Europe & Eurasia

Turf wars within the EU

By Stephen Castle, the International Herald Tribune

From Stephen Castle, the International Herald Tribune:  There are few better illustrations of those continuing turf wars than the reaction to the death of Bin Laden. The first E.U. pronouncements were issued by Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament, even though he has very few foreign policy powers. His two declarations were followed by […]

US congratulates the EU for celebrating Europe Day

By Hillary Clinton, U.S. Department of State

From Hillary Clinton, U.S. Department of State:  On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the European Union as you celebrate Europe Day this May 9. Sixty-one years ago today, Robert Schuman issued a historic declaration proposing a European continent united in solidarity – one that […]

NATO “needs to get its act together”

By the Editors of the New York Times

From the Editors of the New York Times:  Unless NATO, including the United States, get more serious, Libya’s liberation war could turn into a prolonged, bloody stalemate.

EU battlegroups wait for Libya operation “unlikely ever to be launched”

By Toby Vogel, the European Voice

Awkward Moment for Obama and Merkel

By John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune

From John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune:  There will be an interesting diplomatic moment at the White House next month when President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian distinction, to Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Vive the refreshed Anglo-French alliance

By Zaki Laidi, the Financial Times

From Zaki Laidi, the Financial Times:  The Libyan crisis marks the beginning of a new cycle for the two countries because the American factor is no longer a source of divergence.

Hungary has the EU’s last functioning embassy in Tripoli

By EurActiv

From EurActiv:  Of all EU countries’ embassies in Libya, only Hungary has a diplomatic presence in Tripoli and provides information to the EU.

Is Britain a Pocket Superpower or Super-Belgium?

By Julian Lindley-French

Oh no, not again! The BBC’s Robert Peston has discovered that the two currently under construction and now infamous British aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will cost more than originally envisaged. One outlier estimate has the cost as high as £10bn, rather than the £3.9bn budgeted for. This is apparently […]

Justice for Osama bin Laden’s NATO victims

As the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden authorized attacks which killed more civilians of NATO members than any other threat against the alliance.

Libyans burn British and Italian embassies after NATO strike

By the AP

From the AP:  Angry mobs attacked Western embassies and U.N. offices in Tripoli Sunday after NATO bombed Moammar Gadhafi’s family compound