Middle East

Making Sense of the Geneva II Syria Peace Talks

Following the rancorous opening of the Geneva II peace talks, and amid competing proposals and counter-proposals by the delegations of the Syrian government and the opposition, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East convened a panel of experts on January 28, 2014 to parse the talks to date and to forecast possible outcomes. Ambassador […]

US Should Challenge European Allies with ‘Frank Talk’ about Defense

By Clemens Wergin, International New York Times

In recent decades, many European states have largely outsourced their security to the United States, which provided a defensive umbrella and protected global trade routes vital for European commerce and energy supplies.

The Collapse of the Phrase ‘Constitutional Pragmatism’

By Amr Hamzawy

Some of the political groups, parties and public personalities that raised the banner of democracy and supported the constitutional draft issued by the appointed Committee of 50 worked to encourage participation in the recent referendum, calling on citizens to vote ‘yes.’ As part of this campaign, they employed a hollow and misleading phrase: ‘constitutional pragmatism.’

Yemen Faces Fresh Challenges as National Dialogue Ends

By Danya Greenfield

Amidst troubling reports of setbacks in the Arab awakening countries – ongoing militia violence in Libya and repressive measures in Egypt by the military-backed government – Yemen offers an inspiring and hopeful example with the recent completion of its National Dialogue Conference (NDC).

Egypt’s Descent in Media Freedoms: How Far Can it Go?

By Miriam Berger

The terms “banned” and “terrorist” are once again affixed to mention of the Muslim Brotherhood in nearly all Egyptian media. State and private media alike tout the military-backed government’s lines. Newspapers and talk shows on TV, Egypt’s most popular medium, extol the military for reclaiming the revolution and sinisterly warn against traitors who dissent. All […]

January 25, 2014: A Recap

By Sarah Saleeb

In Egypt, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets nationwide on Saturday to celebrate the anniversary of the January 25 Revolution. Many in Tahrir Square came out in support of the military, calling upon General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run for president. Despite heightened security in the square, the atmosphere was largely marked […]

Syria: The Shadow of Iraq

By Frederic C. Hof

It is very difficult to imagine a scenario in which our involvement in Syria would have led to a better outcome, short of us being willing to undertake an effort in size and scope similar to what we did in Iraq. –President Barack Obama as quoted by David Remnick in “Going the Distance: On and […]

Finnish Defense Minister: EU will Never Become Europe’s Primary Defense Forum

By Jorge Benitez, Atlantic Council

During his trip to Washington to meet with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Finnish Defense Minister Carl Haglund sat down for an exclusive interview with Director of NATOSource Jorge Benitez.

Despite Turbulence, Hopeful Progress in Tunisia and Yemen

By Stefanie Hausheer and Lara Talverdian

With much attention focused on the increasing violence and repression in Egypt, the notable milestones achieved in Tunisia and Yemen over the weekend should be celebrated for what they are: tangible steps towards a peaceful transition to democracy.