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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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New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2012

How Spain Can Save Europe

By Ben Carliner

Spanish sovereign bond yields are rising again. It seems that the ECB’s long term refinancing operation has not bought as much time as was hoped. But what are the markets worried about? Is it the backsliding by Spain’s government over its fiscal deficit targets? Or is it in fact austerity itself? Market sentiment is never […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2012

Siachen: Ten Questions

By Maleeha Lodhi

It was in April twenty-eight years ago that the seeds of the Siachen conflict were sown. This April nature struck a cruel blow when an avalanche hit the area, burying 139 Pakistani soldiers and civilian workers. The tragedy is a poignant reminder of the need to settle a long-standing, costly dispute. Because facts have been […]

India Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2012

Demilitarization of the Siachen Conflict Zone: Challenges and Prospects

By Gurmeet Kanwal

The death of 124 Pakistani soldiers and 14 civilians in an avalanche in the Siachen conflict zone has once again brought to the fore the dangers of the continued deployment by India and Pakistan to safeguard the Actual Ground Position Line, despite the fact that an informal cease-fire has been holding up quite well since […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2012

Cheapening NATO’s Security Promise Weakens It

By James Joyner

After an incident last week in which two Syrians were killed by Assad regime forces while attempting to flee to safety in Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan declared that “NATO has a responsibility to protect Turkish borders.”

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2012

Our Pre-industrial Cyber Future: Is the Smart Grid Setting Us Up For a 200-Year Crash?

By Jason Healey

Is it possible, as we rush to implement energy-saving Smart Grid technologies, that we are building a system so vulnerable that a cyber disruption would reduce us to pre-industrial days? This was the topic of a recent panel at the RSA computer security conference and seems, at first look, to be eye-rolling hyperbole. As no one has […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

NATOSource

Apr 16, 2012

NATO Sees Flaws in Air Campaign Against Qaddafi

By Eric Schmitt, the New York Times

From Eric Schmitt, the New York Times:   Despite widespread praise in Western capitals for NATO’s leadership of the air campaign in Libya, a confidential NATO assessment paints a sobering portrait of the alliance’s ability

Drones Technology & Innovation

NATOSource

Apr 16, 2012

NATO Sees Flaws in Air Campaign Against Qaddafi

By Eric Schmitt, the New York Times

From Eric Schmitt, the New York Times:   Despite widespread praise in Western capitals for NATO’s leadership of the air campaign in Libya, a confidential NATO assessment paints a sobering portrait of the alliance’s ability

Drones Technology & Innovation

MENASource

Apr 16, 2012

Will Egypt’s Power Struggle Turn Violent? / هل ينزلق الصراع حول السلطة في مصر إلى العنف؟

By Magdy Samaan

As the date of the announcement of the final slate of presidential candidates approaches on April 26, the level of political tension is rising to its peak. The announcement on April 26 will narrow the field of possible candidates competing to lead Egypt’s transition in the coming years. But the political instability that Egypt has […]

NATOSource

Apr 16, 2012

Little Action on Common E.U. Defense

By Judy Dempsey, International Herald Tribune

From Judy Dempsey, International Herald Tribune:  For many months, the European Union has been discussing how to combine and share defense resources in order to reduce duplication of military equipment and increase efficiencies.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2012

Iran Hones Asymmetric Diplomacy with Washington

By Barbara Slavin

Outnumbered six to one, Iran deftly maneuvered this weekend (April 13-14) to restart negotiations that could yield formal recognition of its uranium enrichment program, and postponement of more crushing economic sanctions or a military attack. The results of the meeting in Istanbul between Iran and the so-called P5+1—which both sides called “positive”—was a clear example of how […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation