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New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2013

Operation Irresolute Support

By Julian Lindley-French

In 1842 Sir Charles Napier wrote perhaps the most succinct telegram in military history to mark his success at the end of the First Anglo-Afghan War – “Peccavi,” he wrote, “I have sinned.” It was a play on words as Napier had just conquered what is today the Pakistani province of Sindh. In another play […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2013

Why Jordan Hesitates to Back Syrian Opposition

By Henry Johnson

As the United States prepares to provide weapons to Syrian rebels, it will rely on Turkey and Jordan to move arms into the country. Jordan will doubtlessly aid the United States, but its willingness to fully support Assad’s ouster remains far from evident. Despite the show of force touted in June’s Eager Lion military exercises, […]

Middle East
Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2013

The Enormity of Mandela’s Struggle

By Rajan Menon

Nelson Mandela is now waging what mere mortals would see as life’s greatest battle: the one to stay alive. But Mandela, a larger-than-life figure, would probably not see it that way; for him the battle was always about something that transcended his person.

Politics & Diplomacy
South Africa

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2013

End of the Military Strongman?

By Kathryn Alexeeff

The success of Pakistan’s democratic elections in May and the outcome of the recent protests in Egypt point to a shift in both countries’ military participation in politics – while they will support or depose governments, they no longer seem interested in ruling the countries themselves.

Economy & Business
Elections

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2013

TTIP: A Ray of Hope for European Defense?

By Leo Michel

It’s been two years since then defense secretary Robert Gates, noting that the US share of NATO defense spending had risen from 50 to 75 percent since the end of the Cold War, sent this blunt message to Europe: “(I)f current trends in the decline of European defense capabilities are not halted and reversed, future […]

Economy & Business
European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2013

How France ‘Set the Standard’ for Crisis Intervention

By Julian Lindley-French

A very senior British general said of Operation Serval in Mali that France had “set the standard” for crisis military interventions. Praise indeed and not easily given. One can always tell when a crisis is being managed to effect as the press lose interest.

France
Sahel

New Atlanticist

Jul 10, 2013

Mr. President Missing in Action?

By Harlan Ullman

Regional crises abound. Massive protests in Egypt that ended the flailing Morsi government to continued bloodshed from Afghanistan to Syria are representative of these crises.

Intelligence
National Security

New Atlanticist

Jul 10, 2013

Chancellor Merkel’s Strategic Opportunity

By Ulrich Speck

If a European leader these days can be called assertive, it’s Angela Merkel. The trouble is, assertiveness is not a foreign policy. Germany is still not thinking strategically—but that is what it needs to do. Receiving Barack Obama in Berlin on June 19, the German chancellor’s bold approach was on full display. She lectured the […]

Economy & Business
European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2013

The US Should Give Egypt’s Military 48 Hours to Restore Civilian Rule

By Sarwar Kashmeri

It is a truth universally acknowledged (my apologies to Jane Austen) that the removal of a country’s elected leader by its military is deemed a military coup. So while I agree with President Obama’s pragmatic refusal to so label the recent overthrow of Egypt’s President Morsi, this finesse of terminology had better be a temporary […]

North Africa
United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2013

Scanning Cargo Containers Is More Important than Scanning Emails

By Joerg Wolf

The United States has built huge internet surveillance infrastructures, but failed to implement its own 9/11 law about maritime cargo security.

Cybersecurity
Maritime Security