Category: Blogs

A Silver Lining to America’s Waning Influence

By Helene Cooper, the New York Times

From Helene Cooper, the New York Times:  President Hu Jintao of China will arrive in Cannes, France, this week pondering a plea from Europe for tens of billions of dollars to help the continent get out of its debt crisis. And President Obama will arrive with a smile, some hearty handshakes, and his own plea: […]

Combat Commanders Gain Control Of Counterintelligence Ops

By Carlo Munoz, AOL Defense

From Carlo Munoz, AOL Defense:  The Pentagon is offering field commanders control of counterintelligence operations to cope with the never-ceasing efforts by countries such as China, Iran and Israel to gain access to classified information and technology.

NATO is increasing resources to try get Afghans ready to take over from security firms

By the AP

From the AP:  NATO is pouring extra resources to set up an Afghan force to take over from private security firms after a report showed the Afghans are unlikely to be ready for the planned disbanding of private security companies in March, officials said Wednesday.

The impact of success in Libya on future NATO operations

By Gordon Robison, Gulf News

From Gordon Robison, Gulf News:   [T]he haste with which Nato leaders moved to announce their exit from Libya effective Monday, bordered on the unseemly, especially since the NTC itself was publicly calling on Nato to stay on until the end of the year and expand its mission to include securing the country’s borders.

NATO in Libya: Is Syria Next?

By Robert Dreyfuss, the Nation

From Robert Dreyfuss, the Nation:  Now that NATO is closing up shop in Libya, will it turn to Syria? Right now, the answer is no. But if the fragmented Syrian opposition—bolstered by Turkey, a member of NATO, which is turning increasingly against Syrian President Assad—manages to set up a Benghazi-like enclave either inside Syria or […]

Kyrgyz president-elect wants U.S. air base closed

By Robin Paxton, Reuters

Roger Cohen: Leading from behind “was smart policy in Libya”

By Roger Cohen, the New York Times

From Roger Cohen, the New York Times:  Leading from behind — a phrase first used by a White House adviser in a New Yorker article by Ryan Lizza — was smart policy in Libya.