The Washington Post
Monday, April 6, 2015 - 06:30
President Obama has cited the battle against al-Shabab militants in Somalia as a model of success for his relatively low-investment, light-footprint approach to counterterrorism. But this week’s massacre of 148 people at Garissa University College demonstrates the limits of the administration’s approach and the difficulty of producing lasting victories over resilient enemies.
Friday, April 3, 2015 - 07:13
On Tuesday, President Obama called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and conveyed news of long-brewing decisions in the Obama administration regarding U.S. military aid to Egypt. However, the decision is more significant than it seems – not an unvarnished “win” for Sissi, but one that presents him an opportunity.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - 07:05
The United States will resume suspended military aid to Egypt, the White House said Tuesday, signaling the Obama administration’s eagerness to help a key Middle Eastern ally confront militant threats despite concerns about its repressive stance on human rights.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - 07:02
Saudi military action in Yemen is a high-gloss, stage-crafted showcase of Saudi Arabia’s new military swagger. The the air campaign has become something of a possible dress rehearsal for a country that could be quickly moving out of the background of American-directed security agreements and taking regional matters into its own hands.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - 07:48
The United States and Britain said Monday that Nigeria’s election results “may be subject to deliberate political interference,” a harsh warning issued just as the official vote count began in a crucial election for Africa’s most populous country.
Thursday, March 26, 2015 - 07:09
Peacekeeping-related mutinies are occurring at the same time that many African states and their foreign partners are placing much energy and resources into professionalizing African militaries. Planners should take heed of the grievances expressed in mutinies, which threaten to perpetuate many of the divisions that professionalization efforts aim to resolve.
Thursday, March 19, 2015 - 07:00
The policy of strenuous inaction of helping Ukraine to prevent collapse but insufficiently strongly to avoid challenging Russia runs the risk of allowing events on the ground to run away from the United States and opens up Obama to considerable domestic and international criticism, but it may leave the United States in a much stronger position vis-à-vis Russia later on – even at the cost of death and destruction in Ukraine and the precipitous decline of bilateral relations.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - 06:54
The Pentagon is unable to account for more than $500 million in U.S. military aid given to Yemen, amid fears that the weaponry, aircraft and equipment is at risk of being seized by Iranian-backed rebels or al-Qaeda, according to U.S. officials.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - 06:53
Shiite militias and Iraqi government forces burned and looted dozens of villages, abducting at least 11 local residents, in the wake of a U.S.-supported operation against the Islamic State last year, a human rights group has charged in a new report.
Friday, March 13, 2015 - 07:31
The Swedish government this week decided to scrap an arms deal with Saudi Arabia, effectively bringing to an end a decade-old defense agreement with the kingdom. The move followed complaints made by the Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom that she was blocked by the Saudis from speaking about democracy and women's rights at a gathering of the Arab League in Cairo.