Egypt needs Mubarak for the sake of democracy

The intensity and the extent of popular anger against the tyranny and incompetency of Hosni Mubarak’s regime in Egypt have undoubtedly taken the whole world by surprise. The U.S. government has been sending mixed messages to its close ally and its angry population alike. With rhetoric swinging between realism and idealism, the Obama administration has expressed willingness to help the regime implement necessary reforms, urged all parties to refrain from violence, and acknowledged the “universal” rights of the people

Saleh’s opportunism renders US counterterrorism efforts ineffective

Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, faces a number of fundamental social, political and economic challenges. Oil revenue currently represents 70% of the state budget and supports Yemen’s patronage system. However, reserves are estimated to run out within the next ten years. Water resources are diminishing rapidly and a water crisis is imminent. At the same time, tension and open conflict with the Houthis in the North, secessionist groups in the South, and al-Qaeda elements in Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) pose serious challenges to the legitimacy of the government in Sana’a. The overall security situation in Yemen is such that doubts are being raised about whether elections, planned for 2011, can be held

Why Germany and Sweden have much to gain from closer cooperation

Germany and Sweden count each other among their closest allies, but the focus of their bilateral relations has evolved significantly over recent decades. Drawing on recent developments, Nima Khorrami writes there is a clear incentive for the two countries to pursue closer cooperation in areas such as mining and space technology

Soft power may be the UK government’s best option to promote trade and civil liberties in the Gulf states

The UK’s relationship with the Persian Gulf has undergone many changes in its over 200-year history. Now, the British government under the coalition is focused on building closer trading ties, whilst at the same time encouraging greater civil liberties in the Gulf. Nima Khorrami Assl argues that both of these objectives are best served by the UK’s formal and informal networks of advisers and diplomats