Category: Blogs

Erdogan’s Self-Inflicted Wounds

By Ross Wilson

In soccer, an “own goal” is scored when a player accidentally hits the ball into his own net. The poor handling by Turkish authorities of demonstrations in Istanbul’s Taksim Square that spilled over to Ankara, Izmir and cities all over the country constitutes an own goal that now undermines the political prospects of Prime Minister […]

The Consequences of a Repressive NGO Law

By Nancy Messieh

Egypt’s draft NGO law has undergone several iterations, the latest of which President Mohamed Morsi submitted to the Shura Council. The law has provoked a significant local and international uproar. Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights (together with almost 40 other local organizations), and UN High Commissioner for Human […]

What’s Russia Doing in Syria and Why

By Rajan Menon

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has killed some 80,000 of his citizens and driven another 1.7 million into neighboring countries. Unsurprisingly, he has few foreign friends these days. But two have played a pivotal part in his survival: Iran and Russia.

Latvia Approves Proposal to Host New NATO Center of Excellence

By Sargs.LV

From Sargs.LV:  On May 13 Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia approved a report on the creation of the NATO Center of Excellence for Strategic Communication in Latvia.

Defense Ministers to Discuss NATO’s Cyber Defenses

By Jerome Rivet, AFP

From Jerome Rivet, AFP:  Defense ministers from NATO’s 28 member states meet on Tuesday with cyber-defence top of the agenda, amid concerns about the threat posed by increasing cyber-attacks, many blamed on China. “The challenge evolves all the time, probably (much faster) than any other type of threat we face at the moment,” said one […]

Merkel: German Military Unlikely to Become Part of European Force

By Spiegel

From Spiegel:  Excerpt from interview of German Chancellor Angela Merkel by Spiegel.

Hagel and NATO Defense Ministers to Discuss Training Libyan Security Forces

By David Alexander, Reuters

From David Alexander, Reuters:  NATO defense ministers concerned about the growing presence of al Qaeda-linked rebels in southern Libya will this week discuss the possibility of training Libyan security forces, U.S. defense officials said on Monday.

Top News: East Libya Group Declares Autonomy

The leader of a political group in Libya’s oil-rich Cyrenaica province declared it a self-governing region in a speech on Saturday, evidence of growing pressure for a new constitution to adopt a federal structure.

Libya Asks NATO to Help Build Security Sector

By Ali Zeidan, NATO

From Ali Zeidan, NATO:  Thank you to NATO for the important role it has played in protecting civilians in 2011 as of the beginning of the operation in March until the end of the operation in October.

Top News: Egypt Parliament Ruled Illegal, But to Stay On

The Shura Council and the Constituent Assembly were formed unconstitutionally according to a ruling of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) on Sunday. According to the ruling, the Shura Council will be dissolved after a new House of Representatives is formed. The constitution will also remain in effect.