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SyriaSource

Oct 13, 2015

An Iranian’s Advice: Mind Your Own Business

By Frederic C. Hof

President Barack Obama’s take on Syria is that there is the Islamic State (ISIL, ISIS, or Daesh) in the east – an entity that must be degraded and destroyed – and the Assad regime in the west – an entity that should be negotiated out of existence. The United States will bomb ISIL from the […]

Iran Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 13, 2015

Monitoring the Russians in Northern Syria

By Saleem al-Omar

Residents in Latakia and Hama in northern Syria are preparing for Russian air strikes and potential ground attacks. Intensive reconnaissance missions fill the air with the roar of plane engines for hours on end in the rural airspace of Latakia and Hama. Russian forces have already begun bombing opposition positions in Latakia, striking the US-supported […]

SyriaSource

Oct 13, 2015

ISIS’s Cup is Half Full

By Feras Hanoush

“Ali” is a former Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) fighter. Before joining ISIS, he was a university student known among his friends for his kindness and friendliness. His joining has bewildered his friends, especially since ISIS killed a close relative of his. His uncle said of him, “I was responsible for raising Ali. I know […]

Syria

UkraineAlert

Oct 12, 2015

Ukraine’s New Police Are an Expression of a “Civil” State

By Erica Marat

Almost two years after the Euromaidan demonstrations began, most Ukrainians agree that the pace of reforms has been largely disappointing. While many former civil-society activists hold key positions in the government and parliament, corruption continues to plague the country and state institutions cannot provide basic services. Amid the skepticism, one area where there is agreement […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Oct 12, 2015

Snapshots of Ukraine’s Five Hottest Elections

By Brian Mefford

Ukrainians go to the polls on October 25 to elect mayors and city councils. These local elections matter more than one might expect. The likely passage of a constitutional amendment on decentralization by parliament later this year will give the newly elected mayors and councils more autonomy and authority than ever before.

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Oct 12, 2015

A Bold and Optimistic Strategy for Europe

By Stephen Blank

US President Barack Obama recently derided critics of his foreign policies as offering merely mumbo-jumbo. Yet everyone can plainly see the administration’s shocking degree of across-the-board strategic incomprehension and incompetence in Europe and the Middle East. In fact, European Union diplomats publicly admit that confidence in US policies is plummeting throughout Europe. Therefore, I offer […]

Russia Ukraine
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Stavanger, Oct. 12, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 12, 2015

Secretary General: NATO Needs ‘Strong Forces’ to Prevent War

By Jens Stoltenberg, NATO

NATO’s deterrence is significant and it is real. If Turkey needs NATO’s help, NATO will be there.

Cybersecurity NATO
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Feb. 9, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 12, 2015

The Role of Egypt in Russia’s New Power Play in the Middle East

By Nicholas Varangis

In a GOP debate hosted by CNN, Senator Marco Rubio asserted that Russia is “trying to replace (the United States) as the single most important power broker in the Middle East.”

North Africa Russia
Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Vladimir Putin, and President Francois Hollande, Feb. 21, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 12, 2015

Can Diplomacy Save Ukraine?

By Lucas Della Ventura

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2014, NATO has been wrestling with its new relationship with a belligerent Moscow.

NATO Russia

MENASource

Oct 10, 2015

Libya’s Article 13: Disagreeing over the Political Agreement

By Azza K. Maghur

UN Special Envoy Bernardino Leon’s announcement on October 8 that Libyan parties had finally reached a political agreement in Skhirat on the composition of a new Government of National Accord (GNA) has energized many observers of Libyan politics. Yet, last minute amendments to the final draft of the agreement should raise some concern over its […]

Libya
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