Atlantic Council blogs

Calls for a “Salvation Government” Suggest New Transition Roadmap

By Michele Dunne and Mara Revkin

Egyptian political parties are trying to translate the anti-SCAF anger of protestors in Cairo and elsewhere into a set of specific demands.  While each major party has a slightly different version, the two key demands are holding a presidential election by April 2012 and forming a “national salvation government” to run the country until that […]

Appathurai: R2P does not always lead to NATO Op

By AFP

From AFP:   NATO on Sunday guarded against “unrealistic expectations” for peace and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa as violence flared in Syria and Egypt.

News Update: November 21, 2011

By Mara Revkin

Clashes between security forces and protesters in Tahrir Square escalated dramatically on November 19 and 20, resulting in at least 35 casualties and 1,700 injuries, as riot police used tear gas, rubber bullets as well as live ammunition and attacked field hospitals in an effort to disperse the crowd. As several prominent parliamentary candidates and […]

Missile defense is not expendable

By Bruce Klingner and Sally McNamara, CNN

From Bruce Klingner and Sally McNamara, CNN:  Ballistic missiles pose an increasing risk to the United States and its allies, particularly as more nations strive to acquire nuclear weapons. The once exclusive nuclear weapons club now has nine members, and Iran is knocking on the clubhouse door. Altogether, at least 32 countries have ballistic missile capabilities. […]

Australia’s PM considering early withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

By Rod McGuirk, the AP

From Rod McGuirk, the AP:  Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Monday that the Australian military training mission in Afghanistan could be completed before the 2014 target date, after an Afghan army commander told a newspaper that Australian troops should be withdrawn immediately.

Medvedev: Russia’s 2008 war with Georgia prevented NATO growth

By RIA Novosti

Canada posting warship in Med, but will not intervene in Syria without UN mandate

By Steven Chase, Les Perreaux, and Oliver Moore, the Globe and Mail

From Steven Chase, Les Perreaux, and Oliver Moore, the Globe and Mail:  Canada is ready to assist an international military intervention in Syria should sanctions and diplomacy fail, but the United Nations authorization that Ottawa says it would first require is neither imminent nor inevitable.

Does Turkey see itself as a power broker between NATO and China?

By Gökhan Bacik, Zaman

From Gökhan Bacik, Zaman:  It would not be wrong to describe the huge area from Spain to eastern Turkey, including North Africa, as the “NATO zone.” NATO is the most important rule-maker in this large geographical area.

Why Russia is no closer to working with NATO on missile defense

By the Economist

From the Economist:  The hopes at NATO’s 2010 Lisbon summit that Russia might be a partner in the missile-defence system meant to protect Europe from a nuclear-armed “rogue” state are looking increasingly forlorn.

US budget woes could hit European missile defense

By Desmond Butler, the AP

From Desmond Butler, the AP:  A breakdown in high-stakes budget talks in Congress could threaten plans for a missile defense shield in Europe.