Atlantic Council blogs

Police Reveal Link Between Italian and Greek Bombers

By the AP

From the AP:  Police on Tuesday confirmed a link between Italian and Greek anarchists, saying the Italian group that sent parcel bombs to three Rome embassies was responding to an appeal from its Greek counterparts to step up attacks.

Baltic Allies Warn that France-Russia Mistral deal “is a mistake”

By expatica.com

Russia’s biggest spy agencies at war

By Andrew Osborn, the Telegraph

From Andrew Osborn, the Telegraph:  According to Russian experts, the domestic FSB security service is trying to subsume the SVR foreign intelligence service in order to recreate a latter day KGB in all but name. Supporters of the plan are seeking to capitalise on the SVR’s worst post-Soviet failure, the deportation of ten of its […]

Britain charges 9 of 12 arrested in terror plot

By Karla Adam, the Washington Post

From Karla Adam, the Washington Post:  Nine of 12 men arrested last week in Britain on suspicion of planning a terror attack were charged Monday with conspiracy to set off explosions and testing potential bombs, police said.

Dutch detain 12 Somalis on terror suspicions

By the AP

From the AP:  Dutch police have arrested 12 Somali men in the key port city of Rotterdam on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack, the public prosecutor said Saturday. The men, aged 19 to 48, were detained Friday on a tip from the intelligence services that they were planning an attack shortly in the Netherlands. […]

The Putinization of Hungary

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  The right-wing Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban won 53 percent of the popular vote in an election this year but gained 66 percent of the seats in parliament – enough to change the constitution.

NATO Secretary General welcomes New START Treaty

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  I very much welcome the US Senate’s ratification of the New START Treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation, which will make a significant contribution to Euro-Atlantic security. The foreseen reduction of US and Russian strategic nuclear weapons will  pave the way for progress on conventional and nuclear […]

Arms Talks Now Turn to Tactical Nuclear Weapons

By Peter Baker, the New York Times

From Peter Baker, the New York Times:  Fresh from winning Senate approval for a new strategic arms treaty, President [Barack] Obama plans to return to the negotiating table with Russia next year in hopes of securing the first legal limits ever imposed on the smaller, battlefield nuclear weapons viewed as most vulnerable to theft or […]

Chavez Confronted With Alternative

By Ana Palacio

The law that marginalizes the new Venezuelan Parliament, which will be formed on January 5 2011, and enables Hugo Chávez to legislate unchecked for 18 months, together with other measures the current National Assembly is fast-tracking in the final days of its term, offers a revealing insight into Venezuela’s political climate. On the one hand, […]

Russia concludes deal with France to build Mistral warships

By AFP

From AFP:  France and Russia have agreed to build jointly two French Mistral-class command and amphibious assault warships, with the possibility of two more, President Nicolas Sarkozy‘s office said Friday.               "Following the October 5 tender to supply the Russian navy with two projection and command ships, the Russian authorities have chosen the consortium of […]