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New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2009

Freedom to Travel

By James Joyner

By one measure, at least, Denmark is the freest country on earth.  The Economist: DANES faced the fewest restrictions on travel in 2008: they were able to visit 157 countries or territories without a visa according to an annual report by Henley & Partners, a consultancy. The Irish, Finns and Portuguese were only marginally less […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2009

NATO Resumes Russia Ties

By James Joyner

NATO has ended Russia’s “time-out,” presumably thinking it has suffered long enough for invading its neighbor. NATO foreign ministers agreed Thursday to resume high-level formal ties with Russia, suspended last year after Moscow’s military thrust into Georgia.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2009

The Gas Contract or I’ll Shoot!

By Boyko Nitzov

March 4th was apparently one of those days when everyone concerned with gas supply from Russia across Ukraine to the EU could rejoice and put any concerns to rest: the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) raided at gunpoint the headquarters of Ukraine’s oil and gas company, Naftogaz.

Energy & Environment Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

USA Done by 2010: Russian Diplomatic Academy Dean

By James Joyner

A prominent Russian scholar is making a bold prediction: If you’re inclined to believe Igor Panarin, and the Kremlin wouldn’t mind if you did, then President Barack Obama will order martial law this year, the U.S. will split into six rump-states before 2011, and Russia and China will become the backbones of a new world […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Deal or No Deal?: Missile Defense for Iranian Nukes

By Peter Cassata

A letter from Obama offering to shelve the planned U.S. missile defense system in return for Russian cooperation in stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons was hand-delivered to Medvedev three weeks ago by U.S. diplomatic officials, the NYT reported.  Although fervently objecting to the missile defense shield, Russia’s reception of the letter was lukewarm.  Obama […]

Iran Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Poll: Russia Reset and EU Future

By James Joyner

Our most recent poll on efforts to “push the reset button” on relations with Russia shows substantially more optimism among Europeans than Americans. 

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Power Transitions in U.S. and Iraq

By David Smith

“Congratulations, Mr. President.”  With those words from US Chief Justice John Roberts, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States.  Under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, this orderly transfer of power happened at 12 noon on January 20 — no sooner and no later. 

Iraq United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

5 Questions for Jim Inhofe

By James Joyner

Senator James M. Inhofe is the second ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee and is a former chairman of (and now ranking Republican on) the Environment and Public Works Committee.  I had the opportunity to get his thoughts on some key issues of interest to the Atlantic Council community.

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2009

Did Obama Snub Britain?

By James Joyner

The Spectator’s Alex Massie comments on President Obama’s “snub” of British PM Gordon Brown by failing to engage in a joint press conference with him on the White House lawn.

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2009

European Court Fines Turkey

By James Joyner

Turkey has once again been rebuffed by Europe: The European Court of Human Rights Tuesday ruled Turkey had violated the property rights of a Greek Orthodox foundation by seizing its land and ordered the government to pay damages.

European Union International Organizations