Category: Blogs

Presidential Pardons Leave Many Dissatisfied

By Khaled Dawoud

When news of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s plan to pardon prisoners convicted on charges of breaking Egypt’s protest law leaked prior to the official announcement, expectations ran high. The official announcement on June 17 revealed that 165 prisoners, mostly young men, would be released, with unconfirmed promises from unnamed presidential sources that more were to […]

Top News: At Least Twenty-Seven Dead in Sousse Terror Attack

By MENASource

At least twenty-seven people, including foreign tourists, were killed when at least one gunman opened fire on a Tunisian beachside hotel in the popular resort of Sousse on Friday, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.

Top News: Egypt Issues Scathing Statement on US State Department Human Rights Report

By EgyptSource

The US Department of State issued its 2014 Human Rights Report on Thursday. The Egypt report identifies the country’s most significant human rights issues as “excessive use of force by security forces, including unlawful killings and torture; the suppression of civil liberties, including societal and government restrictions on freedoms of expression and the press and […]

US Urges NATO Allies to Harden Cyber Defenses Due to Russian Threat

By Reuters, Stars and Stripes, and CCDCOE

From Phil Stewart, Reuters:  U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter urged NATO allies on Wednesday to strengthen their cyber defenses, a senior U.S. defense official said, citing an advanced threat from Russia.

Latest Pew Study on America’s Global Image Reveals Some Surprises

By Larry Luxner

Africans generally love the United States, as do most of India’s 1.3 billion people, but Russians aren’t thrilled with US foreign policy, and Israelis—although they consider America their strongest ally—simply don’t trust President Barack Obama very much. People worldwide, however, generally support US military efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), even […]

Yemen’s Geneva Epitaph

By Adam Simpson and Jordan Lesser-Roy

The failure of Yemen’s UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva that began on June 15 is an unfortunate—but expected—result. Given the scope of the looming humanitarian crisis, understanding the recent derailment is critical to preventing Yemen from becoming a disaster that overtakes even the carnage in Syria.

EconSource: Iraqi Kurds Seek to Attract Investors Through Bond Sale

By EconSource

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is planning to raise cash through its first ever bond sale. The bond seeks to fill a gaping hole in the KRG’s finances due to weaker oil-sale revenues amid an increasingly costly battle with the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL).

Time for Sweden to Join NATO

By Erik Brattberg & Henrik Breitenbauch, American Interest

For Sweden, NATO’s recent reinforcements in the Baltic Sea region are of course a welcome development, as they contribute to regional stability.

US Missile Defense Systems Must Adapt to Emerging High-Tech Threats

New dangers abound, from Russia to Iran to Asia-Pacific, warns Gen. James Cartwright Growing technological sophistication by countries and terrorist groups hostile to the United States are forcing the Pentagon to change long-held views about missile defense, said Gen. James E. Cartwright, Former Vice Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The landscape has […]

TTIP Action | June 25

By Global Business & Economics Program

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R, WI) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi (R, OH) joined House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) for the enrollment of trade promotion authority legislation. Pictured along with them are Reps. Pete Sessions (R, TX), Ron Kind (D, WI), Jim Costa (D, CA), and Mike Quigley (D, […]