Atlantic Council blogs

Atlantic Update 6/28/2011

By HuiHui Ooi

The IMF announced Christine Lagarde as its next managing director, becoming the first female to lead one of the world’s largest lending organization. Strikes in Greece turn into violent clashes as Greece continues to deal with its financial crisis. Greece also faces a parliamentary vote on Wednesday to approve a third austerity package in order […]

Reaching Across the Border

By Raja Menon and Lalit Mansingh

Pakistan’s deceit in cocooning Osama bin Laden in Abottabad as well as the ISI support to the Mumbai attackers has angered Indian public opinion. Unfortunately, Pakistan is a geographical reality and it will always be a neighbour. Punishing Pakistan by not engaging it in areas of our national interest is therefore not wise. Given this, […]

Don’t Come Home, America

By Robert Kagan, the Weekly Standard

From Robert Kagan, the Weekly Standard:  "America, it is time to focus on nation building here at home.” This was the core sound bite in President Obama’s speech announcing the drawdown of forces in Afghanistan, and it was an extraordinary statement.

UN Military Advisor meets with NATO’s Military Committee

By NATO

From NATO:  Lt. Gen. Babacar Gaye, the Military Advisor of the United Nations met with NATO’s Military Committee. This was the second visit of a UN Military Advisor to NATO headquarters for an exchange of views on NATO-UN cooperation.

Update: NATO activities in Libya on June 26

By NATO

Liam Fox: outspoken military chiefs are putting lives at risk

By Thomas Harding and Andy Bloxham, the Telegraph

From Thomas Harding and Andy Bloxham, the Telegraph:  Military commanders who have spoken out against the ability to continue operations in Libya are putting lives at risk, Liam Fox said today.

After the bin Laden Raid

By Shuja Nawaz

For the second time in the life of the current government a parliamentary session has produced a unanimous “feel good” resolution, after what must have been serious prodding by the military. Private discussions again leaked badly to the media, making it difficult to ascertain what was really said, given that we cannot judge the motivations […]

Hague Court issues warrant for Gaddafi for war crimes

By Marlise Simons, the New York Times

From Marlise Simons, the New York Times:  The International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants on Monday for Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam and his chief of intelligence, Abdullah al-Sanoussi

What’s happened to America’s leadership role?

By Fred Hiatt, the Washington Post

From Fred Hiatt, the Washington Post:  America is not fated to lose its leadership position in the world. But President Obama and his Republican opposition, in different ways, are making that outcome more likely.

Belgium to withdraw half its troops from Afghanistan

By AFP

From AFP: Belgium plans to halve its troop numbers in Afghanistan from the start of January, a defence ministry official told AFP on Sunday in the latest sign of allied exit from the decade-old war.