Egypt’s SCAF Bypasses Parliament in Issuing Elections Law
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), the military junta that took power in Egypt after the January revolution, drew ire from the newly-elected parliament yesterday when it issued rules for upcoming presidential elections. The law did ...
January 31, 2012
Category: Egypt, Elections, Featured, Islamist movements, Legislation, Military, Political transition
Human Rights Organizations in Opposition to Bahrain Arms Sale
The decision by the Obama Administration to move forward with a proposed arms sale to Bahrain has been largely criticized by several human rights and international organizations. News of the newly-proposed arms sale surfaced last week surrounded by controversy due to its lack of transparency and explanation. Freedom House released a statement raising concerns about the message the U.S. is sending to the Bahraini regime and the international community. President of Freedom House ...
U.S. Drones Strike Against al-Qaeda in Yemen
On Monday, U.S. drones killed 12 al-Qaeda militants in an attack in Abyan province, in Southern Yemen. The victims included at least four leaders or prominent figures in a local Yemeni branch of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). ...
Activists Begin Hunger Strike Protesting Tougher Laws
Bahraini detainees and human rights activists convicted of involvement in anti-government demonstrations have begun a hunger strike today. The 14 prominent activists and opposition leaders began the strike "in solidarity with pro-democracy protests and in protest against the brutal crackdown," said the leader of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), Mohammed al-Maskati. The hunger strike was initiated in protest of Bahrain’s interior minister, Lt. Gen. Sheik Rashid bin Abdullah Al ...
U.S. Embassy Shelters American NGO Workers
Earlier today, the U.S. Embassy in Egypt confirmed that it was sheltering a “handful” of American citizens who were barred from leaving Egypt last week. The unidentified Americans are employees of U.S.-funded nongovernmental organizations raided by Egyptian police late last year ...
January 30, 2012
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Category: al-Qaeda, Elections 2012, Featured, Gulf Cooperation Council, Political transition, United Nations, Yemen
Iraqiya Coalition Ends Parliament Boycott
The Sunni-backed bloc of parliament, Iraqiya, has announced it will end its boycott and return to parliament. “As a good-will gesture, Iraqiya announces its return to Parliament meetings to create a healthy atmosphere to help the national conference, and to ...
Britain Warns Russia Against Blocking Security Council Vote
On Tuesday, the U.N. Security Council will take up a draft resolution calling on Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to step down and transfer power. The meeting will take place amid increasing violence which brought an end to the Arab League observation mission over the weekend. Syrian opposition, which claims to have 15,000 constituents, have been increasingly involved in violent clashes as Syrian authorities attempt to re-take control of the suburbs surrounding Damascus. Arab ...
Weekly Wire- January 30
POMED's Weekly Wire for January 30 is now available. In this week's edition, Egyptians marked the one year anniversary of the revolution, as American NGO workers were barred from leaving the country. The U.S. sent a high-ranking diplomat to Yemen, confirming mutual support, while President Ali Abdullah Saleh bid farewell for medical treatment in the U.S. Violence has spiked in Syria with renewed assaults on the cities of Homs and ...
Escalating Violence in Syria
The Syrian military launched an offensive attack in the surrounding suburbs of Damascus to attempt to regain control. Five civilians were killed on Sunday, raising the death toll to 17 in this most recent attack, and sending many ...
January 29, 2012
Category: Arab League, Featured, Political transition, Protests, Syria, UN Security Council
D.C. Lobbyists End Contract with Egypt
A Washington lobbying group named the PLM Group (the Podesta Group, Livingston Group and Moffett Group) has ended a contract with Egypt. The Group was "a lobbying entity created to advocate on behalf of the regime of former ...
U.S. To Sell Bahrain New Arms Package
Despite the delay in a $53 million arms sale due to strong opposition from members of Congress, President Barack Obama's administration has decided to move forward with a sale of other military arms and services to ...
U.N. Gives Syria 15 Days to Comply
There is a new resolution being discussed in the U.N. Security Council that "calls on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power to his deputy and says additional measures would be taken if he doesn't comply within 15 days." ...
January 28, 2012
Category: Arab League, Featured, Political transition, Protests, Syria, UN Security Council
Report: Egypt’s Transition to Democracy One Year On
Yesterday, Human Rights First released its report on the human rights situation during Egypt's post-revolution transition, titled "Egypt’s Transition to Democracy One Year On: Recommendations for U.S. Policy". While touching on concerns that Islamist domination of the parliament ...
January 28, 2012
Category: Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Featured, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, Military, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: The End of the Afghan War: Talking with the Taliban and What Comes Next.
On Tuesday, the Center for National Policy hosted a panel on U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and if the peace talks with the Taliban will be successful. The speakers were the Honorable Paul McHale, former assistant Secretary of Defense and member of Congress, Michael O'Hanlon, director of research and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Joshua Foust, a fellow at the American Security Project and correspondent for The ...
POMED Notes: How to Prevent War in the Gulf: While Stopping Iran from Getting the Bomb.
On Thursday, the Center for National Policy hosted a panel on the recent dispute between the U.S. and Iranian government, and whether Tehran's desire to develop a nuclear program will end diplomatically or militarily. The speakers were Dr. Afshon Ostovar, a Middle East analyst for the Center for Naval Analyses Strategic Studies, Mattew Kroenig, a Stanton Nuclear Security fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Alireza Nader, a senior ...
January 27, 2012
Category: Civil War, Featured, Freedom, Military, Protests, Syria, UN Security Council, Uncategorized