Category: Blogs

Russia-NATO Council begins expert regular consultations on Afghanistan – Dmitry Rogozin

By ITAR-TASS

From ITAR-TASS: The Russia-NATO Council on Wednesday began regular expert consultations on practical cooperation between Russia and the alliance in Afghanistan, Russian permanent representative to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said. “The Council is meeting in an expanded format today at the level of ambassadors to discuss solely Afghanistan and security in that region,” he said. (graphic: […]

NATO chief demands greater efforts in Afghanistan

By Reuters

From Reuters: The head of NATO urged member states on Thursday to step up efforts to train and equip Afghan forces, warning that inaction would have serious consequences… “We all have to achieve more in training and equipping the Afghan security forces,” Rasmussen told a security conference before the ministers’ meeting in the Slovak capital, […]

Does Rasmussen’s Speech Reveal New NATO Priorities?

By Jorge Benitez

In his first speech as Secretary General (August 3) Anders Fogh Rasmussen identified Afghanistan and relations with Russia as the top two priorities for NATO. Unfortunately, that speech ignored the security concerns of the Central European members of NATO and contributed to the perception that rapprochement with Moscow was more important to the alliance than […]

Westerwelle First Liberal German Foreign Minister in a Decade

By Benjamin Preisler

Guido Westerwelle of the FDP will likely emerge from coalition talks between Germany’s main parties — the CDU, CSU (Conservatives) and FDP (Liberals) — as the country’s new foreign minister, marking the first time a Liberal has held the office in a decade.

Does Rasmussen’s Speech Reveal New NATO Priorities?

In his first speech as Secretary General (August 3), Anders Fogh Rasmussen identified Afghanistan and relations with Russia as the top two priorities for NATO. Unfortunately, that speech ignored the security concerns of the Central European members of NATO and contributed to the perception that rapprochement with Moscow was more important to the alliance than […]

Biden to Bucharest: Why Romania?

By Damon Wilson

Vice President Biden is visiting Central Europe this week as part of the administration’s damage control efforts in the wake of the botched roll-out of its missile defense decisions.  The White House’s objective extends beyond missile defense however; Biden’s task is to reassure allies and demonstrate commitment to a region that is second-guessing the American […]

NATO “a corpse”, fumes former Canada military boss

By Reuters

From Reuters: The splits inside NATO over the Afghan war have turned the alliance into a rotting corpse that will be virtually impossible to revive, says the former head of Canada’s armed forces. General Rick Hillier also said the 28-member alliance was ‘dominated by jealousies and small, vicious political battles’ and bemoaned its “lack of […]

Poland ready to accept new US missile defense deal

By the AP

From the AP: Poland’s prime minister said Wednesday that his country is ready to participate in President Barrack Obama’s revamped plan for a U.S. missile defense shield in Europe. Speaking alongside U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Donald Tusk welcomed the Obama administration’s proposal for a missile shield that would replace a bulkier version previously planned […]