Drones

Panetta outlines key concerns to be addressed at NATO’s Chicago Summit

By Leon Panetta, U.S. Department of Defense

From Leon Panetta, U.S. Department of Defense:  These are the concerns that we must work together to address as we look towards the NATO Summit next May in Chicago.  Ideally, we will be able to halt additional cuts in defense or at a minimum keep defense spending at current levels.

Panetta: Achieving fiscal and national security “will test the very future of leadership throughout NATO”

By Leon Panetta, U.S. Department of Defense

From Leon Panetta, U.S. Department of Defense:  We are nearing the end of a successful campaign in Libya, and are closer than ever to achieving our shared goals in Afghanistan.  But there is no doubt that this is also a time of challenge to the alliance. 

Obama urges Erdogan to resolve Turkey’s problems with Israel

By Matt Spetalnick and Laura MacInnis, Reuters

Turkey announces site for NATO missile defense radar

By Selcan Hacaoglu, the AP

U.S. considering Ankara’s request to base Predators in Turkey

By Craig Whitlock, the Washington Post

From Craig Whitlock, the Washington Post:  The Obama administration is considering a request from Turkey to base a fleet of Predator drones on Turkish soil for counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq, a decision that could strengthen a diplomatic alliance but drag the United States deeper into a regional conflict.

SecGen says NATO must address weaknesses exposed by Libya

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  NATO may have managed to do its job in Libya but the operation there has exposed weaknesses in capabilities of non-U.S. allies that need to be addressed, the head of NATO said on Monday.

White House relabels foreign policy from “leading from behind” to “rebalance burden-sharing”

By David Ignatius, the Washington Post

From David Ignatius, the Washington Post:  Tom Donilon, Obama’s national security adviser, argues that this isn’t an accident — and that the president deserves more credit for accomplishing the goals he set in 2009.

Purchase of Tiny Canadian UAV by Libyan Rebels Reveals International Network

By Ian Austen, the New York Times

From Ian Austen, the New York Times:  Libyan rebels have been coordinating their attacks using a Canadian-made, unmanned surveillance aircraft, the drone’s manufacturer announced Tuesday.

Covert teams from NATO members “provided critical assistance” to Libyan rebels

By Lolita C. Baldor and Slobodan Lekic, the AP

From Lolita C. Baldor and Slobodan Lekic, the AP:  As the battle in Libya appeared at stalemate, it was an open secret that foreign military advisers were working covertly inside the country providing guidance to rebels and giving tactical intelligence to NATO aircraft bombing government forces.