Category: Blogs

NATO allies may lack sufficient precision bombs for Syria contingencies

By Zachary Fryer-Biggs, Defense News

Top News: Egypt’s National Salvation Front Calls for Protests Against Rigged Referendum

By Egypt Source

For an interactive map of the first round results from the referendum on the constitution (in Arabic) click here. For unofficial results from Ahram Online, click here. For an unofficial breakdown by Egypt Independent, click here.

Rasmussen: ‘I completely denounce’ Iran’s allegations that NATO’s Patriot missiles risk a world war

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

From Adrian Croft, Reuters:  NATO’s secretary-general on Monday rejected charges by Iran’s armed forces chief that the Western alliance was risking a world war with plans to put Patriot anti-missile systems near Turkey’s border with Syria, saying the move was purely defensive.

Pacific NATO?

By Julian Lindley-French

The Atlantic Alliance is about to enter a tumultuous period of change both in Europe and the wider world. How we all conceive of our place in that world will be critical to the Alliance.

Egypt’s Constitutional Referendum: An Overview

By Nervana Mahmoud

Following weeks of violence, casualties, allegations, and counter-allegations, Egyptians voted in the first leg of a referendum on an Islamist-backed draft constitution.   This is not just about a draft constitution; in a way it is a mandate about President Mohamed Morsi and his party, the Muslim Brotherhood, and their respective popularity or lack of […]

Iran says deployment of NATO Patriot missiles near Syria may start world war

By Dominic Evans, Reuters

NATO: Syrian Scuds landed near Turkish border

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

From Adrian Croft, Reuters:  Several Scud missiles fired at rebels by Syria have landed "fairly close" to the Turkish border, NATO’s top military commander said on Friday

SACEUR: Patriot deployment shows NATO allies standing together

By James Stavridis, Allied Command Operations

From James Stavridis, Allied Command Operations:  Given the continuing turbulence in Syria, the NATO nations — acting upon the request of member Ally Turkey — have decided to deploy purely defensive Patriot missiles to the Turkish-Syrian border.

219: A Detailed Cultural Translation of Egypt’s Draft Constitution’s Most Controversial Article

By Ramy Yaacoub

Author’s Disclaimer: The author is neither a lawyer nor a theological scholar, if someone can offer a better translation for the theological terms please step forward. There are many articles within Egypt’s draft constitution up for a referendum on December 15 that raise suspicion and are points of contention for a fairly large segment of […]

Egypt’s Draft Constitution: A Round-Up

As Egyptians gear up to go to the polls on Saturday to vote on a draft constitution that has been the subject of fierce debate, voting has been underway in Egyptian consulates and embassies around the world. Opponents of President Mohamed Morsi and the draft constitution are now encouraging voters to go to the polls […]