United States and Canada

Does the Obama Administration view our European allies “with general disdain?”

By  S.W., the Economist

From S.W., the Economist:  My colleague in this space last week delightfully dismembered Dinesh D’Souza’s nutty Forbes piece “analyzing” Mr Obama’s worldview and thought processes, but the fact remains that this administration does seem to view our old European allies with general disdain.

Obama urges Kyrgyz President to let in OSCE Police Advisory Group

Whitehouse statement at favstocks.com:  President Obama met with Kyrgyzstani President Roza Otunbayeva in New York today to discuss ways to deepen our relations based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

UK to protect 3 shared priorities with US from defense cuts

By AFP

From AFP:  London has sought to reassure anxious US officials that plans for major defense cuts will not undermine its status as Washington’s most important military ally, officials said Friday. Amid US concerns over London’s plans to slash 10 to 20 percent in military spending, Defence Secretary Liam Fox told his US counterpart, Robert Gates, […]

Gates makes DoD give NATO allies access to secret websites

By Spencer Ackerman, the Danger Room

From Spencer Ackerman, the Danger Room:  It’s been nearly nine years since NATO entered Afghanistan. But it’s only been a few months since the U.S.’ allies in Afghanistan got to log on to a secret website run by the Pentagon’s anti-roadside bomb team to pool information on the war’s signature weapon. Run by the Joint […]

British Cuts to Military Concern U.S. Officials

By Michael Gordon and John Burns, the New York Times

From Michael Gordon and John Burns, the New York Times:  Plans by the British government to make significant cuts in defense spending have spurred concerns among American military experts about Britain’s ability to carry out its role as the United States’ most dependable ally.

Europe faces higher threat from al Qaeda

By Eli Lake, the Washington Times

From Eli Lake, the Washington Times:  Al Qaeda and its allies are taking aim at Europe, according to U.S. and Western intelligence officials, who say there are indications a terrorist plot is in the offing. "Despite the significant counterterrorism pressure abroad, al Qaeda continues to be committed to high-profile attacks directed at the West, including […]

State Department: “The Russians keep asking hard questions” about missile defense

By Philip H. Gordon, U.S. State Department

From Philip H. Gordon, U.S. State Department:  The Russians keep asking hard questions. We have been, I think, making it very clear, first, that our missile defense programs are not designed, they’re not targeted at Russia.

Clinton: Restoring CFE important part of reset with Russia

By Andrew Quinn, Reuters

From Andrew Quinn, Reuters:  NATO and Russia should step up cooperation on missile defense, aiming to endorse a plan by November to resume missile defense exercises and explore ways to link early warning systems, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday. "In the longer term, NATO and Russia should work together to develop […]

At the U.N., Turkey Asserts Itself in Prominent Ways

By Mark Landler, the New York Times

U.S. Lauds Russia on Barring Arms Delivery to Iran

By David Sanger and Andrew Kramer, the New York Times

From David Sanger and Andrew Kramer, the New York Times:  The White House praised Russia’s president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, on Wednesday for publicly barring the shipment of an advanced antimissile system to Iran, even as American diplomats here discussed a plan to reopen negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program.