Category: Blogs

Paradigms and National Security

By Derek Reveron

To make sense of our complex world, we rely on paradigms to offer insights to solve problems. After World War II, for example, the dominant paradigm was the Cold War, which envisioned a world divided between free and unfree or democratic-capitalist and authoritarian-socialist countries. The paradigm prevented global cooperation and miscalculations almost led to war. While […]

Obama signs 2013 budget bill, funds MEADS missile defense

By Roger Runningen & Brian Faler, Bloomberg

From Roger Runningen & Brian Faler, Bloomberg:  President Barack Obama signed into law a catchall government-funding bill that ends the 2013 budget fight and locks in $85 billion in spending cuts he opposes. With Obama’s signature yesterday, day-to-day operations of cabinet departments and federal agencies will continue without interruption through Sept. 30, the end of […]

Top News: Liberals, Islamists at Odds Over Controversial Protest Law

By Egypt Source

A new law governing protests, approved in principle by the Shura Council Tuesday, has sparked anger among the opposition’s political forces. Opponents, comprised mostly of liberal, secular and revolutionary youth groups, criticized the bill, saying it restricts Egyptians’ right to demonstrate peacefully. Meanwhile, the law’s supporters, who are mainly Islamist factions, said the legislation is […]

Syrian opposition leader: U.S. rebuff of Patriot request helps Assad

By Yara Bayoumy and William Maclean, Reuters

White House and NATO chief rule out using Patriot missiles to support Syrian rebels

By AFP

From AFP:  The White House said Tuesday that NATO would not provide Patriot missile batteries to protect rebel strongholds in Syria, following a request from opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib.

Video: Opposition leader asks U.S. and NATO to use Patriot missiles to protect northern Syria

By Sami Aboudi and Yara Bayoumy, Reuters

From Sami Aboudi and Yara Bayoumy, Reuters:  Speaking at an annual gathering of Arab leaders in the Gulf state of Qatar, Moaz Alkhatib said he had asked U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for American forces to help defend rebel-controlled northern parts of Syria with Patriot surface-to-air missiles

Most Australian troops to leave Afghanistan this year

By Rod McGuirk, AP

From Rod McGuirk, AP:  Most Australian troops in Afghanistan will be home by the end of the year when the international military base at Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province closes, Defense Minister Stephen Smith said Tuesday.

Italy’s foreign minister resigns over return of marines to India

By AFP

From AFP:  Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said Tuesday he was resigning in protest after two Italian marines were ordered to return to India to face murder charges.