Category: Blogs

The impact of US defense cuts on the transatlantic alliance

By Tomas Valasek, the Center for European Reform

From Tomas Valasek, the Center for European Reform:  The US defence budget seems set to fall as Washington begins to restore order in its finances.

New Russian Army weaponry ‘inferior’ to NATO’s, overpriced

By RIA Novosti

Should NATO Engage in Libya?

By Celine Touboul, atlantic-community.org

From Celine Touboul, atlantic-community.org:  NATO and its member States should first clearly define what interests and overall strategic objective NATO’s military engagement in favor of Libyan rebels would serve.

“What Is America Waiting For?” in Libya

By Don Snow

The question cited in the title is a quote from Sunday’s Washington Post attributed to a civilian in one of the Libyan cities now anticipating an attack by the forces of Colonel Gaddafi. It is a plaintive plea for help in a situation that may be starting to unravel, as forces loyal to (or bought by) the […]

Atlantic Update 3/15/11

By Jason Harmala

Germany reacts to nuclear fears by taking the 7 oldest reactors offline for 3 months, and G8 powers drop plans for a Libyan no-fly zone.

The Gates Doctrine: Discernment of US interventions

By Michael Gerson, the Washington Post

From Michael Gerson, the Washington Post:  [Secretary of Defense Robert] Gates’s skepticism about the practical applicability of foreign policy ideals is a throwback to the days of President George H.W. Bush.

Poll: Nearly two-thirds of Americans say Afghan war isn’t worth fighting

By Scott Wilson and Jon Cohen, the Washington Post

From Scott Wilson and Jon Cohen, the Washington Post:  Nearly two-thirds of Americans now say the war in Afghanistan is no longer worth fighting, the highest proportion yet opposed to the conflict

NATO and the Future of Afghanistan

By Derek S. Reveron, the New Atlanticist

From Derek S. Reveron, the New Atlanticist:  While the Afghan people have the most to gain or lose from NATO’s decisions, the ministerial has reopened the debate that Europe is not doing its fair share to bring stability to Afghanistan. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates captured this recurring theme in transatlantic relations: "We can’t lose our momentum […]

Foreign Policy at the Speed of Twitter

By James Joyner

When I was in graduate school in the early 1990s and we were all trying to figure out the lay of the land in the “post-Cold War era,” international relations types were all buzzing about the so-called “CNN effect.”

NATO and the Future of Afghanistan

By Derek Reveron

The media coverage of the NATO Defense Ministers meetings last weekend was replete with discussion regarding Afghanistan.  After all, it is the largest mission the Alliance has undertaken during its history and its first outside of Europe. While the Afghan people have the most to gain or lose from NATO’s decisions, the ministerial has reopened […]