Category: Congressional Relations

Congress Approves Sale of Reaper Drones to France

By AFP

From AFP:  Plans to sell US Reaper drones to France advanced Monday as Congress raised no objections to the contract, Pentagon officials said.

Senate confirms Breedlove as NATO’s new Supreme Allied Commander Europe

By Allied Command Operations

From Allied Command Operations:  U.S. Air Force General Philip M. Breedlove was confirmed by the United States Senate as NATO’s next Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)

Y2K Sequester?

By Harlan Ullman

As of last Friday, the inability or intransigence of U.S. President Barack Obama and Republicans in the House of Representatives to reach a budget agreement triggered the much publicized sequester.

Obama: US aircraft part of French raid in Somalia, but no weapons fired

By White House

From White House:  On January 11, 2013, French forces conducted an operation in Somalia in which they attempted to rescue a French citizen being held hostage by al-Shabaab.

Senator Mikulski: The Collins-Lieberman cyber security bill and NATO

By Barbara Mikulski, Office of Senator Mikulski

From Barbara Mikulski, Office of Senator Mikulski:  I really worry about the possibility of an attack. We know that there are already attacks going on, particularly in our financial services.

Congressional report examines sales of military tech/equipment to Russia by our European allies

By the Congressional Research Service

From the Congressional Research Service:  Analysts and officials from NATO member states concerned about the implications of allied military sales to Russia point to contracts signed in 2010 and 2011 between Russia and French, German, and Italian companies.

Senate aide: ‘The NATO security alliance remains the greatest combined force for good in world history’

Senate Resolution 395 expressing support for NATO and the upcoming summit in Chicago was passed by a voice vote. The resolution had four bipartisan co-sponsors, Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL], Sen. Mark Kirk [R-IL], Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH], and Sen. Richard Lugar [R-IN].

Senator McCain says military options to protect Syrian civilians might be considered

By the AP

From the AP:   U.S. Senator John McCain said Sunday that military action to protect civilians in Syria might be considered now that NATO’s air campaign in Libya is ending.