International Organizations

Political Gridlock at NATO

By Con Coughling, the Wall Street Journal

From Con Coughling, the Wall Street Journal:  Many European powers, such as Germany, insist the NATO mission should be confined to the humanitarian objectives set out in U.N. resolution 1973, namely to protect innocent civilians and establish a cease-fire.

Russia Reset Gone Wild: European Arms Sales to Russia

By Ian Brzezinski, the New Atlanticist

From Ian Brzezinski, the New Atlanticist:  In 2009, Central European allies were left unnerved after Russia conducted its large-scale Zapad military exercise along their frontiers.

Russia: NATO ‘one step’ from land war in Libya

By the AP

The Extradition of Mladic Will Test EU Intentions Towards Serbia

By Rennie Silva

In 1987, in a harbinger of the conflict that was soon to engulf Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic was dispatched to its southern province of Kosovo to diffuse rising ethnic tensions. Fatefully pledging before a Serbian audience that “no one will ever dare to beat you again”, his words instead unleashed a wave of nationalist fervor that […]

US official: “I keep having to tell Europeans that things are not so bad”

By Charlemagne, the Economist

From Charlemagne, the Economist:  Mr Obama’s tour comes when the two sides of the Atlantic are contending with the effects of the most acute economic crisis in eight decades.

Election in Turkey will have an impact across the Middle East

By Anthony Shadid, the New York Times

From Anthony Shadid, the New York Times:  As Turkey heads to an election on June 12 — the size of Mr. [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s majority the only question — the country faces an Arab Spring, which took it by surprise

Op commander sees possible mission for NATO troops in post-Gaddafi Libya

By Tsvetelia Tsolova, Reuters

From Tsvetelia Tsolova, Reuters:  U.S. Admiral Samuel Locklear, commander of the Joint Operations Command at Naples conducting the Libya campaign, declined to comment whether NATO would expand its operation with forces on ground.

Obama’s opportunity to promote “a Europe whole, free, and at peace”

By Kurt Volker, Ivan Vejvoda, and Damon Wilson, the New Atlanticist

From Kurt Volker, Ivan Vejvoda, and Damon Wilson, the New Atlanticist:  [Barack Obama’s presidency] will be the first administration since President Clinton’s first term that has not seen NATO invite new members to join the Alliance. And it will take the EU at least five years to bring in new members following Croatia’s likely accession […]

Ratko Mladic Arrest Paves Way for Serbia EU Accession

By James Joyner

Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general blamed for the massacre of 8,000 Muslims at Srebrenica, has been caught after 16 years on the run from a UN war crimes indictment. Serbian President Boris Tadic announced the arrest this morning, proclaiming "All war criminals must face justice" and promising speedy extradition to The Hague for […]

Obama’s letter to Congress seeking support for Libya mission

By Barack Obama, the New York Times

From Barack Obama, the New York Times:  On March 21, I reported to the Congress that the United States, pursuant to a request from the Arab League and authorization by the United Nations Security Council, had acted 2 days earlier to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe