The death penalty given to former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and all the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) will certainly lead to an increase in violence, hence an additional tightening of security measures in Egypt. One day after a judge issued the mass death sentence for the …
Read More »US Considering an `Al-Sisi’ Option for Libya
The Pentagon and US intelligence community are weighing what is referred to as an “Al-Sisi Option” for Libya, as the June 17 deadline for a United Nations-brokered cease-fire and unity government deal nears, with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya, headed …
Read More »How Ramadi was Politically Sold: ISIL’S Next Step Maybe Baghdad
The fall of Palmyra just after Ramadi emphasized the impression that ISIL regained the momentum, hence will help the organization recruit more fighters. Yet, the story of the fall of Ramadi is totally different than that of the fall of Palmyra. The current ISIL offensives extends from Ramadi …
Read More »Can Libya Reproduce the Al-Sissi Model?
There are legitimate reasons to compare the ongoing military insurrection in Libya against the Islamist-dominated government in Tripoli and the Al Qaeda/Muslim Brotherhood militias dominating the eastern half of the country to the June-July 2013 events in Egypt, which ousted the Muslim Brotherhood government of Mohamed Morsi. Libyan …
Read More »Turkey and Iran Conflicting Agendas in Iraq: Who Will Get What
Both Iran and Turkey are racing to increase their gains in Iraq while the Arab Sunni states are trying to strengthen their ties to Iraqi Sunni tribes. In the case of Tehran, it is busy now trying to establish a larger presence in Kurdistan. For its part, Turkey’s …
Read More »The Hidden Side of the US Train and Equip Program for Syria’s Opposition
If anyone speaks, however cautiously, about Syria’s existence as a sovereign state, one must admit that the line between the opposing sides—ISIL and the foreign Jihadists fighting with it on the one hand and Hezbollah, Iraqi, Pakistani and Iranian militias on the other—disappears. ISIL, by definition, does not …
Read More »Western Balkans: Stalled on Europe’s Edge
By Velbona Zenelli The economies of the Western Balkan countries — Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia — still lag behind the rest of Europe. The regional average income levels fluctuate from an annual level of $5,300, to as low as only 31% …
Read More »The War of Ideas: Does it Exist? Can it be Won?
By Stephen Richter Russia is rattling its saber. China roams around the South China Sea. Here we go again. According to some, we are said to be “at war.” Thankfully, for now it is just a “war of ideas.” That is intended to offer some comfort. But even …
Read More »Putin, Erdogan Hold Talks Behind Closed Doors in Azerbaijan
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan held bilateral talks behind closed doors on the sidelines of the first European Games on Saturday. BAKU (Sputnik) — Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, head of Russia’s state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom Sergei …
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