official Election Results: Morsi and Shafik Advance to Runoff Round on June 16-17

By Mara Revkin

The Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) announced on May 28 that the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Mohamed Mursi and Hosni Mubarak’s former Prime Minsiter Ahmed Shafik will face off in the second round of Egypt’s presidential election, slated for June 16 and 17.   The SPEC announced the final vote count for the top five candidates from […]

NATO’s biggest security threat is now economic

By Fred Kempe, Reuters

From Fred Kempe, Reuters:  What really connected the G-8 and NATO meetings was a growing realization that the biggest threat to the alliance – and, for that matter, to Obama’s re-election hopes – is the euro zone crisis.

NATO’s Smart Defense faces national obstacles

By Julian Hale, Defense News

From Julian Hale, Defense News:  Asked about the lessons from Libya and specific Smart Defense-type projects, Ernest Herold, deputy assistant secretary general for Defence Investment at NATO, noted that some countries had run out of bombs

Voter Illiteracy a Hazard for Egypt’s Democratic Transition

By Shaimaa El Nazer

Since the end of the unforgettable 18-day stand-off in Tahrir square, the majority of Egyptians have viewed the revolution decapitating a corrupt regime whose leader and immediate inner circle spoiled the political system by prioritizing their own individual interests over those of the Egyptian people. But this overly simplistic understanding of the former regime fails […]