Atlantic Council blogs

French Libya military mission costs almost $230 million

By John Irish, Reuters

From John Irish, Reuters:  French military operations in Libya have cost 160 million euros ($228.9 million), Budget Minister Valerie Pecresse said on Saturday, just days before a key parliamentary debate on extending operations.

Georgian journalist says he spied for Russia

By Misha Dzhindzhikhaahvili, the AP

From Misha Dzhindzhikhaahvili, the AP:  The personal photographer to the Georgian president was shown on television Saturday confessing to supplying a colleague with secret information that was then sent to a Russian secret service.

Gaddafi again threatens to attack Europe with suicide bombers

By David Zucchino, the Los Angeles Times

From David Zucchino, the Los Angeles Times:  For the second time in a week, Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi has threatened to dispatch hundreds of Libyan suicide bombers to attack targets in Europe in retaliation for NATO strikes against his regime. "Hundreds of Libyans will martyr in Europe," Kadafi said late Friday in a defiant speech […]

Europe’s last dictator

By David J. Kramer and A. Wess Mitchell, the Washington Post

From David J. Kramer and A. Wess Mitchell, the Washington Post:  Dubbed the last dictator in Europe, Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko is under growing domestic and international pressure because of his gross human rights abuses and responsibility for his country’s worst economic crisis since gaining independence 20 years ago.

Update: NATO activities in Libya on July 8

By NATO

The Realist Prism: Countdown Begins on NATO-Russia BMD Deal

By Nikolas Gvosdev, World Policy Review

From Nikolas Gvosdev, World Policy Review:  Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, has set a timer in motion for resolving the outstanding differences between the North Atlantic alliance and Russia over a proposed ballistic missile defense system in Europe.

Topsy-Turvy Alliance

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

The ingredients for a pluperfect national storm coupled with a pluperfect action completed at or before the time of another past action are the best way to try to understand the crazy mixed-up — but still critically important — alliance between Pakistan and the United States. Fickle friends and strong enemies at the same time […]

Text of Speech by Lord Robertson on Transatlantic Relations: A Case for Optimism

By Lord Robertson, Chatham House

From Lord Robertson, Chatham House:  In the wake of US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates’ final speech in office, berating as it did European allies for their growing uselessness in the security field, my title may seem at best generous and at worst delusional. I need to explain.

Turkey assumes command of NATO anti-mine task force

By the Pakistan Observer