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NATOSource

Feb 2, 2012

2013 ambiguity turns meeting of NATO defense ministers into ‘day of confusion’

By Elisabeth Bumiller, the New York Times

From Elisabeth Bumiller, the New York Times:  The top NATO official said Thursday that NATO forces in Afghanistan would move gradually from a combat to support role by 2014, but that combat would continue during that period and that NATO remained committed to the principle of “in together, out together.” The statement by Anders Fogh […]

MENASource

Feb 2, 2012

The Politics of a Deadly Soccer Riot

By Tarek Radwan

Yesterday’s match between Port Said’s Al-Masry soccer team and its Cairene rival Al-Ahly mutated into a brutal scene that claimed the lives of 74 Egyptians and wounded scores more, according to the Ministry of Health. Many questions surround the factors that provoked the worst outbreak of soccer violence in Egypt’s history and across the spectrum […]

NATOSource

Feb 2, 2012

NATO missile shield to be based in Germany: diplomat

By Deutsche Welle

NATOSource

Feb 2, 2012

‘Panetta may have triggered an unseemly rush for the exit’ from Afghanistan

By Clausewitz, the Economist

From Clausewitz, the Economist:  The secret NATO report on the Taliban leaked to the BBC is full of fascinating stuff, but it mostly confirms what was already known rather than shedding new light on the conflict in Afghanistan. The report, called “The State of the Taliban” and based on interrogations with more than 4,000 Taliban […]

United States and Canada

MENASource

Feb 2, 2012

Shura Council Elections See Low Turnout and Voter Apathy

By Salem Mostafa Kamel

The High Electoral Commission (HEC) has announced the final results for the first round of Egypt’s Shura Council (upper house) elections. As expected, Islamist parties swept the elections: The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Salafi Nour Party and independent candidates came ahead in all governorates except in Cairo where two female candidates […]

MENASource

Feb 2, 2012

Top News: 74 Killed in Deadly Soccer Riot

By Mara Revkin

Senior officials in Port Said and the Egyptian football association have been sacked in the wake of riots on February 1 at a football match that killed 74 people. The governor of Port Said resigned, while the city’s director of security and head of investigations were suspended and are now in custody.  DEADLY SOCCER RIOT: […]

NATOSource

Feb 1, 2012

Panetta: U.S. plans to end combat missions in Afghanistan in 2013

By Craig Whitlock, the Washington Post

From Craig Whitlock, the Washington Post:  The United States and NATO will seek to end their combat mission in Afghanistan next year and shift to a role of providing support and training to Afghan security forces

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 1, 2012

With Syria, Don’t Repeat Yemen Mistake

By Danya Greenfield

Efforts to halt the killing in Syria shifted to the UN Security Council yesterday, where its members debated a draft resolution proposed by Morocco to end Bashar Al Assad’s reign of terror.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and foreign ministers from Britain, France, and other nations urged passage of the resolution, with Clinton pleading that […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

NATOSource

Feb 1, 2012

Panetta faces tough NATO meeting after budget shift

By David Alexander, Reuters

From David Alexander, Reuters:  The NATO meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday comes a week after [Defense Secretary Leon] Panetta previewed a defense budget that calls for slashing American force numbers in Europe, part of a new U.S. military strategy that puts Asia and the Middle East as top priorities with Europe a lowly […]

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Feb 1, 2012

NATO Plays Down Report of Collaboration Between Taliban and Pakistan

By Rod Nordland and Declan Walsh, the New York Times

United States and Canada