“Newly Appointed Prime Minister Confirms Decline in U.S. Pressure” in Jordan
After the resignation of former prime minister Awn Al-Khasawneh, Tamer al-Samadi writes in al-Hayat that the Jordanian people continue (Arabic) to ponder the reasons behind his abrupt retirement. Al-Khasawneh claims to have resigned in protest of continuous intervention into the decision making process of the government by the Monarchy. His replacement, Fayez al-Tarawneh, is described as "a right-wing governor" and hostile towards reform advocates, which Tarawneh has denied. Samadi says sources close to the royal palace told al-Hayat that ...
Islamist Group Claims Responsibility for Damascus Bombings
Earlier this week, twin suicide bombings tore through the center of Damascus resulting in the deaths of an estimated 55 people. Even as the U.N. mission expands, violence has continued and reamins persistent throughout all areas of Syria. ...
May 12, 2012
Category: al-Qaeda, Featured, Hezbollah, Islamist movements, Syria, United Nations, US foreign policy
Administration Renews Bahrain Weapons Sale
Citing national security interests, Victoria Nuland, spokesperson for the State Department, released a statement which details the Administration's decision to "release additional items and services for the Bahrain Defense Force, the Coast Guard, and the National Guard for the purpose of helping ...
May 11, 2012
2 comments
Category: Bahrain, Diplomacy, Featured, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: Keynote Address by the Special Representative to Muslim Communities
On Wednesday, SyracuseUniversity’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs hosted a conference entitled, “Building Civil Society After the Arab Spring: Progress, Challenges, Needs.” The conference explored the long lasting implications of the Arab Spring on U.S.foreign policy as well as American business from a variety of perspectives. The panelists were moderated by Chad Tragakis, senior vice president in Corporate Practice, and Michael Schneider director of the Washington Public Diplomacy ...
POMED Notes: The Role of ‘Outside’ Supporters: Government, NGO, Education, the Diaspora
On Wednesday, Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs hosted a conference, sponsored by Hill & Knowlton Inc., titled “Building Civil Society After the Arab Spring: Progress, Challenges, Needs.” The third panel discussed, “The Role of ‘Outside’ Supporters: Government, NGO, Education, the Diaspora.” Panelists were Aimee Fullman, manager of cultural relations and networks at the British Council, Cole Bockenfeld, director of advocacy at the Project on Middle East Democracy, ...
May 11, 2012
Category: Bahrain, Civil Society, Diplomacy, Egypt, Event Notes, Freedom, Tunisia, US foreign policy, Yemen
May 11, 2012
1 comments
Category: Bahrain, Featured, Freedom, Human Rights, Political transition, Protests, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: “Security Sector Transformation in North Africa and the Middle East”
On Thursday, May 10, 2012, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) held a conference entitled “Security Sector Transformation in North Africa and the Middle East.” In the first panel, featuring representatives from the region, the speakers were: Radwan Masmoudi, President of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy in Tunisia; Magda Boutros, Criminal Justice Reform Director at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights; Dr. Murhaf Jouejati, Chairman ...
May 11, 2012
Category: Countries, DC Event Notes, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Libya, Morocco, North Africa, Political transition, Rule of Law, Security Sector, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, US foreign policy, Yemen
POMED Notes: “Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities and Needs Amidst Economic Challenges in the Middle East”
On Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held a hearing entitled, "Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy Priories and Needs Amidst Economic Challenges in he Middle East." The committee heard testimony from Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and Mara Rudman, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for the Middle East at USAID. Mark Ward, Deputy Special Coordinator for Middle East Transitions ...
May 10, 2012
Category: Committee Meetings, Congress, Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Countries, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, NGOs, Palestine, Political transition, Syria, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: Policy Implications and New Directions
On Wednesday, Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs hosted a conference, sponsored by Hill & Knowlton Inc., titled “Building Civil Society After the Arab Spring: Progress, Challenges, Needs.” The fourth panel discussed, “Policy Implications and New Directions.” Panelists were Danya Greenfield of the Rafik Hariri Center at the Atlantic Council and Peter Howard, regional affairs strategic analyst at the U.S. Department of State. For the full text of ...
May 10, 2012
Category: DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Political transition, Syria, US foreign policy
Sen. Kerry Urges Reexamination of US’s Syria Policy
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) called the U.S. to change the dynamic on the ground through the creation of safe zones and lethal aid. He warned that the U.S. should condition lethal aid on greater unity within the oppositions, and that safe zones ...
International Crisis Group: “The Emperor Has No Clothes”
Yesterday, The International Crisis Group released a new report, “The Emperor Has No Clothes: Palestinians and the End of the Peace Process.” The report goes in depth into the current stalemate that has paralyzed the peace process, including the apathy of the international community, Israel, and the current Palestinian leadership. However, according to the report the current “hiatus is badly needed” in order to reinvigorate the peace process and reconsider ...
May 8, 2012
Category: International Law, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, US foreign policy, US politics
Syrian Parliamentary Elections Occur Amid Unrest
Syrians voted in the first parliamentary elections since the ratification of the new constitution despite ongoing unrest. Government officials maintain that the vote is significant evidence of ongoing political reform, while some oppositions groups call the elections a ...
POMED Notes: Bahrain at the Boiling Point? Failed Reforms, Mounting Frustration
On Thursday, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted an event by the Project on Middle East Democracy titled “Bahrain at the Boiling Point? Failed Reforms, Mounting Frustration.” In light of recent developments in the Gulf Nation, the event was held to address the progress toward reform thus far, the steps that need to be taken next, and the role of the U.S. in moving toward a peaceful political solution. ...
May 5, 2012
1 comments
Category: Bahrain, Featured, Freedom, Government, Judiciary, Protests, Reform, US foreign policy, Youth
Deadly Raid on Syrian Students Protesting
On Wednesday , students gathered to protest at the University of Aleppo. Security forces raided the campus breaking up the demonstration. Four students died, 28 were injured and 200 were arrested. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, warned that the events could mark a turning point for Syria's second city, triggering residents to mobilise in solidarity with the students. White House press secretary Jay Carney stated "if the regime’s ...
Yemen: Al-Qaeda’s Nation-Building vs. U.S. Drone Attacks
Jamal Benomar, the U.N. envoy to Yemen, says the implementation of U.N.-backed Gulf-brokered plan that ousted Ali Abdullah Saleh is "on track," but warned there is "no indication that the worst is over or no indication that Yemen ...
HRW: War Crimes in Idlib
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report titled "They Burned My Heart': War Crimes in Northern Idlib during Peace Negotiations," documenting Syrian security forces perpetuating "extrajudicial executions, killings of civilians, and destruction of civilian property that qualify as war ...
May 2, 2012
Category: Civil War, Featured, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, Protests, Syria, US foreign policy
Bahrain Reduced to “a Simple Dichotomy”
Ed Husain penned an op-ed in the New York Times describing his experience as the guest of the Royal family in Bahrain. He describes Prince Salman bin Hamad as a “liberal’s liberal,” a western-educated reformer. He says the ...
WaPo: Egypt is Taking U.S. Money and Running
The editorial board of the Washington Post writes that Obama administration’s granting of the full $1 billion in annual military aid to Egypt, despite Egypt’s arguable failure to meet congressional conditions for advancing democracy, hasn’t caused to relations ...
