Category: Blogs

NATO: 740 trainers still needed for Afghan forces

By Deb Riechmann, the AP

From Deb Riechmann, the AP:  More nations are pledging support, yet NATO still faces a shortage of 740 trainers needed to get Afghan soldiers and policemen ready to take the lead in securing their nation, the coalition’s top training official says.

162 Turkish officers ordered jailed in coup trial

By Suzan Fraser, the AP

NATO allies concerned about nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad

By Vanessa Gera, the AP

From Vanessa Gera, the AP:  Rose Gottemoeller, the chief U.S. negotiator of New START, visited Poland, Ukraine and the three Baltic states in recent days to hear how these countries view the issue of tactical weapons.

Europe’s Foreign Policy Chief Faces Criticism on Uprisings

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  [T]here is growing unease that she [the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton] has not been forceful enough in front of Europe’s nation-states on breaking world events like those in the Middle East and North Africa.

Violence Has Silenced the Majority

By Mohsin Khan and Shuja Nawaz

The recent assassination of governor Salman Taseer of Punjab in Pakistan has highlighted the ongoing and often violent battle for the future of the country. Taseer had spoken out in favour of reviewing and amending the nation’s blasphemy law to make it less susceptible to abuse, especially against minorities, and to reduce punishments by eliminating […]

Joint Force Provider

By Robert Bracknell

In “Goodbye, JFCOM” [AFJ, November], retired Col. Bob Killebrew argues convincingly for the elimination of U.S. Joint Forces Command as a four-star-led combatant command. He notes correctly that what is really happening at JFCOM is less a standdown and more a reorganization, acknowledging that “three essential functions performed by the command … should be maintained, […]

Leaked cables show US used informer in NATO chief’s office

By DPA

From DPA:  NATO staff under the command of both the current NATO chief, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and his predecessor Jaap de Hoop Scheffer supplied information to authorities in the US, according to the cables released by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

Strategic Cyber Security and a Commercial Cloud?

By Chris Demchak

Should the United States base its national cyber security strategy around commercially offered “cloud computing,” as many are suggesting? 

Atlantic Update 2/11/11

By Jason Harmala

Barroness Ashton responds to Mubarak’s resignation, EU countries continue to shun Lukashenko’s regime, and Deutsche Bundesbank President Axel Weber announced he would step down on April 30.

Franco-German “competitiveness pact” sparks opposition

By Charlemagne, the Economist

From Charlemagne, the Economist:  When Germany and France disagree, everybody complains about paralysis in Europe. When they agree, the protest is about unacceptable diktats.