Atlantic Council blogs

Canada to remain in Afghanistan past 2011

By Rob Gillies, the AP

New Director appointed to the NATO Information Office in Moscow

By NATO

From NATO:  The Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has appointed Mr. Robert Pszczel as Director of the NATO Information Centre in Moscow. The Office, inaugurated in 2001, provides information on NATO and NATO-Russia cooperation to the Russian public. From the Moscow Times:  NATO has appointed a new head of its Moscow Information […]

Stuxnet: First Physical Weapon in Cybered Conflict Age

By Chris Demchak

Stuxnet is the first publicly known crossover cyber-to-concrete weapon and, with its success, the era of cybered conflict has officially arrived.  This malicious software hit Iran’s nascent contested nuclear reactors in situ this year, disrupting their final completion into full operations. In so doing, and unlike other viruses and malware, Stuxnet has shown the path […]

Avoiding the Next War in the South Caucasus

By Borut Grgic

While most European governments are cutting defense spending to balance their budgets and curtail debt, there are at least two countries on the Continent that are doing the exact opposite: Azerbaijan and Armenia are both ramping up their defense spending, and have been doing so for the last several years. The two countries are locked […]

NATO allies want Canada to keep some troops in Afghanistan as trainers

By Karen DeYoung, the Washington Post

Russia claims Georgia arrested alleged spies to hurt Moscow’s relations with NATO

By  Andrew Osborn, the Telegraph

From Andrew Osborn, the Telegraph: Russia accused Georgia of trying to sabotage its rapprochement with the Nato military alliance on Friday after Georgia claimed it had uncovered a sprawling Russian spy network.

Thaci: Erdoğan encouraged Kosovo not to delay independence

By Zaman

From Zaman:  The Turkish prime minister encouraged Kosovo’s independence from Serbia, telling Kosovar authorities in 2008 that they should not delay declaring independence

Restructuring Sovereign Debt: Time for Action

By Susan Schadler

The gap between market expectations of sovereign debt restructurings and official non-discussion of institutional arrangements for restructuring is wide.  While markets are pricing a substantial default risk for Greek, Irish, Portuguese and even Spanish bonds, the financial policy debate is squarely focused on the causes of the last crisis. Arrangements for dealing with the likely […]

Another Package Is Defused as Greece Halts Overseas Mail

By  Niki Kitsantonis and Rachel Donadio, the New York Times

From Niki Kitsantonis and Rachel Donadio, the New York Times:  The authorities in Athens found another explosive device on Thursday, this one addressed to the French Embassy