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The latest pieces from MENASource:

Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

Content

MENASource

Oct 10, 2014

Is Egypt Hurting or Helping Libya?

By EgyptSource

As Egypt simultaneously rejects foreign intervention in Libya’s internal affairs and inches ever closer into a partnership of assistance with its neighbor to the west, announcing its plans to train Libyan forces to fight terrorism. Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni’s recent visit to Cairo has served to further cement this partnership between an anti-Islamist Egyptian […]

Libya North Africa

In the News

Oct 10, 2014

Mardini on Federalism in Iraq

By Ramzy Mardini

The Associated Press quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on attempts by Iraq’s new government to empower the country’s local and provincial governments:

Iraq

MENASource

Oct 9, 2014

Egypt and Libya: A Fatal Embrace?

By Karim Mezran

The stalemate emerging from the armed political conflict in Libya today suggests that neither the Islamist-backed Operation Dawn nor the more secular Operation Dignity movements have the capacity to dominate the other.

Libya North Africa

Press Release

Oct 9, 2014

US Yemen Counterterrorism and Drone Policy Shortsighted, Undermines US National Security Interests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:Samia Yakub202.769.0724press@atlanticcouncil.org Despite President Obama’s assertion that the United States’ counterterrorism strategy targeting militants in Yemen and Somalia provide a “successful” model to be emulated in its fight against ISIS, two new Atlantic Council publications assess the use of drones and the US strategy in Yemen, and argue this approach is shortsighted […]

Yemen

In the News

Oct 9, 2014

Ricciardone and Hof on Buffer Zone on Turkish-Syrian Border

By Francis Ricciardone, Frederic Hof

The New York Times quotes VP and Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone and Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on Turkey’s push for a buffer zone along its border with Syria:

Syria Turkey

Issue Brief

Oct 9, 2014

A blueprint for a comprehensive US counterterrorism strategy in Yemen

By Barbara K. Bodine and Danya Greenfield

A new Atlantic Council issue brief argues that current US counterterrorism efforts in Yemen fail to address deeper structural issues that foment extremism and destabilize Yemen’s central government. In “A Blueprint for a Comprehensive US Counterterrorism Strategy in Yemen,” former US Ambassador to Yemen Barbara K. Bodine and Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East […]

Yemen

MENASource

Oct 9, 2014

Cairo Court to Consider Facebook, Twitter Ban in Egypt

A Cairo administrative court announced on Thursday that it will hear a lawsuit calling for a ban in Egypt on Facebook and Twitter. The first session in the trial will take place on November 18. The lawsuit, filed by lawyer Mohamed Hamed Salem, calls for the social networking sites to be blocked until they obtain […]

North Africa

Issue Brief

Oct 9, 2014

Do drone strikes in Yemen undermine US security objectives?

By Danya Greenfield and Stefanie A. Hausheer

Despite President Obama’s assertion that the United States’ counterterrorism strategy targeting militants in Yemen and Somalia provide a “successful” model to be emulated in its fight against ISIS, a new Atlantic Council issue brief assesess the use of drones and the US strategy in Yemen, and argues this approach is shortsighted and threatens US national […]

Yemen

MENASource

Oct 9, 2014

Kobani, Kurds, Turks, and Airstrikes: A Fine Kettle Of Fish

By Frederic C. Hof

Although the expression “a fine kettle of fish” has been around for hundreds of years to characterize a confused, awkward, messy, and even intractable situation, it was revived in the first half of the 20th century by comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

Syria

In the News

Oct 9, 2014

Mezran: Libya on the Brink

By Karim Mezran

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Karim Mezran cowrites for the Hill on the recent turning point in the ongoing crisis in Libya:

Libya

Experts