Category: NATOSource

Air Force commander is likely candidate for top NATO post

By Thom Shanker, New  York Times

From Thom Shanker, New  York Times:  Senior NATO officials said on Thursday that Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, currently the commander of American Air Force units in Europe and Africa, was emerging as the likely candidate to be nominated by President Obama to be the alliance’s supreme military commander.

NATO may hold summit in June for heads of state

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

From Adrian Croft, Reuters:  NATO is considering holding a summit in mid-2013 to mark a milestone in the handover of security responsibilities in Afghanistan to local forces, alliance Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday.

War, à la Française

By Anne Jolis, Wall Street Journal

Germany must decide the power it wields

By Ulrich Speck, Financial Times

From Ulrich Speck, Financial Times:  For Germany, the status quo is not an option any more.

Visegrad, Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers call for ‘tangible measures for improving European crisis management capabilities’

By Carl Bildt and Radoslaw Sikorski, Foreign Ministry of Poland

From Carl Bildt and Radoslaw Sikorski, Foreign Ministry of Poland:  It was agreed that Visegrad, Nordic and Baltic countries due to their geographic proximity, shared values and interest had an important role to play in promoting democracy, rule of law and security. Ministers agreed that cooperation between our countries would serve well strengthening our security […]

Top U.S. stealth jet has to talk to allied planes over unsecured radio

By David Axe, Danger Room

From David Axe, Danger Room:  For the first time, America’s top-of-the-line F-22 fighters and Britain’s own cutting-edge Typhoon jets have come together for intensive, long-term training in high-tech warfare. If only the planes could talk to each other on equal terms.

Who will Obama nominate to be NATO’s new military commander?

By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes

From John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes:  A review of the military’s current list of four-star commanders doesn’t reveal any obvious choices. Gen. Carter Ham, the current head of Africa Command, could be viewed as a no brainer, given his experience heading up a combatant command and deep roots in Europe, but he is slated to […]

Bulgarian government resigns amid protests

By Joe Parkinson, Wall Street Journal

From Joe Parkinson, Wall Street Journal:  The European economic crisis felled its latest political victim on Wednesday as Bulgaria’s government resigned from office after days of nationwide protests against austerity, high electricity prices and official corruption.

Disarmed Europe will face the world alone

By Gideon Rachman, Financial Times