Al-Jazeera reported that the government argues that it has fulfilled the obligations of the BICI report released in November, but rights groups argue the opposite: the government has largely ignored “critical recommendations” and has yet to deal with “accountability for torture and relief for those unjustly imprisoned during the uprising.” On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch released a report documenting dozens of cases of citizens imprisoned simply for speaking out and demanding ...

On Tuesday, more than 80 retired military officials advised Congress against cutting the nonmilitary foreign policy budget, declaring that it is of “the utmost importance” that “civilian programs have the resources to maintain the hard-fought gains of our military.” The retired officials said in a letter that the State Department and other civilian-led programs are “particularly critical” during this time of withdrawal, as they will take on greater responsibility. The letter ...

Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) remains hesitant that the revolution in Syria is a true democratic movement. While supporting humanitarian aid, Corker is against direct assistance to the Syrian opposition - as he does not think they prove a better alternative to President Bashar al-Assad. "I don't think we know enough about the opposition groups that have become involved or what might happen should Bashar be gone," said Corker. In the briefings Corker ...

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee heard testimony from Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dr. Raj Shah. The hearing discussed the fiscal year 2012 budget request. Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) presided over the committee, co-chaired by Ranking Member Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY). To read the full text of the hearing continue reading below, or click here for PDF version. Kay Granger (R-TX) opened by addressing ...

  Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously approved bipartisan legislation strengthening sanctions against the Syrian Regime. The Syrian Freedom Support Act, H.R. 2106, introduced in August, was authored by Committee Chairman lleana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) with U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY). The bill imposes new sanctions focusing on Syrian energy and financial sectors and weapon proliferation activities. The bill also contains human rights sanctions targeting top regime officials, including an amendment ...

  In an immediate press release, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) called on the Bahraini government to allow the Bahrainis “to gather peaceably and express their political views,” as the Bahraini opposition plans a major demonstration this Friday. He urged both the government and opposition to refrain from the use of violence. Several months have passed since the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry issued a report documenting abuses by the Bahraini regime and ...

According to a copy of a speech from the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, John McCain (R-AZ) has become the first U.S. senator to openly call for U.S.-led air strikes to halt the violence committed by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The ultimate goal of the strikes, says McCain, would be to “establish and defend safe havens in Syria,” in order to create “safe-zones”  where opposition forces “can organize and plan their ...

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the Mujahidin-e Khalq’s (MEK) removal from the U.S. terrorism blacklist would be contingent on the group helping close its camp in Ashraf. Also known as the People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran (PMOI), the MEK’s activities surfaced in the 1970’s as they carried out military operations against the U.S. –backed Shah of Iran and U.S. targets.  According to Reuters, the groups “is no longer welcome,” as ...

On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee heard testimony from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about national security and the foreign policy priorities in the $51.6 billion fiscal year 2013 International Affairs budget. Senator John Kerry (D – MA) presided over the committee, which was co-chaired by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN). To read the full text of the event notes, continue reading below or click here for the PDF   Senator John Kerry began by ...

On Thursday, The House Committee on Foreign Affairs was in session in order to hear testimony from the presidents of the four American NGOs involved in the recent government raids in Egypt. Testimony was heard from the President of the International Republican Institute Lorne Craner, President of the National Democratic Institute Kenneth Wollack, President of Freedom House David Kramer, and President of the International Center for Journalists Joyce Barnathan.  Chairman ...

On Wednesday, the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held a heard testimony from a panel of experts on the developing situation in Egypt. The panel featured Director of the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East at the Atlantic Council Dr. Michelle Dunne,  Ira Weiner Fellow at the Washington Institute for Nar East Policy Eric Trager, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution Dr. Robert Kagan, and Former ...