Atlantic Council blogs

1st Armored Division officially leaves Germany for Texas

By Mark Patton, Stars and Stripes

From Mark Patton, Stars and Stripes:  After 40 years in Germany, 1st Armored Division headquarters soldiers will be trading in a diet of bratwurst and beer for one of Tex-Mex and barbeque.

Russia may take action over U.S. missile shield

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Russia’s deputy defense minister has said action could be taken if the United States deploys its new missile defense system near Russia’s borders.

Lugar Challenges Obama Administration on Libyan War Authorization

By Richard Lugar, Office of Senator Lugar 

From Richard Lugar, Office of Senator Lugar :  We are nearing the end of the second month of U.S. military involvement, including a bombing campaign, in Libya’s civil war.

The Perfect Storm in Af-Pak

By Shuja Nawaz

With the killing of Osama bin Laden, attention has shifted to the endgame in Afghanistan. But a persistent problem remains inside Pakistan: the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban. This homegrown terrorist organization swore war against the state when the army was sent into the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. For the past […]

Sunni Monarchies Close Ranks

By Barbara Slavin

Reports that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is considering some form of membership for two non-Gulf states – Jordan and Morocco – confirm that the conservative Sunni monarchies of the Middle East are closing ranks against Iran, Shiite-led Iraq and the democratic wave sweeping the region. GCC secretary general Abdullatif al-Zayani made the announcement Tuesday […]

Update: NATO activities in Libya on May 12

By NATO

Most people in 23 nations back NATO action in Libya

By Michelle Nichols, Reuters

From Michelle Nichols, Reuters:  Sixty percent of people from 23 countries support NATO’s military intervention in Libya, a poll showed Thursday.

Girl, 12, Killed in NATO Raid on Wrong Afghan Home

By Alissa J. Rubin, the New York Times

From Alissa J. Rubin, the New York Times:  In the fertile lowlands of eastern Afghanistan it is already summer, and the warm nights send families out of sweltering houses and into their courtyards so that they can sleep in the relative cool of the night breezes.

Atlantic Update 5/13/11

By Klee Aiken

The German economy has "eclipsed" pre-crisis levels, Der Spiegel boldly proclaims, a fair enough statement the Economist retorts – however, where is the matching foreign policy? Comparing Nicolas Sarkozy’s hawkish rooster, to Germany’s "unadventurous eagle," has not necessarily helped the President in the polls. At least the Arctic Council and Catherine Ashton are on the […]

Sarkozy’s wars

By the Economist

From the Economist:  Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to make 2011 the year he turned success abroad into renewed popularity at home.