Category: Blogs

US, Britain and France deepen cooperation among their Air Forces

By Defense News

From Defense News:  The air forces of Britain, France and the U.S. are looking at ways to work more closely together by cooperating on strategy and doctrine – and future systems – at their most senior levels. "I have a French officer and a British officer in my [strategic studies group], and we have exchanged […]

Portuguese DefMin says new Strategic Concept neglecting South Atlantic

By the Portugal News

From the Portugal News:  Draft recommendations for a new strategic concept for NATO do not pay sufficient attention to the South Atlantic, says Portugal’s defence minister, promising to raise the issue with alliance leaders. The report, drawn up by a group of specialists headed by ex-US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, is “elaborated well”, but […]

New plan for Dutch police mission in Afghanistan

By Radio Netherlands Worldwide

From Radio Netherlands Worldwide:  The incoming Dutch government may consider a new military training mission in Afghanistan, according to sources close to the coalition negotiations. Daily NRC Handelsblad reported on Friday that the two parties, free-market liberal VVD and Christian Democrats, have reached agreement in principle to again send military personnel to Afghanistan. NATO said […]

Secretary General warns KFOR reductions “too big”

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  As regards Kosovo, first of all, I have taken the opportunity today to express my strong appreciation of the Czech contribution to the KFOR mission. I’ve also been informed about Czech considerations to reduce the contribution to KFOR. Let me stress that all partners within KFOR are right now considering […]

Ukraine turns convicted FSB colonel over to Russia

By Interfax

From Interfax:  A Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) colonel convicted in Ukraine this summer on a spying charge was handed over to Russia under an agreement, a source said on Friday. Vladimir Noskov was turned over to Russia in the summer, the source told Interfax. Earlier, Ukrainian newspaper Mirror Weekly, citing its own sources, said […]

Russian DefMin tells Gates sale of missiles to Syria moving forward

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Russia will honor the contract to sell the P-800 Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said. "It is the 2007 contract. The issue of selling the missiles to Syria was raised during the talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates… Undoubtedly, it [the contract] would be […]

On Strategy in Afghanistan

By Bernard Finel

I think it is worthwhile to spend a little time discussing the issue of “strategy” as a concept because I think a significant source of tension and dispute in recent debates is due to a misunderstanding of some of the key elements of the term.

Nuke Outlaw as Pakistani President?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Pakistan’s nuclear weapons renegade, who sold nuclear secrets to America’s enemies (Iran, North Korea and Libya) and spent the best part of the last decade under house arrest, is still Pakistan’s most popular man. Last week, Abdul Qadeer Khan, now a free man, was a guest on ARY, one of Pakistan’s most popular TV channels […]

NATO’s position on Georgia and relations with Russia

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

The Obama-Petraeus Alliance

By Helene Cooper, David E. Sanger and Thom Shanker, the New York Times

From Helene Cooper, David E. Sanger and Thom Shanker, the New York Times:  When President Obama descended into the White House Situation Room on Monday for his monthly update on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the new top American military commander, Gen. David H. Petraeus, ticked off signs of progress.