Atlantic Council blogs

The Reinstatement of Egypt’s Police Force

By Sarah El-Rashidi

As Egyptians took to the streets in widespread protest against ousted president Mohamed Morsi’s regime, a peculiar sight graced the demonstrations. Rather than facing off with Egypt’s police force, Egyptians marched side by side with uniformed officers. Policemen passed out bottles of water, as their colleagues were carried on the shoulders of anti-Morsi protesters. While […]

This Week in South Asia: December 7-13

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week.

For Sixth Year, EU Defense Spending Continues to Decrease

By European Defense Agency

In 2012, total defence expenditure of the 26 EDA pMS (1) amounted to € 189.6 billion – a reduction of € 1.1 billion or 0.6% compared to 2011.

Harnessing Disruption to Move Forward with Biotech

By Dina Fine Maron

As biotechnology evolves, it’s easier to imagine a future where a steak dinner would be produced in the laboratory and cell parts are replicated via 3-D printer. Scientific American is constantly exploring these frontlines of science and innovation. And this week I moderated a thought-provoking panel exploring how biotech and ICT (information and communications technology) may reshape the […]

Top News: New UN report concludes chemical arms used repeatedly in Syria

By MENASource

Chemical weapons were used repeatedly in the Syria conflict this year, not only in a well-documented August 21 attack near Damascus but also in four other instances, including two subsequent attacks that targeted soldiers, the United Nations said in a report released Thursday.

Top News: Car bomb at Police Camp in Ismailia Leaves One Dead

By EgyptSource

An Egyptian police officer was killed and 35 others were injured when a car blew up near their base in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia on Thursday, security sources said.

MENASource Discussions: Moving Beyond Yemen’s Political Paralysis [Video]

By MENASource

On the sidelines of an Atlantic Council symposium on Yemen’s economic challenges, which discussed the findings of a new report on the topic, Yemen’s Economic Agenda: Beyond Short-Term, Danya Greenfield interviewed three Yemeni experts

Syria: Extremism as a Force for Good

By Frederic C. Hof

Karl Rove, onetime senior advisor to President George W. Bush, reportedly told an interviewer, “We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality.” Substitute the word “speak” for “act” and one has the reality-creating corollary of the Obama administration.

Gulf Nations Announce Joint Military Command

By KUNA and Defense News

In a big step forward to consolidate Gulf joint security, Arab Gulf leaders agreed Wednesday on the establishment of a joint military command and police.