Category: Blogs

Turkey to hold off on missile-defense choice

By Ümit Enginsoy, Hurriyet Daily News

US concerned over political shake up in Romania

By the Department of State

From the Department of State:  We are concerned about recent developments occurring in Romania, our NATO Ally and partner, which threaten democratic checks and balances and weaken independent institutions, such as the courts.

Clinton slams Russia, China over Syria

By Elise Labott, CNN Security Clearance

From Elise Labott, CNN Security Clearance:  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lambasted Russia and China on Friday for blocking efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

NATO signs deal for multinational Global Hawks system

By Ben Iannotta and Tom Withington, Defense News

From Ben Iannotta and Tom Withington, Defense News:  NATO’s 2011 air war over Libya was fresh on the minds of NATO officials in Chicago when they signed a $1.7 billion agreement with Northrop Grumman for five radar-equipped Global Hawks to be known as the Alliance Ground Surveillance system.

Why the euro is breaking the European dream

By Charlemagne, the Economist

From Charlemagne, the Economist:  A new report by a group of prominent economists—sponsored by Jacques Delors, the former president of the European Commission, and Helmut Schmidt, the former German chancellor—describes in telling detail how the euro is destroying itself.

Supporting Human Rights in Russia Should Be a Core Strategic Interest for US

By Anna Borshchevskaya

On Tuesday, July 10, the Russian Duma will vote on ratification of the agreement for Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). Policymakers in both countries view Russia’s entry as a foregone conclusion. The question before Congress therefore is how best to pressure Russia to respect human rights following its repeal of the Jackson-Vanik […]

The Challenges Facing Egypt’s Presidency

By Reham Mokbel

Egypt has finally taken its first step towards democracy, by electing Mohamed Morsi as president, following a long period of uncertainty and increased mistrust of the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC), fueled by their decision to postpone the election results.

Top News: Egypt’s Morsi Draws up Commission to Look into Protesters’ Deaths

By Tarek Radwan

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi issued a decree on Thursday evening calling for the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the killing of unarmed anti-regime protesters from last year’s Tahrir Square uprising until the military’s handover of executive authority late last month. 

Angela Merkel, Europe’s Weary Mountaineer

By Frederick Kempe

To help illustrate Germany’s historic dilemma as it calculates the risks of rescuing Europe, Ronald Freeman, a London banker friend, conjured up an image of Chancellor Angela Merkel as a weary mountaineer leading a perilous rock climb. Still some distance from safety, Merkel alternates between shouting instructions to those hanging behind her on a taut […]

NATO chief warns Syria to avoid escalation with Turkey

By AFP

From AFP:  NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Syria Thursday to find a political solution to the country’s crisis and warned against any new incidents with Turkey after a plane was shot down.