Category: Blogs

Obama rejects views of 2 top lawyers in Constitutional debate over Libya conflict

By Charlie Savage, the New York Times

From Charlie Savage, the New York Times:  President Obama rejected the views of top lawyers at the Pentagon and the Justice Department when he decided that he had the legal authority to continue American military participation in the air war in Libya without Congressional authorization

Why Europe no longer matters

By Richard N. Haas, the Washington Post

From Richard N. Haas, the Washington Post:  In the coming decades, Europe’s influence on affairs beyond its borders will be sharply limited, and it is in other regions, not Europe, that the 21st century will be most clearly forged and defined.

Obama rejects State Department missile defense compromise with Russia

By Bill Gertz, Inside the Ring

From Bill Gertz, Inside the Ring:  President Obama recently rejected a proposed missile-defense agreement with Russia that was developed by the State Department with the hope of coaxing Moscow into cooperation on countering Iranian missile threats.

France inks deal to sell Russia $1.52 bln warships despite NATO concerns

By Alexei Anishchuk, Reuters

From Alexei Anishchuk, Reuters:  France and Russia signed an agreement on Friday for Paris to supply Moscow with two Mistral class helicopter carriers made by a French-led consortium in a 1.2 billion euro ($1.52 billion) deal. The long-discussed purchase is Moscow’s first major foreign arms purchase in the two decades since the fall of the […]

US funds hunt for Libyan missiles

By Stephen Braun, the AP

From Stephen Braun, the AP:  The U.S. is paying two European mine-clearing groups nearly $1 million to hunt and dispose of loose anti-aircraft missiles that could make their way from Libyan battlefields to terror groups. The hiring of weapons demolition experts hardly dampens concerns about anti-aircraft missiles still in the hands of the Gadhafi regime’s […]

The Gates Speech Aftermath

By Nikolas Gvosdev

The “farewell address” delivered by outgoing Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to the North Atlantic Alliance last Friday was a stark warning that “business as usual” cannot continue much longer.

Who Needs NATO? We All Do

By Ivo H. Daalder, the International Herald Tribune

From Ivo H. Daalder, the International Herald Tribune:  Today, more than 150,000 troops participate in six NATO operations on three continents.

Update: NATO activities in Libya on June 16

By NATO