United Nations

UK urges pressure on Gaddafi, EU weighs intervention

By Adrian Croft and Justyna Pawlak, Reuters

Spain: 5 dead, 3 injured in military academy blast

By the AP

From the AP:  A powerful explosion at a Spanish military academy killed five soldiers and wounded three others on Thursday when a bomb disposal drill went awry, the Defense Ministry said.

International naval forces unable to stop spread of Somali piracy

By the Economist

From the Economist:  According to the International Maritime Bureau, which posts live data on raids, Somali pirates hold 33 vessels and 758 hostages. In January alone the bureau recorded 35 attacks. The raiders took seven ships and 148 new hostages.

NATO: Afghanistan war won’t end like Vietnam

By Slobodan Lekic, the AP

From Slobodan Lekic, the AP:  The Afghan army will not collapse when international troops end their combat role, in the way that South Vietnam’s did in the 1970s, NATO’s top officer said Thursday. Italian Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola said the international community intends to remain committed to Afghanistan after NATO forces hand over responsibility to […]

Turkey’s Kissinger

By James Traub, the New York Times

Greece concerned about Turkey’s future in NATO

By Ben Birnbaum, the Washington Times

From Ben Birnbaum, the Washington Times:  Turkey’s growing ties to Iran and opposition to NATO missile defenses targeting Tehran are raising "many doubts about Turkey’s future" among officials in the alliance, Greece’s No. 2 defense official says.

Should NATO’s New Strategic Concept discuss the role of women?

By Katrin Bennhold, the New York Times

From Katrin Bennhold, the New York Times:  When NATO unveils its new doctrine later this month, it will include a revamped nuclear policy, a section on cyberwar and fresh thinking on how to engage Russia. But will it follow a little-noticed recommendation (from an expert group led by Madeleine Albright, a former U.S. secretary of […]

State Dept. official evaluates transatlantic relations under Obama

By Philip Gordon, the U.S. Department of State

From Philip Gordon, the U.S. Department of State:  [O]n working with Europe on global challenges, we have worked together as never before with our European partners on Afghanistan, on Iran, on missile defense, and on global economic recovery.

Russia may sell S-300 missiles to Venezuela, instead of Iran – analyst

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Russia’s S-300 air defense systems, which Moscow refused to deliver to Iran following a new round of UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic, could be sold to Venezuela instead, a Russian arms trade expert said on Friday.