Category: Blogs

US and Finland Sign Agreement to Increase Sharing of Classified Information

By the Department of State

From the Department of State:  Secretary of State Clinton and Foreign Minister Tuomioja today signed the U.S.-Finland General Security of Information Agreement. This marks a significant step in facilitating information sharing between the two countries. The Agreement covers all classified information passed between the two governments, and ensures that each country has appropriate and equal […]

Missile defense system passes another important test

By Jim Wolf, Reuters

From Jim Wolf, Reuters:  U.S. forces using a new Raytheon Co interceptor missile downed another missile in space in a high-stakes test of a shield built to thwart advancing capabilities of countries like North Korea and Iran. 

Top News: Islamists Call for Political Solutions to Parliament Dissolution

By Tarek Radwan

The Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafi Nour Party have objected to the one-month postponement of the lawsuit filed by MPs against the dissolution of the People’s Assembly. They called on political forces to negotiate a solution with the military council whereby Parliament is reinstated while elections for the one-third of sets reserved for […]

Assad declares Syria in a ‘state of war’

By Oliver Holmes, Reuters

An omen of how Syria’s conflict could spread

By the Editors of the Independent

Turkey’s Prudent Management Ends Syria Crisis

By Ross Wilson

Four days after Syria’s downing of a Turkish F-4 fighter aircraft, the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought the crisis to a close by securing NATO support, reporting its views to the UN Security Council, complaining formally to Damascus, and altering the rules of engagement along the 500-plus mile border with its neighbor […]

In the United States-Pakistan Impasse the Winner Is Russia

By Sarwar Kashmeri

The continuing impasse between the United States and Pakistan over the accidental killing by American forces of 24 Pakistani soldiers last November means Pakistani territory is off-limits for the evacuation of American and NATO military equipment from Afghanistan.

The Muslim Brotherhood: A Choice Between Politics or Revolution?

By Nancy Messieh

As Mohamed Morsi, the now former member of the Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), takes his place at the helm of the country as Egypt’s first democratically elected civilian president, the group finds itself, once again, straddling two very different tactics for achieving its goals: revolution and politics.