Topic: International Republican Institute

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Tunisians yearn for the good old days of a strongman

Tunisians still revile ousted leader President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, but admiration is rising for his predecessor, who had strongman tendencies of his own but also helped Tunisia flourish.
Tunisians invoke Macbeth to warn against a return of toil and trouble

A Tunisian playwright has adapted the Shakespeare tragedy – in which Macbeth's drive for power brings moral decline and war – to warn that political infighting could bring back darker days.
Tunisia's Al Nahda unveils new cabinet in latest bid to placate critics

Eager to tamp down political instability, Tunisia's ruling Al Nahda party announced a new cabinet today that it hopes will allow the party to focus on political reform and the economy.
Is the Muslim Brotherhood seeking to kill Egypt's NGOs?

A restrictive draft law sponsored by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood's party echoes the philosophy of the Mubarak government, which saw independent groups as a threat.
Strong turnout in Jordan's elections belies deep-seated cynicism

Jordanians turned out to vote in record numbers in yesterday's parliamentary elections, but many, even those who voted, see the system as stacked against change.
Backchannels Mostly forgotten, Egyptian trial of US NGO workers drags on

Sam LaHood and most of the other Americans accused of running illegal nongovernmental organizations fled the country last year. But 14 Egyptians and one American continue to face jail.
Latin America Monitor An accident or a plot? Deaths of Cuban dissidents raises questions.

Despite Cuban government reports and public comments from the two survivors of the crash saying it was an accident, a dissident’s family believes someone ran the car off the road.
Opinion: Washington, get ready for more Iranian influence after Bashar al-Assad falls in Syria

After the fall of Bashar-al Assad in Syria, Iran will compensate for its lost ally by strengthening its influence in Lebanon alongside its affiliate Hezbollah – the Shiite militant group that now dominates the country. To prevent this, Washington must take a leadership role in the Lebanon.
In Egypt, American NGO workers head to court in civil society trial

Two Americans and a German returned to Egypt to face trial with Egyptian colleagues and draw attention to an NGO case they say has major implications for Egypt's democratic transition.
Backchannels Israeli ties with Egypt strained by transition?

Though Egypt and Israel insist the decision to end a gas sales contract wasn't political, it's hard to see annulling the largest ever contract between the two countries as anything but.
Egypt's rulers face backlash after lifting travel ban on Americans

Egypt had portrayed its case against American NGOs as necessary to thwart foreign agents intent on harming the country. Now angry Egyptians say their rulers have caved to US pressure.
Backchannels Egypt moves to defuse crisis over NGO trials

What exactly is happening isn't clear yet. But it seems fairly certain that Egypt's ruling junta is backing away from the prosecution of NGO workers that led to the worst US-Egypt diplomatic crisis in decades.
Americans on trial: a convenient distraction for Egypt's rulers?

The trial of 16 Americans and 27 other democracy workers opened today in Egypt in a case that has riveted the Egyptian public and deflected their frustrations onto foreigners.
McCain: Egypt and US 'must remain friends'

Sen. John McCain tried to smooth over tensions with Egypt following the country's decision to prosecute 16 American democracy workers
Opinion: Outrage over Egypt's arrest of NGO workers, but US would have done the same

The outrage over Egypt's arrest of 43 NGO workers, at least 16 of whom are American, is understandable and well deserved. But it also speaks to a little acknowledged paradox: These organizations are conducting democracy-building work that would never be tolerated in the US.
Backchannels Despite $1.5 billion in US aid, Egypt threatens prosecution of Americans

Egypt said yesterday it will prosecute a large number of people, including 19 Americans, involved in democracy promotion in the country, putting the country's US aid in extreme jeopardy.
Americans face prosecution as Egypt ignores Clinton, Congress

Egypt is bringing criminal charges against at least 40 people, including some Americans, in a move that puts $1.3 billion in US military aid to Egypt at risk.
Backchannels With Americans holed up in Cairo embassy, Egypt's lobbyists in DC quit

It takes a lot to get K Street to distance itself from a regime. Egypt's ruling military junta has manged the feat by investigating a group of American NGO workers for criminal prosecution.
Backchannels Egypt bars Americans from leaving: What's going on here?

Egypt's military rulers escalated a dispute over US-funded NGOs by barring some American employees from leaving the country, including the son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Why won't Egypt let Americans return to US?

Sam LaHood, son of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, heads the International Republican Institute in Egypt and was recently kept from boarding a flight out of Egypt.
Backchannels US democracy NGOs in Egypt still shuttered

Making life hard for NGOs, particularly foreign ones, has long been a sport in Egypt.
US 'deeply concerned' after Egypt raids NGO offices

The US said it was 'deeply concerned' after a series of raids by Egypt's ruling military today on nongovernment organizations promoting democracy and human rights, some US-funded.
Egypt's military rulers crack down on democracy groups

Egypt's military junta raided independent civil society groups today, including the United States' premier democracy promoters.
Eastern Libya poll indicates political Islam will closely follow democracy

If Libya manages to forge a political system where majority views are taken into account it's clear that political Islam is set to play a major political role.
Pakistan appoints new ambassador to US

Pakistan's civilian government taps Sherry Rehman, a human rights campaigner living under Islamist threats, as the new ambassador to the US. Leaders hope she can soothe strained ties.