Security & Defense

Balkan Squabbles Threaten NATO Expansion

By Borut Grgic

Normally one would think Afghanistan, out-of-area deployment, mobility and interoperability when discussing the problems facing NATO in the 21st Century.  Well, the latest problem creeping up on the NATO plate is Slovenia-Croatia bilateral relations. 

Chuck Hagel on CNN’s American Morning: Transcript

Transcript from CNN, February 19, 2009. […] ROBERTS: Joining us now from Washington to talk about the new strategy, former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, who is the new chairman of the Atlantic Council. Congratulations on your new position. It’s good to see you, sir. CHUCK HAGEL, FMR. NEBRASKA SENATOR: John, thank you very much. ROBERTS: […]

NATO-Russia War: A Scenario

By Andreas Umland

A regularly employed analyst runs a certain risk when publicly speaking about the possibility of a destruction of humanity, in the foreseeable future. “Professional myopia” or “immaturity in judgment” may be among the less denigrating – “unprofessional hysteria” or “irresponsible conduct” the more damning – reactions by colleagues. One workplace-friend recently advised me to delete […]

NATO Meeting Brings Afghanistan Pressure

By James Joyner

As widely foreshadowed, the United States used the occasion of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Warsaw to call on its European allies to contribute more troops and resources to the Afghanistan mission and, to the surprise of no one who’s been paying attention, they refused.

Sarkozy’s NATO Ploy

By James Joyner

Judy Dempsey, IHT’s Berlin bureau chief, argues that Nicolas Sarkozy is making a play to bolster an independent European defensive alliance.

Canada: Time for ‘Frank Discussion’ About NATO Future

By James Joyner

Canadian defense minister Peter MacKay argues that NATO faces an existential crisis in Afghanistan and it’s time for “a frank discussion” about the future of the alliance. 

NATO Afghanistan Mission Risks Repeating Russia’s Mistakes

By James Joyner

The twentieth anniversary of Russia’s withdrawal from Afghanistan is bringing natural comparisons with the NATO mission now in its eighth year.  Abdul Saboor, writing for Reuters, recalls a Soviet airstrike that killed 30 civilians and sees many similarities. A string of bungled U.S. and NATO air strikes killed 455 Afghan civilians last year, according to […]