Content

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2012

China’s Military Spending and US National Security

By Derek Reveron

In a sign of transparency, China recently unveiled its annual military budget of 670 billion yuan ($106 billion), which represents a $10.6 billion annual increase. Given that China’s currency is undervalued, some estimates bring the total to over $200 billion and even higher when foreign procurement is included.

China

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2012

A Hasty Retreat Would Add to the Huge Toll of the War

By Shuja Nawaz

We have failed in Afghanistan. Failed to define tightly the original mission. Failed to see Afghanistan through its own eyes and through the eyes of its neighbors. And we failed to explain to the American people why we were there and why we need to remain a partner in the region even when the fighting […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2012

Cybersecurity Legislation Should Force US Government to Listen Less and Speak More

By Jason Healey

To defend itself from the onslaughts of online crime and espionage backed by China and other nations, America’s private sector needs the capabilities of the US government. These tax-paying companies are on the new front lines of the cyber conflict, in which private enterprise is facing nation-state funded threats. Given their role in maintaining America’s […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

MENASource

Mar 16, 2012

Top News: ElBaradei Supporters Launch Signature Campaign

By Mara Revkin

Supporters of Mohamed ElBaradei have launched a campaign to collect 40,000 signatures nominating him for the presidency, despite ElBaradei’s decision to withdraw from the race.

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2012

To Help Syria, Apply a Mix of ‘Soft’ and ‘Hard’ Power

By Benedetta Berti

The debate over the role of the international community in Syria is disheartening, dominated by skepticism about the ability of outsiders to have a positive impact. This stems from the fact that two main options – continuing to refrain from direct intervention or waging a fully fledged military campaign – both have serious drawbacks. Is […]

International Organizations NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2012

The Tragedy of All or Nothing Interventions

By Bernard Finel

Dan Trombly has a chacteristically thoughtful post on lessons we’ve learned (or not learned) from recent interventions. In it, he writes:

Libya Syria

NATOSource

Mar 15, 2012

NATO’s lesson for Syria

By John D. Podesta and Ken Gude, the Khaleej Times

From John D. Podesta and Ken Gude, the Khaleej Times:  Today, the growing debate about a Syrian intervention raises legitimate questions concerning whether Libya was a unique situation.

NATOSource

Mar 15, 2012

NATO’s top commander says Montenegro militarily ready to join alliance

By the AP

From the AP:  NATO’s top commander said Wednesday that Montenegro will soon fulfill the military requirements to become a member of the Western alliance.

United States and Canada

NATOSource

Mar 15, 2012

Russia May Let NATO Use Airfield as Afghan Hub

By David M. Herszenhorn, the New York Times

From David M. Herszenhorn, the New York Times:  The Kremlin expressed willingness on Wednesday to allow NATO to use an airfield in the heart of European Russia, in a city best known as Lenin’s birthplace, as a transit center for moving troops and “nonlethal” cargo into Afghanistan.

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2012

Subtle Signs Obama Diplomacy May Work on Iran

By Barbara Slavin

After months of increasingly ominous war talk by the United States, Israel and Iran, there are intriguing signs of potential diplomatic progress over Iran’s nuclear program.   A series of events – both internal and external – have improved the odds for fruitful negotiations when the United States and its U.N. Security Council partners plus Germany […]