Category: Blogs

New lead negotiator on missile defense?

By Bill Gertz, Inside the Ring

From Bill Gertz, Inside the Ring:  Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher, who has been leading U.S.-Russian missile defense talks that are largely kept secret from Congress and the public, was given a demotion of sorts

NATO chief says he favors financing Libyan rebels

By Alessandra Rizzo and Don Melvin, the AP

From Alessandra Rizzo and Don Melvin, the AP:   [S]upport for giving money to the Libyan rebels — presumably to buy arms, equipment and munitions with which to overthrow Moammar Gadhafi — seemed to be growing

Why We Must Continue the Fight Against Terror

By Jose Maria Aznar, the Wall Street Journal

Awkward Moment for Obama and Merkel

By John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune

From John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune:  There will be an interesting diplomatic moment at the White House next month when President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian distinction, to Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Biden to NATO: ” We need each other”

By Joe Biden, the White House

From Joe Biden, the White House:  I’m here tonight to talk about the importance of the transatlantic relationship and this 50th anniversary of the Council.

SACEUR: “a NATO alliance that is a force for good in the world”

By James Stavridis, U.S. European Command

From James Stavridis, U.S. European Command:  I’m proud to accept this award on behalf of the seven million active and reserve Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who make up the military arm of this grand alliance.

French Air Force takes command of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission

By Captain Sylvain Favier, Allied Command Operations

From Captain Sylvain Favier, Allied Command Operations:  On Thursday, 28 April 2011, a ceremony took place at Šiauliai airfield in Lithuania marking the hand-over of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission from Germany to France.

France and US consider faster exit from Afghanistan due to death of Osama bin Laden

By the AP

From the AP:  The French foreign minister says France and the U.S. are considering the possibility of speeding up their timetable of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan after Osama bin Laden’s death.

Biden: Transatlantic Relationship as Central as it Has Ever Been

By James Joyner

Vice President Joe Biden pronounced the “transatlantic relationship as central as it ever has been” and declared “it’s hard to imagine a threat we can’t address more effectively together.”

Update: NATO activities in Libya on May 3

By NATO