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MENASource

Nov 26, 2013

Top News: Police Disperse Anti-Protest Law Demonstration in Cairo

By EgyptSource

Egyptian police fired teargas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of protesters in Cairo on Tuesday after they defied a new law that restricts demonstrations.

MENASource

Nov 26, 2013

How the Gulf States Will and Won’t Respond to the Iran Agreement

By Richard LeBaron

Gulf states have cautiously greeted the interim nuclear agreement between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the EU and Iran. The Saudi statement on Monday treads lightly—”The government of the kingdom sees that if there was goodwill, this agreement could represent a preliminary step towards a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear program.” In […]

Iran Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2013

Russia’s Ukraine Power Play Pays Off

By Rajan Menon

The will-he-won’t-he suspense sowed by the speculation over whether Ukraine’s president Viktor Yanukovych would formally sign the Association Agreement with the European Union is over.

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at NATO HQ, June 5, 2013

NATOSource

Nov 26, 2013

Will the US Cut NATO’s Credit Card?

By Jorge Benitez, Atlantic Council

Hagel warned earlier that “as NATO adjusts, it must address the gaps in military expenditures and capabilities of its partners. The tough decisions cannot continue to be deferred.”

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2013

China Looks West

By Catherine Putz

With the United States bogged down by economic troubles at home, wriggling to organize its departure from Afghanistan and grappling with a variety of crises in the Middle East, it comes as no surprise that China is using the opportunity to invest considerable time and money into reviving the so-called Silk Road.

China

MENASource

Nov 26, 2013

Dealing Away the Middle East?

By Faysal Itani

In the abstract and in isolation, a US-Iranian nuclear deal is a welcome development. While it does not eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, it does complicate any future Iranian efforts to develop a robust nuclear military capability. It also shows that the United States and Iran, two sworn enemies, are capable of rationally pursuing their interests […]

Iran
Russian Foreign Ministery Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of State John Kerry, July 2, 2013

NATOSource

Nov 25, 2013

Lavrov: Iran Deal Nullifies Needs for Europe Missile Shield

By RIA Novosti and RT

From RIA Novosti:  Implementation of a deal on Iran’s nuclear program reached in Geneva this weekend will make the US missile defense system in Europe unnecessary, Russia’s foreign minister said Monday.

Iran Missile Defense
Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Gen. Jean-Paul Paloméros

NATOSource

Nov 25, 2013

Senior NATO Military Leader: Biggest Threat Facing the Alliance is ‘Massive’ Defense Cuts

By Jane Taber, Globe and Mail

NATO plans a summit in September to consider its future. General Jean-Paul Paloméros, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, told The Globe that the biggest threat facing the alliance is the “massive reduction in defence budgets” of its members.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Nov 25, 2013

Agreement a Step Forward

By Jofi Joseph

But Still Only a First Step The announcement early Sunday morning in Geneva of an initial agreement between the P5+1 world powers and Iran represents a significant achievement in long-standing efforts to halt the latter’s nuclear program. Much ink has already been spilled debating the merits of this package of confidence-building measures (CBMs), but there […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Nov 25, 2013

Nuclear Deal is a Win-Win for US, Iran, and Even Israel

By Barbara Slavin

The ink was not dry on the historic Geneva nuclear accord with Iran before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced it as a “historic mistake” that would allow Iran to cheat and get closer to nuclear weapons. Netanyahu may have been doing Iran a favor. By criticizing the deal so harshly, he will make it easier for […]

Iran