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Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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NATOSource

Nov 17, 2009

Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine Form Joint Brigade for International Missions

By Reuters

From Reuters: Poland and Lithuania want to forge military cooperation with Ukraine to try to bring the former Soviet republic closer to NATO, Polish officials said. Under the plan, the three countries would form a brigade that could participate in international peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations, the European Union or NATO. […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Nov 17, 2009

French Ship Sale to Russia Must Be Blown Off Course

By David Smith

The French Navy ship Mistral tied up at a downtown Saint Petersburg pier November 23. With the golden dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral shimmering in the background, the amphibious assault ship made a perfect sales promotion picture, which was precisely its mission.  Some in Paris—led by the Elysée Palace—want to sell Mistral class ships to […]

France Russia

NATOSource

Nov 17, 2009

Italy’s Foreign Minister says post-Lisbon EU needs a European Army

By the Times (London)

From the Times (London): Italy is to push for the creation of a European Army after the “new Europe” takes shape at this week’s crucial EU summit following the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. Franco Frattini, the Italian Foreign Minister, said that the Lisbon Treaty had established “that if some countries want to enter into […]

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Nov 17, 2009

Secretary General Honors the Passing Away of Pierre Harmel

By NATO

From NATO: On behalf of NATO, I would like to express my condolences to the family of Mr. Pierre Harmel. Mr. Harmel’s career in politics was long, distinguished and influential. He helped to shape politics in Belgium and at the European level, throughout his 31 years in public life. He also played a crucial role […]

New Atlanticist

Nov 16, 2009

Afghanistan Exit: Follow The Gorbachev Plan

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Did Mikhail Gorbachev launch glasnost and perestroika in the mid-1980s with the aim of bringing about genuine democratic change in the Soviet Union? That’s what he says in two interviews on both sides of the Atlantic — Euronews’ Maria Pineiro and Nation Editor Katrina vanden Heuvel — to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall […]

Afghanistan

NATOSource

Nov 16, 2009

Germany sending 120 more troops to Afghanistan

By Reuters

From Reuters: Germany will send 120 more soldiers to northern Afghanistan to reinforce its base in the Kundus province, Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said on Friday. Guttenberg announced the modest increase during a surprise visit to Afghanistan, where Germany has the third largest contingent in the NATO-led mission with 4,200 troops. “I’ve made the […]

NATOSource

Nov 16, 2009

Barack Obama ‘risks Suez-like disaster’ in Afghanistan, says key military adviser

By the Guardian

From the Guardian: A key adviser to Nato forces warned today that Barack Obama risks a Suez-style debacle in Afghanistan if he fails to deploy enough extra troops and opts instead for a messy compromise… “Time is running out for us to make a decision. We can either put in enough troops to control the […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Nov 16, 2009

US and EU: Transatlantic Partnership for the 21st Century

By Marc Grossman

In the 1970s, Henry Kissinger famously asked, “who do I call if I want to speak to Europe?” After more than three decades, he may finally get his answer. Last week, the European parliament began debating the powers and responsibilities of a new president of Europe, a position made possible by the recent decision of […]

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Nov 16, 2009

NATO may lose in Afghanistan

By the Economist

From the Economist: In August 2009 General Stanley McChrystal, America’s (and NATO’s) top commander in Afghanistan, said that the international effort there was at grave risk of failing. He reckoned he had a year to start turning things around, or risk losing American support. If that is right, while professing support for General McChrystal’s efforts, […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Nov 16, 2009

India Must Have a Role in U.S. Afghan Strategy

By Adnan Zulfiqar

While the nation awaits the administration’s plans for Afghanistan, few expect that decision to make any mention of India. But it should.