International Organizations

Abbas tells US lawmakers: NATO role in Palestinian state

By Ma'an

From Ma’an:  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told visiting US Congressmen on Thursday that the security of the future Palestinian state will be handed to NATO under US command, his adviser said Friday.

Former French general: NATO strike on Syria is technically feasible

By Andrew Rettman, EUObserver

From Andrew Rettman, EUObserver:  A Nato strike to disable the Syrian army is technically feasible according to experts, such as former French air chief Jean Rannou. But it could make the country’s internal situation worse.

Balkan Ghosts

By James Stavridis, U.S. European Command

From James Stavridis, U.S. European Command:  Libya and Afghanistan seem to get all the headlines about NATO these days. But lately, I’ve been thinking and working on the Balkans. We need to make sure that the Balkan ghosts of violence from the 1990s don’t reappear.

How U.S. sanctions can promote human rights in Russia

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  Last month the Obama administration disclosed it had taken a significant step toward balancing its policy toward Russia, which has focused heavily on striking deals with the authoritarian regime of Vladi­mir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev while mostly ignoring issues of corruption and human rights.

The Euro-Optimists and Euro-Skeptics – New Division Replaces Old and New Europe?

By Daria Dylla

Recent months have powerfully brought to light that the enthusiasm for the idea of the European Union as a common home without borders is far from internalized by European societies.

Former Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri, international peacemaker, dies at age 74

By the AP

From the AP:  Former Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri, who brokered peace talks in Northern Ireland in the late 1990s and headed the U.N. administration in Kosovo, died Sunday. He was 74.

Rogozin: NATO plans campaign in Syria, tightens noose around Iran

By RIA Novosti