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Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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SouthAsiaSource

Apr 10, 2014

The BJP Election Manifesto: Could have been the Congress Party’s too

By Mohan Guruswamy

I have been a manifesto writer ever since I moved to Delhi in 1984 and should know what I am talking about on them.  Often it would seem that the preparation and release of a manifesto is considered just a part of the ritual with no real bearing on the outcome. Since manifestos are mostly […]

India

MENASource

Apr 10, 2014

Top News: In Libya, Politicians in Fear of Powerful Militias

By MENASource

The leaked video showing General National Congress President Nuri Abu Sahmain begging a militia leader, trying to explain why he was caught with two women in his residence highlights how weak Libya’s most prominent politicians are in the face of militias. Over the past two years, militias have assassinated some 200 prominent figures, including top […]

FutureSource

Apr 10, 2014

The US and the World Gather in Medellin

By Peter Engelke

This week, Medellin, Colombia is hosting the World Urban Forum, the 7th iteration of the United Nation’s biannual conference series dedicated to the world’s cities. Some 25,000 people from everywhere on Earth are gathering at “WUF7” to discuss the governance challenges, and the unlimited opportunities, that are found in the world’s cities. The scale and […]

MENASource

Apr 10, 2014

Top News: US Blacklists Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis; Egypt Welcomes Decision

By EgyptSource

The United States designated Egypt’s most active militant group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, a foreign terrorist organization on Wednesday, making it a crime to support the group.

Gen. Philip Breedlove and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Feb. 26, 2014

NATOSource

Apr 10, 2014

US Troops May be Sent to Eastern Europe

By John-Thor Dahlburg, AP

NATO’s top military commander in Europe, drafting countermoves to the Russian military threat against Ukraine, said Wednesday they could include deployment of American troops to alliance member states in Eastern Europe now feeling at risk.

Eastern Europe NATO

New Atlanticist

Apr 10, 2014

Mideast Diplomacy Looks Bleak but Alternatives are Worse

By Barbara Slavin

The Obama administration has certainly had better weeks in Middle East diplomacy. The Israeli-Palestinian talks appear to be collapsing in a fit of finger-pointing, and Syria increasingly resembles a slow-motion Rwanda. Only Iran negotiations continue to progress, albeit with obstacles looming as the parties approach a mid-summer deadline for a long-term nuclear agreement.

Israel Middle East
MP Artis Pabriks, October 17, 2011

NATOSource

Apr 9, 2014

Hesitation Within NATO will Encourage Russia to Test Alliance

By Artis Pabriks, atlantic-community.org

Since the end of the Russian-Georgian war in 2008, Russia has been seriously increasing its military budget (up 15-20% annually) and conducting military exercises with more than 100,000 personnel (Zapad 2009, Zapad 2013), targeted towards its western neighbours.

Germany NATO

MENASource

Apr 9, 2014

Tunisia’s Promise and Strategic Potential

By Lara Talverdian

After a year of heightened tensions, growing divisions, and two high-profile assassinations, Tunisians launched a national dialogue that culminated in the adoption of a progressive constitution in January 2014.

North Africa
Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Facility in Romania

NATOSource

Apr 9, 2014

US May Accelerate Deployment of Missile Defense System in Poland

By David Larter, Defense News

The military could speed up deployment of a land-based missile defense shield in Europe to hem in a resurgent Russia, the Navy 3-star in charge of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said in early April.

Central Europe Europe & Eurasia

MENASource

Apr 9, 2014

Corruption in Construction: Egypt’s Failing Infrastructure

By Amira Mikhail

As Egypt’s political failure continues to permeate various sectors—the economy, health system and security—decades of poor management and little accountability have led to the failing of a key sector: Egypt’s real estate market. The recent spate of collapsing buildings reveals an infrastructure that is literally shaking at its core.

North Africa