Middle East

Egypt’s Protest Law: The Interim Government and the Fabrication of Problems

By Nader Bakkar

While the Nour Party represented the second largest bloc in the Shura Council, it was critical of the council’s inability to fulfill its basic role. It was also critical of the manner in which it issued one law after the other, as if in a race against time, the deadline looming set by the next […]

Mohsin Khan on an IMF Agreement with Egypt

By MENASource

Ever since the start of Egypt’s efforts toward a democratic transition began in 2011, repeated attempts by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help economically stabilize Egypt have been met with abortive efforts from the subsequent Egyptian governments.

An IMF Program for Egypt in 2014?

By Mohsin Khan

Discussions on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program for Egypt have been going on for almost three years without a deal being struck. The two sides came close to an agreement in June 2011 and then in late 2012, but each time the Egyptian government walked away from the table. As recently as August this […]

Slavin Talks Iran with NPR News Weekend Edition

By Barbara Slavin

NPR News’ Weekend Edition host Scott Simon spoke with the South Asia Center’s Barbara Slavin about the Iran deal. Slavin believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be doing Iran a favor by criticizing the deal so harshly. Transcript and audio from the interview below.

Highlights from Egypt’s Draft Constitution (Part 1)

By Mai El-Sadany

In preparation for a popular referendum which will take place on Egypt’s newest Constitution within thirty days of formal approval, the fifty-member Constituent Assembly appointed by interim President Adly Mansour began to vote on the full text of its draft Constitution on November 30, 2013. The work of the Assembly, which began on September 8, […]

Pavel and Kroenig Discuss Iran Deal on This Week in Defense

Council Vice President and Director of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security Barry Pavel and Senior Fellow Matt Kroenig appeared on This Week in Defense with Vago Muradian to discuss the deal that’s been struck on Iran’s nuclear program. Watch the full interview. For more expert analysis and reactions to the deal, check out […]

Syria: Is a Diplomatic Solution Possible?

By Frederic C. Hof

The suffering of Syrians inside their tortured, broken country is unspeakable.  Even those not yet driven from their homes or banished by fear from their country of birth cannot escape the consequences of pure evil unleashed.  In recent days a young woman from the family that hosted me in Damascus as an exchange student eons […]

Freezing Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions: Faux Pas, Fiasco, or Flash of Genius?

By Harlan Ullman

In an extraordinary time, by any measure last week was extraordinary. On Thursday, the Senate went nuclear. The super-majority requirement of sixty votes that allowed the revered “filibuster” to block confirmation of most presidential appointees was ended. Friday marked the fiftieth anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s death. And Sunday brought the news of a nuclear […]