Category: Blogs

US General: Russian Military Presence in Ukraine Irrefutable

By AP

The commander of U.S. troops in Europe has dismissed claims by Russia that it is staying out of the Ukraine conflict, speaking of “clear and irrefutable evidence” to the contrary.

Nuclear Expert Outlines India’s ‘Command and Control’ Policy

By Larry Luxner

Retired Brigadier Arun Sahgal, one of India’s top experts on nuclear policy, reasserted his country’s “no first use” doctrine in a June 23 presentation to the Atlantic Council. Sahgal, Director of the New Delhi-based Forum for Strategic Initiative, doesn’t represent official thinking, but he spoke from thirty-six years of experience in the Indian Army. “India’s […]

Asian, Latin American Diplomats Debate TPP as Trade Bill Advances in Congress

With US lawmakers on the verge of granting the White House fast-track authority to negotiate complex free-trade accords, diplomats representing four of Washington’s eleven allies in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership—Chile, Japan, Peru, and Singapore—gathered June 23 at the Atlantic Council to discuss TPP’s implications. The event, sponsored by the council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, […]

Why the West Should Give Ukraine’s New Spymaster a Chance

By John E. Herbst

Late June in Kyiv can be beautiful. With clear skies, temperatures peaking in the high 70s, the natural beauty of the city and its citizens, it can be easy to forget that the country is at war. In part that is a result of the country’s success. A year ago, few would have predicted that […]

Top News: ISIS Storms Kobani and Hasaka in New Offensive

By MENASource

Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) fighters launched simultaneous attacks against the Syrian government in Hasaka and Kurdish militias in Kobani overnight. A Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) spokesman said ISIS entered Kobani from the west in five cars, deceptively flying the flag of the Free Syrian Army and then opened fire.

NATO to Review Policy on Nuclear Weapons Because Russian Rhetoric is Lowering Nuclear Threshold

By Ewen MacAskill, Guardian

Nato, in an echo of the cold war, is preparing to re-evaluate its nuclear weapons strategy in response to growing tension with Russia over Ukraine, sources at the organisation have said.

Top News: ISIS-Inspired Video Shows Man Killed for Alleged Cooperation with Police

By EgyptSource

A Cairo-based terrorist group, called Revolutionary Punishment published on Wednesday a video depicting the killing of a man in Helwan, who was murdered for cooperating with the security services against protesters.

EconSource: Saudi Arabia, France Sign Billions in Ship, Plane Deals

By EconSource

Saudi Arabia and France agreed Wednesday to sign $12 billion of deals, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubair said during a landmark visit by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Paris.

Hey, Remember Me? It’s Europe.

By Ariel Cohen

The Transatlantic Alliance is in Trouble  “We lived next to Russia for 500 years—listen to what we have to say,” Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said at the Bratislava Global Security Forum on June 20. He’s right. The West needs to pay attention and achieve strategic clarity in Europe and beyond before it’s too late. There […]

CPJ Says Imprisonment of Journalists in Egypt at “All-Time High”

By EgyptSource

There are at least sixteen journalists imprisoned in Egypt in relation to their reporting, according to a special report released Thursday by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Another two, the report says, have been released pending investigation.