Al-Sisi steps up repression to cover policy failure

By James M. Dorsey Egyptian general-turned-president Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi would likely be the first to admit that an iron fist is no guarantee for retaining power. Not because of the fate of the country’s longest ruling autocrat, Hosni Mubarak, who… Continue Reading

Robert Kagan: Neocon Renegade?

by Jim Lobe  I, for one, am very eager to hear what Robert Kagan thinks about the framework agreement that has just been negotiated between the P5+1 and Iran. I’m particularly interested in what he thinks of Israeli and Republican… Continue Reading

The Egyptian-Saudi Coalition in Defense of Autocracy

by Emile Nakhleh The Bahraini Arabic language newspaper al-Wasat reported on April 9 that a Cairo court began to consider a case brought by an Egyptian lawyer against Qatar accusing it of being soft on terrorism. The “terrorism” charge is… Continue Reading

Washington’s Anemic Resolve on Egypt’s Human Rights

by Emile Nakhleh The unexpected resignation of Hazem al-Biblawi, Egypt’s interim prime minister, and his government this week and the appointment of Ibrahim Mehlib, a Mubarak-era industrialist, as a new prime minister seem to pave the way for Field Marshal… Continue Reading