Feltman Reports on Visit to Libya
After meeting in Tripoli with leaders of the TNC and civil society groups, Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman described the city as "remarkably normal in atmosphere," with businesses open, traffic flowing, and police patrolling the streets. In his ...
September 16, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Featured, Human Rights, Libya, Military, Political Islam, Political transition, Terrorism, US foreign policy, Women's Rights
Dep. Secretary Burns Visits Saudi Arabia and UAE
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns is visiting Saudi Arabia and the UAE this week to meet with top officials. After his Tuesday meeting with Assistant Minister of the Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Burns met with King Abdullah ...
September 15, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UN Security Council, US foreign policy
Analysis: Washington’s Influence Waning in Egypt; Turkey Must Choose Sides
Writing for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, David Schenker asserts that the influence of Washington is becoming less of a factor in revolutionary Egypt. The U.S. government is not only having trouble with Egypt's new political rulers, but is ...
Rubio: America Must Champion Democracy Abroad
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations delivered a speech Tuesday at the Jesse Helms' Center emphasizing the need for America to "champion the cause of freedom—not only with the power of our example but also ...
September 14, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Iran, Libya, Military, Reform, Syria, US foreign policy
New Middle East Transitions Office Opens at Department of State
The U.S. Department of State opened a new Middle East Transitions (MET) office, which started operation this week. William Taylor, former senior vice president for conflict management at United States Institute of Peace, will spearhead Middle East Transitions, with ...
September 12, 2011
Category: Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Government, Libya, NGOs, Political transition, Tunisia, US foreign policy
September 12, 2011
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Featured, Foreign Aid, Government, Legislation, US foreign policy, US politics
Under Secretary of State Will Travel to Egypt, Tunisia
The State Department released a statement today detailing plans for Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, María Otero, to travel to Egypt and Tunisia. Otero will be Egypt September 10-12 and in Tunisia from September 13-15. ...
September 9, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Egypt, Featured, Political Parties, Political transition, Tunisia, US foreign policy, US politics
Egypt: Youth Plans Mass Protests
The Revolutionary Youth Coalitions (RYC) plan to call on the ruling military council to step down at a mass protest planned in Tahrir Square on September 9 in an effort to show their frustration on the difficult road toward a "new Egypt." The RYC plans to pressure the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) in an effort to decease the number of civilians of being tried in military courts. Additionally, ...
September 4, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Egypt, Government, Human Rights, Military, Political transition, Protests, Reform, Turkey, Youth
John Limbert: Ambassador Ford “Puts Our Congress to Shame”
John Limbert argues that Robert Ford, U.S. ambassador to Syria, has "shown bravery, tact, and creativity in finding ways to bear witness to the protests and massacres occurring in that country over the course of this year." If the Senate does not renew the ambassador's appointment, Limbert emphasizes that "Congress would be administering a massive self-inflicted wound to U.S. foreign policy." Limbert argues that Ford's "clear-eyed diplomacy" is what should be expected of ...
Syria: Analysts Discuss Downfall of Assad
As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown continues, many analysts are questioning if the regime will fall. Andrew Tabler, with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, notes that Syria's allies are pushing for reform, but not calling for the ...
Libya: “Key Victory” for Obama Doctrine
Writing in the New York Times, Helene Cooper and Steven Lee Myers argue that the rebels' seizure of Tripoli signifies "a key victory for an Obama doctrine for the Middle East." It would be hasty to speculate on how this "Libya model" could be transferred to other conflicts such as Syria, and yet administration officials view the U.S. coordinated approach on pressuring the Syrian regime as an indication that the ...
August 30, 2011
Category: Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Libya, Multilateralism, Political transition, US foreign policy
Realism, U.S. Policy and the Arab Uprisings
Writing in the Financial Times, Robert Kaplan assesses the realist nature of President Barack Obama's foreign policy towards the Arab uprisings. In Libya, Syria, and elsewhere, Obama is "supporting democracy where he can, and stability where he must." Kaplan rejects the assertion that the Arab revolts have discredited U.S. policy based on realism, and predicts that even without authoritarian regimes, the futures for Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Egypt will be ...
Nasr: Sectarianism Could “Put an End” to the Arab Spring
Writing in the New York Times, Vali Nasr argues that sectarianism, a trademark of the Middle East, could exacerbate the conflict in Syria and spread throughout the region. The tensions between Sunnis and Shiites could impede democratic transitions and force the U.S. to reexamine its response to the Arab uprisings. Nasr notes, "There are no recent examples of extended power-sharing or peaceful transitions to democracy in the Arab world." Instead, with ...
August 29, 2011
Category: Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Political transition, Sectarianism, US foreign policy
Assad Signals Reform as Regional Pressure and Local Dissent Grow
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Sunday that he had "lost confidence" in the Syrian government, and noted that authoritarian regimes could be replaced by force if necessary. Marking the end of the Arab League meeting on Syria, foreign ministers ...
Libya: James Traub on the Tripoli Task Force
James Traub described the work of the Tripoli Task Force, a 70-member task force formed by the Transitional National Council (TNC) to plan for reconstruction in the capital, that oversaw a network of Libyans responsible for policing, water supply, fuel, schools, etc. Sohail Nakhoody, the former chief of staff to Aref Ali Nayed, leader of the task force and current ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, said, "we had ...
Egypt: Cabinet Approves Restoration of Frozen Assets
Egypt's cabinet approved the creation of a judicial committee that had been proposed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to start negotiations with Switzerland in an effort to reach a deal to restore Egypt's frozen assets. Additionally, police arrested one of Egypt's most wanted Islamist militants, Mohamed Shawqi el-Islambuli, as he arrived back into Egypt on Sunday after being ordered to leave Iran. He had killed former President Anwar ...