Americas

BNAC: Issues Concerning Effective Corporate Governance

It is two years since the financial services sector of many of the world’s leading economies were plunged into disarray. The uncertainty this generated meant that individual and institutional investors were very reluctant to participate in the financial markets resulting in a dramatic decline in asset values, credit becoming largely unavailable and, as a result, […]

The unraveling of central authority in Kyrgyzstan

By Andrew Higgins, the Washington Post

From Andrew Higgins, the Washington Post:  Beset by mounting casualties on the battlefield and deepening disquiet at home over America’s longest war, President Obama’s Afghan policy now faces another big headache: the unraveling of central authority in Kyrgyzstan

Will the European Union fall to nationalism?

By Charles Kupchan, the Washington Post

From Charles Kupchan, the Washington Post:  The European Union is dying — not a dramatic or sudden death, but one so slow and steady that we may look across the Atlantic one day soon and realize that the project of European integration that we’ve taken for granted over the past half-century is no more.

New Petraeus guidelines “might clash with timetables set by some NATO nations”

By Thom Shanker, the New York Times

From Thom Shanker, the New York Times:  Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top commander in Afghanistan, has completed work on new guidelines for turning some security duties over to Afghan forces in the months ahead

SACEUR meets with Turkey’s leaders at key ceremony

By Adm. James Stavridis, U.S. European Command

ISAF briefing reveals 365 Taliban leaders killed in last three months

By Matthias Gebauer, der Speigel

From Matthias Gebauer, der Speigel: The international troops in Afghanistan this year, under the command of the United States, have massively stepped up the hunt for top Taliban by special forces. The units, which operate secretly and are kept apart from the normal troops, have conducted hundreds of operations in recent months in an intensity not […]

Canada intercepts two Russian bombers

By Rob Gillies, the AP

NATO allies have key role in new Pentagon Cyber Security Strategy

By David Ignatius, the Washington Post

From David Ignatius, the Washington Post:   With little fanfare, the Pentagon is putting the finishing touches on a new strategy that will treat cyberspace as a domain of potential warfare — and apply instant "active defense" to counterattacks that, in theory, could shut down the nation’s transportation and commerce.

2008 Attack on CENTCOM Computers Is Confirmed

By Brian Knowlton, the New York Times

From Brian Knowlton, the New York Times:  A top Pentagon official has confirmed a previously classified incident that he describes as “the most significant breach of U.S. military computers ever

Petraeus: July 2011 deadline not the start of sudden troop exodus from Afghanistan

By David Stringer, the AP

From David Stringer, the AP:  In an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television, Army Gen. David Petraeus urged caution over hopes for the planned pullback of American troops, which is scheduled to begin in July 2011.