Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi gave a speech on Friday night announcing that Libya "will never surrender in the face of assaults by rebels and a NATO air campaign." His audio address was directed at the city of Zawiya where thousands had gathered in support of Qadhafi as he announced that "Libya would keep fighting." In addition, Gadhafi said that the international recognition of the rebels is "worthless."  His speech was a ...

On Tuesday, The Brookings Institution held a forum on “The European Union Response to the Arab Spring” featuring Catherine Ashton, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Police.  The forum was moderated by Martin Indyk, the vice president and director of the foreign policy department at the Brookings Institution.  Ashton spoke on the role of the European Union in supporting the Arab Spring. For full text, ...

As Libyan rebels continue to make progress toward moving into Tripoli despite heavy casualties.  They have battled west from Misrata toward Zlitan and after six weeks of stalemate, rebels have pushed back the forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi. Tripoli still remains about 125 miles away. However, Gadhafi continues attacking the opposition on the Libyan frontline by relying on heavy artillery to defend their positions. Gadhafi supporters rallied in Green Square ...

Shadi Hamid, the director of research at the Brookings Doha Center and Anouar Boukhars, a former fellow at The Brookings Institution  wrote that the United States and European Union should stop "praising" King Mohammed VI's promises of reform and instead ensure that certain priorities are implemented through the reforms.  These priorities include freedom of association and speech, limiting the powers of the king and the royal court, allowing elected institutions to ...

On June 13, Deborah A. McCarthy, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, spoke about the United States' commitment to engaging with partners and allies in the Middle East. According to McCarthy, the U.S. has taken numerous steps to help the region, including providing financial support to stabilize Egypt and Tunisia's economies.  In addition, the U.S. is also working with parliament to create enterprise ...

On Tuesday, the European Union agreed to extend sanctions against Syria to four military-linked firms and seven individuals, including three Iranians, that are linked to the violence against the anti-government protests.  The individuals and firms will be added to a list of 23 people and entities that are under an EU asset freeze and travel ban.  President Bashar al-Assad was added to that list in May. On Wednesday, Walid al-Moallem, Syria's foreign ...

On Tuesday, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted a debate to be aired on BBC's The World Debate on U.S. foreign policy in response to the uprisings in the Middle East. Matt Frei, anchor for BBC's World News America moderated the event and introduced the following panelists: Marwan Muasher, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment; Tamara Wittes, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Near Eastern ...

On Thursday,  Britain, France, Germany and Portugal submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, condemning "the systematic violation of human rights, including the killings, arbitrary detentions, disappearances, and torture of peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders and journalists by the Syrian authorities."  The resolution calls for Damascus to comply with a UN Human Rights Council inquiry and to launch an independent and credible investigation into ...

On Sunday,  Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign the transition agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council, despite threats by White House counterterrorism chief John O.Brennan that the U.S. will consider "possible other steps" if he does not sign.   One option on the table now is bringing Yemen before the U.N. Security Council for unspecified sanctions.  Other countries are hesitantly reviewing aid packages to Yemen, aware that any course of action ...

On Friday, following a meeting in Brussels an EU representative announced that the EU had agreed to levy sanctions against 14 Syrian individuals believed to be tied to the violence perpetrated against Syrian citizens. It remains unclear whether or not sanctions will be levied against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. These sanctions were announced as protests continued following Friday prayers. Early reports state that 6 people have been ...

Mona Yacoubian, writing for Foreign Policy, asserts that the Assad regime "may withstand the current unrest," but the "brutal tactics" used to quell the unrest have destroyed his domestic legitimacy and "will also preempt any possibility of Western engagement."  She argues that the revolution in Syria will be far bloodier and prolonged compared to Tunisia and Egypt due to the lack of international media coverage and leverage from the international ...

Germany has asked the European Union to explore the imposition of sanctions on Syria in response to the government's violent crackdown on protesters.  The U.K. has joined Germany in calling for sanctions while France, Spain, and Italy have summoned their respective Syrian ambassadors to voice condemnation of the crackdown.  Sanctions could include a travel ban on Syrian leaders, asset freezes, and a halt to economic assistance from the Union.  German ...

In an interview with The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his belief that the U.S. should resume its leadership of NATO operations in Libya, recognize the Transitional National Council as the "legitimate voice of the Libyan people," and arm the rebels lest the situation turns into a stalemate which empowers al-Qaeda or Muammar Gadhafi's regime.  He also called on President Barack Obama to formally declare ...

On Monday, the crackdown in Syria escalated as the Syrian army sent tanks to Dera'a and arrested scores of protesters, killing five in the process.  Nearly 350 people have died since protests began five weeks ago.  According to Jordanian officials, phone lines have been cut in the area and the Syria-Jordan border crossing near Dera'a has been sealed on the Syrian side.  Syrian security forces also arrested dozens of Syrians ...

Writing at Foreign Policy, Parag Khanna notes the new age of Pan-Arabism that is characterized by societies demanding good governance and an inclusive political process.  He states that the anti-authoritarian revolutions are "truly borderless"  following Al Jazeera's shaming of Arab autocrats -- with the exception of Bahrain -- and young activists training together across the region.  Khanna also highlights the Arab League's backing of a no-fly zone in Libya and considerations ...