Atlantic Council blogs

Top News: Islamists Stage Demonstration at Azhar Mosque to Support Jerusalem, Protest Israel

By Egypt Source

Islamist powers staged a million-man demonstration on Friday at al-Azhar Mosque to express their support for Jerusalem and protest against Israeli violations and the siege of al-Aqsa Mosque. The demonstration aims at asserting that Arabs are not busy with their own domestic affairs and that Jerusalem’s issue is the most important one for Arabs and […]

The Libyan Southern Front: Between Conflict and Dialogue

By Valerie Stocker and Karim Mezran

Analysis of Libya’s security crisis has largely centered on the country’s northern coastal cities, where the issue of rogue militias challenging the government is well known. What is often overlooked—and much less understood—is the security situation in the south. This vast, underpopulated territory has become a gateway for many of the security problems Libya and […]

The Treacherous Road to Pakistan’s Historic Elections

By Shuja Nawaz

Pakistan’s upcoming elections on May 11 provoke both fear and hope.

Central Europe’s Role in the Arab Awakening

By Radek Sikorski, Foreign Affairs

From Radek Sikorski, Foreign Affairs:  We Poles, like you Americans, are a revolutionary people.

Poland’s Foreign Minister: ‘I’m Afraid Conflict in Europe is Imaginable’

By Radek Sikorski, Foreign Affairs

From Radek Sikorski, Foreign Affairs:  Our relations with Russia, like yours, are pragmatic but brittle.

The Challenge of Religious Freedom in Egypt

By Fady Salah

“Freedom of belief is inviolable and the state guarantees freedom of religious practice and freedom to establish houses of worship for the divine religions (Islam – Christianity – Judaism)…” So says Egypt’s new constitution, specifically in Article 43. This same phrase was included in Egypt’s 1971 constitution, and it seems that little else has changed […]

SACEUR: ‘Five Years to Go Before We Can Really Disengage’ from Afghanistan

By James Stavridis, Atlantic

NATO Allies Participate in Estonia’s Spring Storm Exercise

By Postimees

From Postimees:  In addition to Estonian troops, around 350 land force personnel from Belgium, Britain, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as about 100 Polish airmen will take part in this year’s edition of Spring Storm, the largest annual exercise of the Estonian defense forces.

Top News: Morsi Seeks Closer Trade Ties with Brazil

By Egypt Source

Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi has approved a law allowing the state to issue Islamic bonds, the official gazette said Wednesday, ending a troubled passage for a bill the government hopes will help revive its flagging finances.

Pakistani Politics: Perils and Paradoxes

By Harlan Ullman

This weekend, many tens of millions of some 200 million Pakistanis will elect new national and four provincial governments. The elections are a remarkable milestone due in large measure to President Asif Zardari’s political navigational skills in the most roiled of waters.