Content

MENASource

Dec 8, 2014

What King Abdullah Gets Right and Wrong about Islamic Extremism

By Richard LeBaron

King Abdullah had a forthright conversation with Charlie Rose last Thursday about the need for the Islamic world to take ownership of the task of confronting extremism that has besieged the Middle East. His analysis and general approach to solutions was sensible, with a lot of detail hopefully to be filled in soon, in coordination […]

MENASource

Dec 8, 2014

Top News: US and Yemeni Raid on al-Qaeda Unable to Save Hostages

By MENASource

Thirteen people, including a woman, child, a local al-Qaeda leader, an American journalist, and a South African preacher, were killed Sunday when US-led forces fought Islamist militants in a failed rescue mission in Yemen.

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2014

Forget the South China Sea: Taiwan Could Be Asia’s Next Big Security Nightmare

By Robert A. Manning

Forget the South China Sea. The results of Taiwan’s local elections last week, still reverberating in Beijing, are more likely than not to propel Taiwan’s ascension to the status of No.1 security problem in Asia over the coming two to three years.

China
ISAF Commander General John F. Campbell, Dec. 8, 2014

NATOSource

Dec 8, 2014

US, NATO end Afghan combat command after thirteen years

By Lynne O'Donnell, AP

The U.S. and NATO closed their combat command in Afghanistan on Monday, more than 13 years after invading the country in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks to target al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. . . .

Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force

MENASource

Dec 8, 2014

Top News: Morsi’s Defense Pushes for Charges to be Dismissed after Alleged Leaks

By EgyptSource

The defense of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi requested Saturday in a court hearing over espionage charges that leaked recordings of top post-3 July leaders be investigated for their authenticity, in hope that charges might be dropped against the ousted president.

MENASource

Dec 8, 2014

Is Assad a Stabilizing Factor?

By Frederic C. Hof

As discussion intensifies over the possibility of the United States and Turkey establishing a protected zone in northern Syria, apologists for the Assad regime deploy the usual array of arguments: beware the slippery slope to invasion and occupation; do nothing until the Syrian opposition overcomes its dysfunction and presents an attractive alternative to the regime; […]

Syria

MENASource

Dec 8, 2014

The Week in Egypt [December 8, 2014]

By Shiyun Lu

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 8, 2014

EconSource: Egypt’s Foreign Reserves Fall to $15.88 Billion

By EconSource

According to Egypt’s Central Bank, Egypt registered the first foreign reserves decline in six months. The country’s foreign currency reserves fell to $15.88 billion in November from $16.91 billion the previous month. In November, Egypt had repaid a $2.5 billion central bank deposit to Qatar, a move which some economist had warned would negatively impact […]

MENASource

Dec 8, 2014

A Legal Look into the Libyan Supreme Court Ruling

By Azza K. Maghur

Shortly after the newly elected Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) convened in the eastern city of Tobruk in August 2014, two constitutional claims were brought before the Libyan Supreme Court (LSC).

Libya

Global Trade And The Americas

Dec 5, 2014

TTIP Action | December 2

By Global Business & Economics Program

  Donald Tusk Takes Office as President of the European Council“Both we and the Americans are responsible for the future of our relations. The year ahead will be crucial.”On December 1, former prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk replaced Herman van Rompuy as the President of the European Council. At the handover ceremony, he stressed […]

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs