Category: NATOSource

Czech Republic to send more instructors to Afghanistan

By the AP

From the AP:  The Czech Republic has agreed to contribute more instructors to train the expanding Afghan security forces in a response to NATO’s request. The Czech military says 50 instructors will be sent to train with the Afghan army in Kabul for two months from September before moving the Wardak province in November. The […]

Sponsor of Flotilla Tied to Turkey’s Ruling Party

By Dan Bilefsky and Sebnem Arsu, the New York Times

Russia on Course to Expand Domestic Security Powers

By Ellen Barry, the New York Times

EU reaches out for new powers at United Nations

By Leigh Phillips, the EUobserver

From Leigh Phillips, the EUobserver:  European Council President Herman Van Rompuy will in future be able to address the UN chamber no differently from US President Barack Obama or Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmedinejad under draft reforms agreed by member states. EU countries at meetings in Brussels and New York have agreed to table a resolution […]

Projects that may be hit by European defence cuts

By Reuters

From Reuters:  With governments across Europe planning to slash tens of billions of euros from their defence budgets, major projects are under scrutiny for possible cancellations or cuts.

Belarus suppresses pillow fight

By the AP

From the AP:  In Belarus, an authoritarian, former Soviet nation, even a pillow fight can be seen as a threat to national security. On Thursday, club-wielding police dispersed about 400 pillow-wielding youths who gathered in Minsk, the capital, to humorously commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald. It stopped an invasion of German Catholic […]

NATO launches Afghan intelligence-sharing drive

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  NATO said on Thursday it had begun implementing a project to improve intelligence-sharing among foreign forces in Afghanistan, with the aim of boosting operational efficiency and cutting casualties. NATO officials said the Afghan Mission Network was based around a high-speed broadband link between 63 locations in Afghanistan to allow better sharing […]

Conscription in Germany may be on the way out

By the Economist

From the Economist:  This month the German legislature passed a law shortening the tour of duty from nine months to six. That was the result of an awkward compromise between the partners in the ruling coalition.

Europe falls out of love with Barack Obama

By Nile Gardiner, the Telegraph