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MENASource

Aug 28, 2018

Egypt leads the pack in internet censorship across the Middle East

By Elissa Miller

Internet censorship around the world, including in the Middle East, is not a new phenomenon. Freedom of expression facilitated by the internet can pose a threat to authoritarian leaders around the world who seek to maintain strict control over both the content their citizens consume and the content they post. A clear pattern of authoritarian […]

Internet Media

MENASource

Aug 23, 2018

Factbox: Turkey and the future of the F-35

By Rachel Rossi

The F-35 is the next generation fighter jet designed to ensure NATO’s air superiority for the next twenty to thirty years. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development program is a nine-country international consortium, which includes a tiered system of states that collectively contributed to the aircraft’s development and manufacture. Turkey is a Level III partner, […]

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

MENASource

Aug 22, 2018

Syria and Yemen could have been Jordan

By Erin A. Neale

Recently the World Bank published its annual world income categorization of 189 countries and 28 other economies. Jordan, Syria, and Yemen were among the nine countries whose status climbed or fell to reflect changes in gross national income (GNI). Jordan progressed from a lower-middle income to an upper-middle income country ($3,896–$12,055 per capita). The effects […]

Middle East Syria

MENASource

Aug 21, 2018

Three pressing barriers to forming an Iraqi government

By Andrea Taylor

Protests raging in southern Iraq foretell the potentially dire consequences if political leaders in the country are unable to form a government in the coming months. Unrest has culminated, after subsequent summers with widespread power outages and frustration in a government widely perceived as corrupt, in at least fourteen demonstrator deaths since early July and […]

Democratic Transitions Elections

MENASource

Aug 13, 2018

Yemen: End this abomination now

By Frederic C. Hof

For the past seven years, this writer has viewed the Syrian uprising largely through the lens of civilian protection, because civilian slaughter has defined the conflict and dictated its dire political consequences. Although one may ascribe vastly different motives to the President of Syria on the one hand and the leaders of Saudi Arabia and […]

The Gulf Yemen

MENASource

Aug 10, 2018

What are the implications of expanded Chinese investment in the MENA region?

By Aisha Han and Rachel Rossi

China’s overall strategy to increase its role in world affairs indicates further engagement in its global investments in Asia, Africa, and beyond. It holds the most foreign reserve assets in Asia and is the largest trading partner in Africa. However, China is also continuing to diversify its portfolio by adding investments in the Middle East […]

China Middle East

MENASource

Aug 2, 2018

What does the ongoing Israel-Iran confrontation in Syria mean?

By MENASource

Tension continues to escalate along the Israeli-Syrian border with the recent regime southern offensive to oust opposition in the area and Israeli attacks on Iranian targets in Syria. Continued activity along the border is expected as Iran continues to solidify its hold on Syria. Yet Israeli’s strategy is less clear as Iran continues to test the […]

Iran Israel

MENASource

Jul 26, 2018

Prospects for peace in Yemen

By Zara Jayant

As the conflict in Yemen continues and the country’s humanitarian crisis deepens, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, is attempting to negotiate a ceasefire for the port of Hodeida, a vital port for bringing aid and food into the famine-struck country. Earlier this month, the Saudi-led coalition began attacking the port city in response […]

Yemen

MENASource

Jul 24, 2018

The clock is ticking: S-400 and the future of F-35 in Turkey

By Aaron Stein

The leaked language for the final version of the forthcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) suggests that the US Congress will hold the delivery of Turkish F-35 fighter aircraft, until a report is drafted that assesses Turkish industry participation in the F-35 consortium, and how best to replace Turkish manufactured components in the supply chain. […]

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

MENASource

Jul 20, 2018

Iraq protests highlight gap in US policy

By Emily Burchfield

As most headlines continue to focus on US President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and fallout from the NATO summit, Iraq is witnessing some of the largest and most prolonged protests in years. The protests began last week, triggered by water and electricity shortages, unemployment, and government corruption. Despite the growing […]

Democratic Transitions Iraq