Category: Blogs

EconSource: IMF Announces Staff-Level Agreement with Tunisia for 4th SBA Review

By EconSource

Follow the latest in economic news and developments about the Arab transition countries. 

Egypt’s Squeeze on Civil Society

Authoritarian governments have always found human rights groups, labor associations, and political organizations a thorn in the side of effective domination over the public sphere. In Egypt, the situation is no different.

Egypt’s Half-Hearted Gaza Initiative

By Khaled Dawoud

The most significant development in Egypt’s reaction to the latest round of fighting between Israel and Hamas, that left a heavy death toll among Palestinian civilians and forced millions of Israelis to hide in bunkers for a week so far, was how slow and neutral Cairo’s role appears to be.

Obama Widens Sanctions Against Russia

By Peter Baker, New York Times

President Obama escalated sanctions against Russia on Wednesday by targeting a series of large banks and energy and defense firms in what officials described as the most punishing measures to date for Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine.

The Kremlin’s Myth About Ukraine Militias Echoes in the Baltics

By James Rupert

A Diaspora Russian Declares That 500 Pro-Kremlin Fighters Could Break Up Latvia Latvia’s government and the world’s mainstream media may have been right to publicly ignore a Latvia-born Russian named Andrey Neronsky this week when he declared that “about 500 [Donbas-style] militiamen would be enough to end the existence of Latvia as a unified state.” […]

NATO Ramps Up Its War of Words With Russia

By Naftali Bendavid, Wall Street Journal

Russia’s comments on Ukraine are “pure fantasy,” include “ludicrous” claims, and show “either ignorance or dishonesty.” Moscow is also engaging in “misrepresentations of the facts” and “baseless attacks.”

Operation Atlantic Resolve Fact Sheet

By EUCOM

OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE The United States continues to demonstrate its commitment to the collective security of our NATO allies and support for our partners in Europe, in light of the on-going Russian intervention in Ukraine.

Top News: Assad Sworn in For New Seven-Year Term, Declares Victory Over “Fake Arab Spring”

By MENASource

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad was sworn in Wednesday for a new seven-year term, pledging to reclaim all Syrian land from insurgents and warning Western and Arab governments they will pay dearly for backing those who took up arms against him. In a triumphant speech delivered at a red carpet ceremony in Damascus, Assad branded the […]

Don’t Forget the Civilians in the Fight Against ISIS

By Sahr Muhammedally

In the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and associated Sunni armed opposition groups, the United States should ensure its security assistance to the embattled Iraqi government rests on clear commitment on civilian protection for all Iraqis.