Category: Blogs

NATO’s new US ambassador has Dutch roots

By Radio Netherlands

From Radio Netherlands: “The major problem,” Mr Daalder said earlier, “is that there are too many member states that see NATO as a regional, particularly European, defense organisation.” But the threats facing all member states are global, not regional. “NATO should start thinking bigger and more global,” according to Mr Daalder. He said that the […]

Armenia Says NATO Support For Azerbaijan Prompted Pullout

By Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

From Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty:  "Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian says his country’s main reason for canceling its participation in the NATO military exercises in Georgia was NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer’s support for Azerbaijan, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reports."

Medvedev Praises Soviet Role in WWII

By James Joyner

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is working to make belittling the Soviet Union’s contribution to the Allied victory in World War II a crime.  He also called the Soviet Union “our country,” a reference sure to raise eyebrows in the West.

Jones a Different Kind of National Security Advisor

By James Joyner

General Jim Jones is forging a new path as National Security Advisor and drawing some heat for it.   President Obama, however, does not appear to be among those complaining.

Pakistan Drops Peace Agreement, Future Hopes of Negotiations in Peril?

By Ahmed Bhadelia

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are in Washington today to meet with President Obama about working together to combat militants in both countries. Surely headlining the meeting will be the recent news that the Pakistan government has abandoned its peace deal with the Taliban over control of the Swat Valley […]

Russia’s Privileged Sphere of Influence

By David Smith

Late last week, about 1,800 additional Russian troops poured into the already heavily occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Akhalgori District.

Georgia accuses Russia of backing attempted coup

Georgia accuses Russia of backing attempted coup csmonitor.com Snippets from Georgian government, BBC, NYT, and other media coverage.

Georgia Accuses Russia of Supporting Coup Attempt

By the Telegraph

From the Telegraph: “Relations between Tbilisi and Moscow are likely to sour further after Georgia released video footage, broadcast on state television, which allegedly showed a former defence ministry official trying to recruit undercover spies to join Tuesday’s plot. The man is shown describing plans to seize control of the government by leading a convoy of […]

NATO denies Georgia war-games agenda | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 05.05.2009

NATO denies Georgia war-games agenda Europe Deutsche Welle 05.05.2009: “‘This is not a NATO exercise,’ an alliance spokesperson confirmed to Deutsche Welle. ‘This is a PFP exercise.” “‘Because it’s a PFP exercise, it’s open to everybody which also means that everybody was fully informed when it was proposed in late spring of last year,’ the […]