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NATOSource

Jul 23, 2012

Gen. Allen: US Afghan withdrawal halfway done for 2012

By Deb Riechmann, the AP

From Deb Riechmann, the AP:  This year’s pullout of 23,000 American troops from Afghanistan is at the halfway mark, U.S. Gen. John Allen, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces, said Sunday in an interview with The Associated Press.

United States and Canada

MENASource

Jul 23, 2012

Top News: Hamas: Egypt Delegation to Visit Gaza, West Bank to Discuss Reconciliation

By Tarek Radwan

Egypt intends to send two delegations to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to discuss Palestinian reconciliation, Hamas political bureau member Mahmoud al-Zahar said Sunday. Zahar told Palestinian news agency Maan News that the move comes in response to a suggestion made by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal during his recent meeting with Egyptian President […]

NATOSource

Jul 23, 2012

EU to ‘inspect vessels and aircraft heading to Syria’ with suspicious cargo

By the Council of the European Union

From the Council of the European Union:  In response to the ever increasing violence in Syria, the Council today strengthened the enforcement of the EU arms embargo against Syria.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2012

NATO: Connected Forces, Connected Minds?

By Julian Lindley-French

NATO must contend with two competing and contending inner-realities: a schism in Alliance strategic culture and concept, driven by deepening divisions over the world view and the future of the Euro; and the austerity-driven need for shrinking armed forces to work ever more closely together in a world in which the balance of power is […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

NATOSource

Jul 23, 2012

U.S. increasing efforts to block flow of weapons and oil from Iran to Syria

By Adam Entous, Julian E. Barnes, and Nour Malas, the Wall Street Journal

From Adam Entous, Julian E. Barnes, and Nour Malas, the Wall Street Journal:  The U.S. has been mounting a secret but limited effort to speed the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad without using force, scrambling spies and diplomats to block arms and oil shipments from Iran and passing intelligence to front-line allies.

United States and Canada

NATOSource

Jul 22, 2012

Obama administration ‘ready to accelerate’ efforts to remove Assad

By Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper, the New York Times

From Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper, the New York Times:  The Obama administration has for now abandoned efforts for a diplomatic settlement to the conflict in Syria, and instead it is increasing aid to the rebels

United States and Canada

NATOSource

Jul 21, 2012

NATO says it’s winning war against Somali piracy

By Saleh Al-Shaibany, Reuters

From Saleh Al-Shaibany, Reuters:  The threat from Somali pirates is receding but the international community must continue to work together to eliminate the menace, a NATO official said on Saturday.

NATOSource

Jul 21, 2012

Russian envoy: Missile defense ‘remains a stumbling block in our relations with the alliance’

By ITAR-TASS

From ITAR-TASS:   "The missile defence system in Europe remains a stumbling block in our relations with the alliance. Finding mutually acceptable solutions to this problem is still possible, although the window of opportunity has been shrinking steadily. We have offered NATO a variety of formulas for joint action in this area, but until now we […]

United States and Canada

NATOSource

Jul 21, 2012

The more Russia and NATO need each other, the better

By Sergei Oznobishchev, Valdai Club

From Sergei Oznobishchev, Valdai Club:   On setting up a NATO transshipment base in Ulyanovsk The decision is important in geopolitical and strategic terms, as it bolsters Russia’s partner relations with the United States and the North Atlantic alliance. There have been ups and downs in the Russia-NATO relationship, with downs prevailing. Russia has repeatedly frozen […]

NATOSource

Jul 20, 2012

Syria: The moral urge to intervene is countervailed by the moral responsibility for the consequences

By Maria Lipman, BBC

From Maria Lipman, BBC:  "A villainous leader brutally killing his adversaries should be stopped." At first sight the moral clarity of this statement cannot be called into doubt.

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