Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

New President, Same World

By Derek Reveron

On February 12, President Obama’s Director of National Intelligence provided the annual threat assessment of the intelligence community to the Senate. With his testimony, Admiral Blair provided the Senate and the world a clear view of what keeps him up at night.

Fulfilling Reagan’s Dream: Nuclear Disarmament

By Joe Craft

In 1986 at the Reykjavik summit, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, both passionate about nuclear disarmament, shocked deterrence experts with an unimaginable proposal – total nuclear disarmament.  “It would be fine with me if we eliminated all nuclear weapons,” said Reagan.  “We can do that,” replied Gorbachev, “Let’s eliminate them.  We can eliminate them.”

Azerbaijan Air Force Chief Murdered

By James Joyner

Rail Rzayev, head of the Azerbaijan air force, was murdered in front of his home Wednesday, Aida Sultanova reports for AP. An unidentified gunman fatally shot Azerbaijan’s air force chief Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said — the highest-level killing to hit the oil-rich country’s armed forces in peacetime since the Soviet collapse.

Afghanistan and Pakistan Need Better Governments

By James Joyner

Shuja Nawaz, director of the Council’s South Asia Center, has an interesting post at Foreign Policy‘s new The Argument blog, entitled “Panic Stations in Kabul. Is Islamabad next?”

Russia Reset Button Will Restore Default Values

By James Joyner

Speaking in Munich over the weekend, Vice President Joe Biden pledged to “press the reset button” on United States relations with Russia.   While this has brought renewed hope for some, most observers are rightly skeptical.

France Wants Key NATO Posts for Increased Presence

By James Joyner

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is offering a very meager increase in French participation in NATO in exchange for command of two prestigious posts.  

U.S. Pressures NATO on Afghanistan

By James Joyner

A major overseas conference provides the Obama administration its first chance to influence the direction of transatlantic relations.  David Rising reports for AP.

Russia Forms 7-Nation Rapid Reaction Force

By James Joyner

Russia has announced the creation of a rapid reaction military force comprised of seven former Soviet states.  President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia, Armenia, Belarus and four Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — had reached the agreement to form a new security force during a summit of the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty […]

Kyrgyzstan Closing U.S. Base Key for Afghanistan

By James Joyner

On the same day militants took out a key bridge used to get supplies in from Pakistan, NATO’s logistical problems in Afghanistan got worse. AP’s Mike Eckel:

Beating Al Qaeda But Losing in Afghanistan?

By James Joyner

 We’re winning the war against al Qaeda, killing its leaders faster than competent replacements can be found, NPR‘s Tom Gjelten reports.

Alliance Reborn: An Atlantic Compact for the 21st Century

We have an open but fleeting moment to forge a more effective Atlantic partnership. We must seize it now. European and North American allies have allowed their relations to become discordant, yet the times demand vigor and unity. Courageous decisions need to be taken to breathe new life and relevance into the Atlantic partnership, which […]

Korea after Kim Coming Soon?

By Peter Cassata

Last week, Kim Jong-il met with a foreign representative, CCP International Department head Wang Jiarui, for the first time since what many intelligence reports believe was a stroke in August.  He “warmly accepted” an invitation from Hu Jintao to visit China and even hinted at working with Obama over nuclear issues.  However, the North Korean […]

Russia Halts Missile Deployments in Europe

By Peter Cassata

Russia has “suspended” plans to deploy Iskander missiles in its European enclave of Kaliningrad.  Unveiled in November, the plans were intended to be a response to the U.S. missile defense installations scheduled to be built in the Czech Republic and Poland.  A Russian military official said the announcement is related to indications from the U.S. […]

Obama’s New Afghanistan Strategy

By James Joyner

The Obama administration will be stepping up the pressure on the Karzai government and NATO to do more in Afghanistan while simultaneously sharply cutting back the goals of the mission there.