Category: Blogs

Content

MENASource

Oct 17, 2015

Egypt’s NGOs Lack Funding to Monitor Elections

By Ahmed Ateyya

It is 10 pm, and Saeed Abdelhafez, head of the Dialogue Forum for Development and Human Rights, is on a seven-hour train ride to the Upper Egypt governorate of Sohag, where he is training volunteers to monitor elections. 

Elections North Africa

New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2015

The European Union Shows Turkey its Hand

By Sarah Bedenbaugh

At the European Union summit on Oct. 15, European leaders announced with much fanfare an EU-Turkey joint action plan designed to help stem the flow of refugees through Turkey to Europe. In exchange for Turkey’s cooperation with the EU on migration, EU leaders agreed to provide Turkey with funds (in an amount still to be […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2015

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Heads to Washington

By Ashish Kumar Sen

But it’s the military that calls the shots in Pakistan, says former US official Though US President Barack Obama will meet Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the White House on Oct. 22 in an effort aimed at rekindling a peace process in Afghanistan, it is the military that really calls the shots in the […]

Afghanistan China

SyriaSource

Oct 16, 2015

Civil Society and the Future of Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

No one can look at the horrors consuming Syria today without being tempted to think that the country is finished. Some who yield to this temptation try to shoehorn their feelings into a specific historical context, often portraying Sykes-Picot as an original sin requiring expiation in the form of new national boundaries. Others tend to […]

Syria

MENASource

Oct 16, 2015

Tunisia’s Nobel Peace Prize Does Not Mean All is Well

By Ikram Ben Said

The Nobel Committee awarded the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet the peace prize on October 9 for its role in navigating the country’s turbulent political transition. This date will always remain historic in Tunisia, a testament to the power of inclusive dialogue and the resilience of the Tunisian people and in a region characterized with chaos […]

North Africa

SyriaSource

Oct 16, 2015

Syria: A Welcome but Incomplete Shift in US Strategy against ISIS

By Faysal Itani

The US-Kurdish alliance to dislodge the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) from Syria has been successful only inasmuch as US and Kurdish interests align—the United States wants local partners who will fight ISIS; the Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG) will oblige as long as they can reclaim their own territories. However, the YPG is unwilling […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2015

Rethinking the US’ Strategy on ISIS

By Alejandro Alvarez

As Islamist groups continue to gain ground and Russia and Iran become involved in the Syrian conflict, it’s time for the United States to rethink its strategy to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a panel of experts at the Atlantic Council agreed on Oct. 15. Bilal Y. Saab, Resident Senior Fellow […]

Syria
Su-24 fighter bomber, Sept. 26, 2009

NATOSource

Oct 16, 2015

Russia’s Low-Tech Bombing Campaign in Syria Prone to Inflict More Collateral Damage

By Paul McLeary, Foreign Policy

[T]he majority of Russian strikes [in Syria] have used older “dumb” bombs that can’t actually be guided to their intended targets — and are not guaranteed to come anywhere close to hitting them.

Russia Syria
Turkish F-16, June 12, 2014

NATOSource

Oct 16, 2015

Survey: Turks Reluctant to Use Force to Defend NATO Allies

By Jacob Poushter, Pew Research Center

Turks are hesitant to live up to their Article 5 obligation to come to the aid of another NATO country if it is attacked.

NATO Security & Defense

MENASource

Oct 16, 2015

Top News: Obama Administration’s Backing of Saudi-Led Coalition May Violate US Law

By MENASource

In response to increasing air strikes committed by the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi rebels, Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, has said that the US-backing of the coalition may potentially violate US law.

Load More