United States and Canada

U.S. and NATO allies to announce ‘transition’ strategy in Afghanistan war

By Karen DeYoung, the Washington Post

From Karen DeYoung, the Washington Post:  The Obama administration and its NATO allies will declare late this week that the war in Afghanistan has made sufficient progress to begin turning security control over to its government by spring

Medvedev confirms report of U.S. spy in Russian intelligence

By the AP

From the AP:  Russia’s president suggested Friday changes to the country’s spy agency are coming in the wake of this summer’s arrest of agents in the United States and a report that a top Russian intelligence officer helped capture them.

NATO to offer Russia access to US satellite data: Report

By AFP

From AFP:  NATO will offer Russia access to some US military satellite data in exchange for its participation in a missile shield project for continental Europe, a Moscow newspaper reported Friday.

Reports of American Declinism Premature

By Derek Reveron

It’s been popular to discuss the decline of the United States. Yale Ferguson wrote in 2008, “United States capabilities appear to be gravely waning today and its exercise of both hard and soft power has recently been so inept as to limit its current influence and possibly future role in global politics.”

Russia-NATO cooperation in Afghanistan brings hidden costs

By James Kirchick, Foreign Policy

Top Russian spy defects after betraying ring in U.S.

By Thomas Grove, Reuters

From Thomas Grove, Reuters:  The head of Russia’s deep cover U.S. spying operations has betrayed the network and defected, a Russian paper said on Thursday

Russia warming to NATO missile defense plan: U.S.

By Reuters

From Reuters:  Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said that Russia was showing willingness to work with NATO on the system, aimed at countering ballistic threats from the Middle East, in particular Iran. [L]ast week Russia pledged to boost cooperation with NATO in Afghanistan and consider a joint missile defense […]

The Peril That NATO Can’t Ignore

By Judy Dempsey, the New York Times

From Judy Dempsey, the New York Times:  When NATO leaders meet next week in Lisbon, one topic is unlikely to be discussed: how to make the most of the dwindling funds available for defense spending. The NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, will present his new strategic concept for the 28-member U.S.-led military alliance. Much […]

Did Britain and France Make the Wrong Deal?

By the Editors of the New York Times

The Iran stalemate and the need for strategic patience

On November 8th, the Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force launched its first Issue Brief, “The Iran Stalemate and the Need for Strategic Patience,” authored by journalist and Iran expert, Barbara Slavin.