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MENASource

Feb 13, 2013

Egypt’s Mock Authoritarianism

By Zeinab Abul-Magd

Last month, after large-scale protests in the Suez Canal region, President Mohamed Morsi declared a state of emergency, imposing a curfew across three major cities in the area. Army tanks rolled into Suez, Port Said and Ismailia, to enforce Morsi’s decision. Instead, residents of these cities engaged in late night festivities in a willful, and […]

MENASource

Feb 13, 2013

Top News: US concerned over Egypt’s “climate of impunity”

By Egypt Source

The United States expressed concern on Tuesday about growing political polarization in its major ally Egypt and a "climate of impunity" over abuses by police and security forces in the most populous Arab nation.

NATOSource

Feb 13, 2013

Nearly 450 British military drones lost in Iraq and Afghanistan

By Nick Hopkins, Guardian

From Nick Hopkins, Guardian:  Almost 450 drones operated by the British military have crashed, broken down or been lost in action during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last five years, figures reveal.

Drones Technology & Innovation

New Atlanticist

Feb 12, 2013

Presidential Cyber Direction Looks Quite Familiar

By Jason Healey

 The actions in the president’s new executive order on cybersecurity are narrowly focused, best seen as small steps–the latest in a fifteen-year parade of five different White House documents across three presidencies.  These actions are worthwhile on their own, but are only a small step as executive orders do not create policy, just implement it […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

NATOSource

Feb 12, 2013

Obama approves $50 million to assist France in Mali

By AP

From AP:  The United States has been supporting the French military’s operations in northern Mali by providing refueling services for French forces and airlift support for French and Chadian forces.

NATOSource

Feb 12, 2013

Free trade agreement would strengthen U.S.-European strategic ties

By Editorial Board of the Washington Post

From Editorial Board of the Washington Post:  On Friday, the national leaders of the E.U.’s 27 member states expressed “support for a comprehensive trade agreement” with the United States, citing its potential to create jobs in a continent still struggling with high unemployment and debt.

European Union International Organizations

MENASource

Feb 12, 2013

At Last, Public Participation in Constitution-Making in Tunisia

By Duncan Pickard

The deplorable and tragic assassination of Chokri Belaid last week has emboldened the lines of battle in Tunisian politics. Rallies and counter-rallies have fallen along partisan divisions, between the largely secular opponents and Islamist supporters of the Ennahda-led government. Some secularists accuse Ennahda of orchestrating the assassination despite unequivocal condemnations by Ennahda leaders, and some […]

North Africa

New Atlanticist

Feb 12, 2013

European Willpower Better Than its Reputation

By Simona Kordosova

The US “pivot” to Asia, withdrawal of US forces from Europe, and lack of attention to the region in President Obama’s major visits and speeches suggest the United States no longer sees Europe as a worthy partner. However, the administration should think twice before writing it off as a strategic ally.

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Feb 12, 2013

Senior Israeli official: Turkey hurting NATO by undermining its ties with Israel

By Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post

From Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post:  Turkey continues to undermine Israel-NATO cooperation and Ankara should be clearly told this hurts the NATO alliance and is no way for one of its members to act, deputy head of the National Security Council Eran Lerman said on Monday. Lerman, speaking to the annual meeting in Jerusalem of the […]

NATOSource

Feb 12, 2013

Obama to announce 34,000 troops to return from Afghanistan

By Reuters

From Reuters:  President Barack Obama will announce in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that 34,000 troops – about half the U.S. force in Afghanistan – will return by early 2014, a senior administration official said.

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