Middle East

Behind Iraq’s Selection of a New Speaker

By Ramzy Mardini

With the election of a new speaker of parliament earlier this week, the Iraqis have begun the formal process of forming its next government. On Tuesday, Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish parliamentarians appointed a new speaker of parliament, bringing them one step closer to determining the fate of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Nevertheless, the procedure had […]

Point/Counterpoint: Iran Nuclear Talks

Atlantic Council experts Barbara Slavin and Matthew Kroenig discussed on July 17 what’s at stake in the most recent extension to the Iran nuclear talks.

Egypt’s Squeeze on Civil Society

Authoritarian governments have always found human rights groups, labor associations, and political organizations a thorn in the side of effective domination over the public sphere. In Egypt, the situation is no different.

Egypt’s Half-Hearted Gaza Initiative

By Khaled Dawoud

The most significant development in Egypt’s reaction to the latest round of fighting between Israel and Hamas, that left a heavy death toll among Palestinian civilians and forced millions of Israelis to hide in bunkers for a week so far, was how slow and neutral Cairo’s role appears to be.

Don’t Forget the Civilians in the Fight Against ISIS

By Sahr Muhammedally

In the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and associated Sunni armed opposition groups, the United States should ensure its security assistance to the embattled Iraqi government rests on clear commitment on civilian protection for all Iraqis.