Category: Blogs

Top News: Yemen warning closes UN offices in Sana’a

By MENASource

A warning of a possible attack in the part of Yemen’s capital where United Nations (UN) offices are located has prompted an order for staff to stay home on Thursday, a UN source said. “Staff of the UN mission and UN agencies have received instructions not to turn up for work on Thursday,” the source […]

Nathan Brown Speaks to EgyptSource about Egypt’s New Draft Constitution [Video]

By EgyptSource

In a series of short videos, Dr. Nathan Brown, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University spoke to EgyptSource about Egypt’s new draft constitution. Dr. Brown highlights how the 2013 draft constitution differs from its predecessor, comments on the role of state instutions and the judiciary in the draft, and finally […]

Hagel Warns Ukrainian Defense Minister Not to Use Military Forces Against Civilians

By Department of State

Today US Defense Secretary Hagel spoke by phone with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Pavlo Lebedyev.

Congress Avoids Clash on Iran Sanctions But Road Ahead Uncertain

By Barbara Slavin

Congress appears poised to give the Barack Obama administration some early Christmas gifts as it finishes its work for the year. A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House and Senate on Tuesday reached a budget compromise that, if passed by both bodies, would avert the threat of another government shutdown in early 2014. Meanwhile, a […]

Saving Syria’s Children

By Frederic C. Hof

Last night on December 11, 2013 Ambassador Frederic C. Hof delivered opening remarks at the US premier of BBC’s Panorama film Saving Syria’s Children hosted by the Embassy of the United Kingdom.

To Promote US Cybersecurity, Don’t Erect Borders in IT Procurement

By Maryam Cope

Wrapped up in last year’s Federal funding bill is a creeping policy seeking to improve cybersecurity in federal procurements of information technology (IT).  Since becoming law, however, this policy has done the opposite: it has threatened the health of the U.S. economy, particularly the job-creating tech sector, and negatively impacted the ability of federal agencies […]

EU-NATO: Playing at Defense

By Julian Lindley-French

 The European Union (EU) and NATO are in deep crisis. The EU is in trouble for at least three major reasons. First, EU is organized around Germany, which for understandable historical reasons trades down military power as it trades up economic and political influence. Second, Britain, one of the EU’s two serious military powers, is now […]

Ukraine Crisis in Tweets

Atlantic Council Vice President Damon Wilson shares his insightful comments and insider knowledge on the developing situation in Ukraine via Twitter. Below is a live feed of some of his tweets, mentions, and retweets.

Getting to Zero in the Middle East

By Bilal Y. Saab

As Syria dismantles its chemical weapons infrastructure and Iran places verifiable limitations on its nuclear program for the next six months and potentially longer, an opportunity for further progress on the elusive goal of ridding the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction (WMD) presents itself. While old challenges remain and new ones have […]