Category: NATOSource

U.S. planning to keep 6,000 to 20,000 American troops in Afghanistan after 2014

By Elisabeth Bumiller and Eric Schmitt, New York Times

From Elisabeth Bumiller and Eric Schmitt, New York Times:  Gen. John R. Allen, the senior American commander in Afghanistan, has submitted military options to the Pentagon that would keep 6,000 to 20,000 American troops in Afghanistan after 2014, defense officials said on Wednesday.

McAffee: Destructive, Stuxnet-level cyber attacks will increase in 2013

By John Reed, Killer Apps

From John Reed, Killer Apps:  IT security firm McAfee has just released a report on what it thinks will be the biggest trends in cyber for the new year.

Russia to hold large-scale naval exercises in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea

By RIA Novosti

Russia to Triple State Defense Order by 2015

By RIA Novosti

Majority of British polled support pre-emptive cyber attacks

By Tom Whitehead, Telegraph

From Tom Whitehead, Telegraph:  The majority of the public believe pre-emptive strikes are justified if enemy states or hi-tech criminals pose a threat to national security. Earlier this year, a committee of MPs and peers said Britain should declare cyber war on those who target the country through aggressive retaliatory strikes to destroy their operations. […]

Fewer NATO fatalities in Afghanistan during 2012, but insider attacks up

By Denis D. Gray and Rahim Faiez, AP

From Denis D. Gray and Rahim Faiez, AP:  Violence in Afghanistan fell in 2012, but more Afghan troops and police who now shoulder most of the combat were killed, according to statistics compiled by The Associated Press.

NATO Secretary General welcomes progress on Afghan transition

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  I welcome President Karzai’s announcement of the fourth group of Afghan provinces, cities and districts to undergo transition in the coming months. With this decision, the Afghan security forces will be taking the lead for security for 87% of the Afghan population and 23 of the 34 Afghan provinces.

US Ambassador to NATO urges European allies to spend Afghan withdrawal savings on defense

By Nick Hopkins, Guardian

From Nick Hopkins, Guardian:  The UK and other European countries must use the money saved by withdrawing from Afghanistan to re-equip their military and help reverse worrying cuts in defence spending, the American ambassador to Nato will warn on Tuesday.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and thank you to everyone that supported NATOSource during 2012.