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MENASource

Feb 18, 2015

Iraq’s National Guard and the Perils of Decentralization

By Adam Simpson

Iraq’s Council of Ministers promulgated a long-gestating law to create a National Guard on February 3. The proposal would create local fighting forces comprised of militias answerable to respective provincial governments and the prime minister.

Iraq

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2015

Egyptian Airstrikes Will Not Defeat ISIS in Libya, Says Mezran

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analyst says military intervention could doom UN effort to build a national unity government Egyptian airstrikes in Libya have opened the door for similar intervention by other countries in the region and could doom a United Nations-brokered effort to build a national unity government in the North African nation, according to Atlantic Council […]

Italy Libya

MENASource

Feb 18, 2015

The Debate over Gamal Mubarak

By Sonia Farid

The release of Alaa and Gamal Mubarak was seen as a staggering blow to the January 25 Revolution by its supporters. While the Mubarak brothers were released on bail in accordance with article 143 of the Criminal Procedures Law, which states that preventive detention should not exceed 18 months, the uneasiness with which the ruling […]

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 18, 2015

Top News: Western Powers Stress Need for ‘Political Solution’ in Libya; US Respects Egypt’s Decision to Defend Itself

By EgyptSource

Western powers stressed on Tuesday the need for a political solution to the crisis in Libya, apparently distancing themselves from calls by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for military intervention in the north African state.

MENASource

Feb 18, 2015

Top News: Italy Warns of Libya Threat as Pressure for Action Grows

By MENASource

Italy called for urgent international action to halt Libya’s slide into chaos and said it was ready to help monitor a ceasefire and train local armed forces. The UN Security Council is set to meet today to discuss the violence and a growing fear of local Libyan militias allying themselves with the Islamic State.

UkraineAlert

Feb 18, 2015

Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Battle Slogs Ahead

By Olena Tregub

New Prosecutor Briefly Arrests an Oligarch; Anti-Corruption Bureau Seeks a Director The Ukrainian campaign to actually begin cleaning up Europe’s most corrupt government and economy is progressing more slowly than many Ukrainians have demanded. But the past week showed some movement in two critical government agencies: the prosecutor general’s office and the nascent National Anti-Corruption […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Feb 18, 2015

Amid the ‘Cease-Fire,’ Russian Forces Win a Battle in Ukraine

By New Atlanticist

Kyiv Forced into New Retreat; US, Europe Must Increase Support, Atlantic Council Analysts Say At midday February 18, three-and-a-half days beyond the designated hour for a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, fighting was continuing in the strategic city of Debaltseve, where Russian forces continue to pound a nearly surrounded Ukrainian contingent that may still number in […]

Eastern Europe Russia

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Strong Egypt: A Party in the Middle

By Jayson Casper

On an uncontested electoral list at the Strong Egypt Party’s first general conference on February 13, Abdel Moneim Aboul-Fotouh was confirmed as president along with his running mate for general-secretary, Ahmed Fawzi. But this was the least remarkable event of the day. Their acceptance speeches set the tone for the controversy to follow.

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Syria: Is Assad Crucial to Defusing the Conflict?

By Frederic C. Hof

In a word: yes. Bashar al-Assad is absolutely crucial to defusing the conflict in Syria. United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura attracted considerable controversy and criticism for having stated the obvious.

Syria
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and British Prime Minister David Cameron, Sept. 4, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 17, 2015

David Cameron Will Encourage Britain’s Enemies If He Cuts Defense Spending, Warn Former NATO Chiefs

By Ben Riley-Smith, Telegraph

David Cameron will embolden Vladimir Putin and Islamic terrorists if he reneges on a commitment to spend two per cent of GDP on defence, two former Nato heads have warned.

NATO Russia
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