Category: Blogs

Syria: Blackberry Diplomacy

By Frederic C. Hof

A friendly discussion about Syria with a former US State Department colleague gave rise to a point I will not soon forget. “Fred, there’s no time for policy deliberations about Syria or anyplace else. We live in the era of Blackberry diplomacy. We react and we improvise as best we can.”

Time for a NATO Secretary General from Canada

By Stephen Saideman, Globe and Mail

From Stephen Saideman, Globe and Mail:  Much of the news coming out of Ottawa these days is focused on the impending cabinet shuffle. Similarly, in Europe, there is much discussion about who will be the next secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Profile: Hazem el-Beblawi, Egypt’s Interim Prime Minister

By Amira Mikhail

Since Mohamed Morsi’s ouster on July 3, the Egyptian political debate has centered on the appointment of the interim prime minister. Many names were floated over the last few days including, National Salvation Front leader Mohamed ElBaradei, founding member of the Social Democratic Party, Ziad Bahaa-Eldin, and former finance minister Samir Radwan. The Salafi Nour […]

Cyber Defense Moves to the Center of NATO Operations

By Julian Hale, Defense News

Top News: United States ‘Cautiously Encouraged’ by Timeline for Egypt Vote

In a press briefing on Tuesday, the United States said it was "cautiously encouraged" by a timeline proposed by Egypt’s interim rulers for elections to replace ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Washington also again walked a fine line on the issue of whether it would brand the military takeover as a "coup"—a move that under US law […]

Europe’s Unresolved Problems in the Balkans

By Branko Milanovic, Globe and Mail

From Branko Milanovic, Globe and Mail:  Now that Croatia has become the 28th member of the European Union, there is plenty of talk that the European house is “full” and that no more members are desirable. It is undoubtedly tempting to keep the other Balkan countries on the sidelines of Europe.

Top News: Syrian Naval Base Explosion Points to Israeli Raid

Foreign forces destroyed advanced Russian anti-ship missiles in Syria last week, rebels said Tuesday—a disclosure that appeared to point to an Israeli raid.