Category: Blogs

Top News: Egypt Publicly Seeking to Monitor Social Media

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s interior ministry has asked foreign technology firms to help it monitor social media websites to prevent crime and track down terrorists, officials said on Monday. Seven foreign firms have offered proposals for monitoring social media websites, an interior ministry official said. 

Russia Announces Live Fire Missile Exercise During Obama Visit to Poland

By ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti. and RT

From ITAR-TASS:  Russian military forces will hold live fire drills of missile systems Iskander-M and will test-launch missiles from bombers within the war games planned in missile formations in the Western Military District

Indirectly Aiding Hezbollah?

By MENASource

Is the United States indirectly helping Hezbollah by providing aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)? US assistance—in excess of $1 billion since 2006—has been directed towards building the capacity of the Lebanese military as an independent institution, moderating the tension between the Shia militant group Hezbollah and Sunni rivals. But the aid relationship is […]

Is the Crisis in Ukraine Pushing Sweden Towards NATO?

The crisis in Ukraine, as well as increased tensions in the Baltic Sea region, has stoked the public debate on security and defense in Sweden. On May 26, the Institute of International Affairs brought Nordic, European, and US perspectives together for a discussion on the future of Swedish defense cooperation and specifically its relationship with […]

Syria: Keeping it Simple

By Frederic C. Hof

The complexity of Syria’s ongoing crisis and confusion over what to do about it should not obscure the choice facing the United States, its allies and its partners.

EconSource: Egypt waters down stock market tax after bourse drops sharply

By EconSource

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

The Kurds and the Future of Assad

By Wladimir van Wilgenburg

President Bashar al-Assad’s recent victories in Aleppo, Homs, and Damascus could pose a threat to Kurdish gains in the future. In the run-up to the Syrian presidential elections taking place on June 3, clashes increased between Kurds and government. If the stalemate continues, the Kurds will benefit, but if one side wins—either Assad, or the […]

Russia Allows – or Organizes – Chechen Fighters to Reinforce the Secessionist War in Ukraine

By James Rupert

Chechen Militiamen Talk to Western Journalists About Their Mission It’s clear this week that Russian government is allowing or actively organizing an unknown number of battle-hardened Russian fighters from Chechnya and nearby regions to reinforce the Russian-led militias battling to seize control of two provinces in southeastern Ukraine. The entry of fighters from Russia’s North […]

France Might Withhold 2nd Mistral Ship From Russia

By Pierre Tran, Defense News

French defense officials are exploring ideas to avoid delivering a second helicopter carrier to Russia, including looking for an alternative client for the Sevastopol, analysts and an industry executive said.