Category: Blogs

The Case for a Mixed Parliamentary System

By Khaled Saad

With Egypt’s marathon parliamentary electoral process now concluded, the country’s political forces are already debating how the soon-to-be drafted constitution should restructure the political system and recalibrate the balance of powers between the legislative and executive branches. Driving debates over the future of the political system are the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), […]

Top News: Parliament Drops Demand for Cabinet Reshuffle

By Mara Revkin

Plans to issue a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri’s government – initially spearheaded by the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Parity – appear to have been dropped following talks with the SCAF, in which participants including Parliamentary Speaker Saad al-Katatny agreed on the need for stability ahead of the presidential election.

Cameron And Obama Must Shore Up NATO For Age of Austerity

By Stephen J. Flanagan, AOLDefense

From Stephen J. Flanagan, AOLDefense:  When British Prime Minister David Cameron meets with President Obama this week, their discussions about Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran will dominate headlines.

U.S. dangles secret data for Russia missile shield approval

By Jim Wolf, Reuters

From Jim Wolf, Reuters:  The Obama administration is leaving open the possibility of giving Moscow certain secret data on U.S. interceptor missiles due to help protect Europe from any Iranian missile strike.

Russian official: No missile deal at NATO summit

By Vladimir Isachenkov, the AP

NATO general kidnapped in 1981 holds emotional reunion with liberators

By Philip Pullela, Reuters

From Philip Pullela, Reuters:  For 42 days three decades ago, U.S. General James Lee Dozier was the world’s most famous hostage and his captors, the Red Brigades, were Europe’s most feared and bloody terrorist organization.

Is Syria 2011 the Same As Spain 1936?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Is Syria’s civil war a prelude to a larger Mideast conflict that would involve Israel, Iran, the Arab Gulf countries minus Oman (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain) and Israel? Some knowledgeable military observers who have served or are serving in the Middle East say that the Arab Spring, which translated into chaos […]

Hagel Praises Obama on Syria; Chides GOP on Iran

By Barbara Slavin

Atlantic Council Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel, who co-chairs the Obama administration’s Intelligence Advisory Board, says the United States should offer Iran “face-saving ways” out of the nuclear crisis and let Arab countries to take the lead in ousting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.