Atlantic Council blogs

News Update: November 14, 2011

By Mara Revkin

Parties and movements are divided on whether or not to participate in a protest planned for November 18 to demand a swift transfer of power to civilian leadership and reject the supra-constitutional principles. The Brotherhood-dominated Democratic Alliance and most major Islamist forces including the Salafi Nour Party have issued statements rejecting the principles, but Tagammu’ […]

NATO chief falls off bicycle, breaks arm

By Zaman

From Zaman:  NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen fell off his bicycle and broke his arm at the weekend, forcing him to call off a planned visit to the Baltic states this week, a NATO spokeswoman said. "He was biking in the woods in Brussels on Sunday and crashed," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said on […]

Rasmussen: “I look forward to seeing Georgia in NATO”

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  Georgia has expressed its desire for membership of NATO. And NATO has reiterated that its door remains open to any European state that can contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area and further the principles upon which we have built our Alliance.

NATO does not recognize elections in South Ossetia

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  NATO does not recognise the elections held on November 13 in the Georgian region of South Ossetia.

Obama, Erdogan find shared interests

By Soner Cagaptay, the Washington Post

NATO’s Libya Op shows need for lower-cost strike aircraft

By Robert Wall, Aviation Week

From Robert Wall, Aviation Week:  Although much of the focus of Libya strike operations has been on platforms such as the Tornado GR4, Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale fighters, one lesson emerging from the conflict is the need to have a low-cost aircraft to support such prolonged operations.

Egypt’s Electoral System: A recipe for pluralism or polarization?

By Mara Revkin

In two weeks, Egyptians are expected to turn out in unprecedented numbers for the country’s first ostensibly free and fair elections.  But while Egypt’s rapidly proliferating parties are enthusiastically campaigning for seats in the post-Mubarak parliament, recent changes to the electoral system may have troubling implications for the political diversity and legitimacy of the next […]

NATO Secretary General believes missile defense “protected against cuts”

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  The head of NATO says he remains optimistic about U.S.-European defense cooperation, particularly in missile defense, in spite of the risk of massive new U.S. budget cuts and fears of recession in Europe next year.

Cyber-warfare is coming

By Ilmar Tamm, Public Service Europe

From Ilmar Tamm, Public Service Europe:  Various states have managed to agree on laws that govern borders, international sea and air space, even outer space – but now we are faced with the task of adapting or creating laws and precedents for cyberspace.