United Kingdom

US expanding hi-tech intelligence base in Britain

By Richard Norton-Taylor, the Guardian

From Richard Norton-Taylor, the Guardian:  America’s largest eavesdropping centre in Britain, Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire, is being expanded in a multimillion-pound programme as it becomes increasingly vital to US intelligence and military operations

All NATO staff withdrawn from Afghan ministries after killing of US soldiers

By the BBC

From the BBC:  Two Nato officers have been killed in the interior ministry in the Afghan capital Kabul, coalition officials say.

Eurozone Crisis: ‘Behind the name-calling… lies a complete breakdown of trust’

By Philip Stevens, the Financial Times

From Philip Stevens, the Financial Times:  Another week, another sticking plaster. The deal to prop up Greece has bought some more time. The important thing – or so we are led to believe – is that the wound has been cauterised. Again.

How to Halt the Butchery in Syria

By Anne-Marie Slaughter, the New York Times

Thieves grab top-secret plans for joint French/UK UAV

By Paul Roberts, ThreatPost

Britain and France plan joint expeditionary force and carrier group

By defensemanagement.com

From defensemanagement.com:  The UK and France are to deepen defence cooperation efforts, speeding up work on a new joint expeditionary force and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programmes, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced.

Nicolas Sarkozy admits David Cameron was right to veto European treaty

By Rowena Mason, the Telegraph

From Rowena Mason, the Telegraph:  David Cameron was right to “defend Britain’s national interest” when he vetoed the new European treaty, Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, has admitted.

Britain and France ‘Will continue to increase their engagement with the Syrian opposition’

By the Foreign Ministry of Great Britain

From the Foreign Ministry of Great Britain:  Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met in Paris for the UK-France Summit on 17 February. Syria was one of the areas discussed.