Category: Blogs

Republicans question new Obama policy on Afghanistan

By Barbara Starr and Adam Levine, CNN Security Clearance

From Barbara Starr and Adam Levine, CNN Security Clearance:  The United States and NATO want to end their combat mission in Afghanistan next year

German Defense Minister: ‘Europe remains the biggest base for US soldiers abroad’

By Bernd Riegert, Deutsche Welle

From Bernd Riegert, Deutsche Welle:  During the NATO summit in Brussels, US Defense Secrety Leon Panetta once again briefed his partners on Washington’s military plans.

NATO allies complain they were blindsided by Panetta’s remarks on Afghanistan

By David S. Cloud, the Los Angeles Times

US replacing 2 brigades with twice yearly battalion exercises in Europe

By Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense

From Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense:  I also should mention that I again reaffirm that as part of our strategy, one of the pillars in our strategy is to maintain our strong partnership with NATO

Why Legal Entanglements of an Aging Movie Star and Billionaire Represent Crucial Tests for “New Egypt”

By Kurt Werthmuller

On Thursday, February 2, fallout from the previous day’s violent soccer clashes in Port Said overshadowed reports that Egyptian film star Adel Imam had been sentenced to three months of hard labor for “insulting Islam” throughout his long filmmaking career.  This is the second religious defamation case against an Egyptian public figure in as many […]

Panetta on Afghanistan 2013: ‘We will engage in combat operations as necessary’

By Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense

From Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense:  First, as an alliance, obviously we are fully committed to the Lisbon framework:  in together, out together.

A Leaner NATO Needs a Tighter Focus

By Hans Binnendijk

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have an opportunity this weekend as they address the Munich Security Conference to suggest ways to stabilize NATO’s ailing defense capabilities. European nations have slashed their defense budgets to record low levels without much regard for NATO’s overall defense requirements. And last week […]

A Leaner NATO Needs a Tighter Focus

By Hans Binnendijk, the International Herald Tribune

From Hans Binnendijk, the International Herald Tribune:  European nations have slashed their defense budgets to record low levels without much regard for NATO’s overall defense requirements.

NATO defence ministers achieve breakthrough on Baltic air patrol mission

By the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania

From the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania:  On February 2, Thursday, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė while at the NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels noted that a breakthrough had been achieved in the effort to have a prolonged Baltic Air policing mission