United Kingdom

General asks Obama for year-long pause in troop withdrawals from Afghanistan

By Ben Farmer, the Telegraph

From Ben Farmer, the Telegraph:  Gen John Allen is opposing Barack Obama’s strategy of steadily pulling out troops over the next three years and argues a premature decline will jeopardise security gains made in the past year.

NATO is a shell of its former self

By  J.L. Granatstein,the Ottowa Citizen

Do Not Attack Syria

By Aaron David Miller, the International Herald Tribune

From Aaron David Miller, the International Herald Tribune:  The Arab League suspends Syrian membership; the king of Jordan calls for Bashar al-Assad’s departure; Turkey appears ready for more aggressive anti-Assad measures; defectors from the Syrian Army are attacking regime targets.

Will NATO Intervene In Syria?

By James Joyner, the New Atlanticist

From James Joyner, the New Atlanticist:  Among the explanations given for why the West intervened in Libya but has thus far stayed out of the far greater crisis in Syria has been the lack of regional support for action. That excuse appears to be nearing its expiration date. As NATOSource reported earlier today, the Arab League has […]

Arab League asks Britain and France to develop a robust international response for Syria

By Deutsche Welle

From Deutsche Welle:  Britain and France have been approached by senior Arab League officials about taking the lead in a Libya-style contact group which would coordinate the next phases of action against President Bashar al-Assad, and plan for what many regard as his inevitable departure from power.

Syrians would accept Turkish intervention: Brotherhood leader

By Simon Cameron-Moore, Reuters

British intell services foiled Gaddafi attack on the leadership of Libya’s NTC

By Cassandra Vinograd, the AP

Russian envoy visiting NATO capitals to warn of retaliatory “military steps” against missile defense system

By Kim Sengupta, the Independent