Category: NATOSource

ISAF regains initiative, claims Dutch General

By Radio Netherlands Worldwide

From Radio Netherlands Worldwide: NATO has significantly changed its military strategy in Southern Afghanistan since the alliance-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) deployed into the region in 2006. Dutch Major General Mart de Kruif told Radio Netherlands that rather than massive offensives against the Taliban, as was the case in the early days, ISAF now […]

Radoslaw Sikorski, Foreign Minister of Poland

If you can still afford it, we need some strategic reassurance. Reuters

Putin quote

By the Georgian Daily

From the Georgian Daily: “I can assure you,” Putin told a press conference during his recent visit to Paris, “that if we purchase the armament, we will use it wherever deemed necessary.” Asked in which sea would Russia deploy the Mistral ship or ships if the deal is finalized, Putin told the media in Paris […]

Merkel calls minister meeting on Afghanistan ahead of summit

By the Local

From the Local: According to Friday’s edition of daily Berliner Zeitung, Merkel has ordered Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière, and Development Minister Dirk Niebel to appear at the Chancellery on Monday evening. There Merkel and the ministers plan to finalise their list of priorities for Germany’s […]

Unilateralism Thrust Upon Us?

Anne Applebaum presents a provocative question in the Washington Post: Europe might have a new phone number, but when Obama calls, the person on the other end of the line will still be unable to act. “Europe” will not be a unified entity capable of coordinating a unified policy in Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, the […]

Vaclac Havel, former President of the Czech Republic

By Foreign Policy

From Foreign Policy: “they respect it when someone is standing his ground, when someone is not afraid of them. When someone soils his pants prematurely, then they do not respect you more for it.” Vaclav Havel,

Robert E. Hunter , former U.S. Ambassador to NATO

Will the United States recommit in practical ways to being a European power?  (photo: Council on Foreign Relations)

Hello world!

NATO and the Nuclear Umbrella

By the New York Times

From the New York Times: As early as 1987, NATO foreign ministers proposed significant reductions of short-range nuclear weapons in their Reykjavik declaration. And 15 years ago, when U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry developed the formula that there is no need and no plan to deploy nuclear weapons to new NATO member states, he correctly […]

An Alarming Franco-Russian Arms Deal

By the Wall Street Journal

From the Wall Street Journal: France’s decision to go ahead with the deal without prompting any NATO objections is particularly disturbing in light of Moscow’s recent aggressions. It’s just some 18 months ago that the Russians snubbed Mr. Sarkozy when they refused to comply with the French-brokered Georgia War cease-fire agreement President Dmitry Medvedev had […]