United States and Canada

France says too soon to talk of Afghan pullout

By Reuters

U.N. Court Rules Kosovo Declaration Was Legal

By Dan Bilefsky, the New York Times

From Dan Bilefsky, the New York Times:  Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 did not violate international law, the United Nations’ highest court said Thursday in a ruling that Kosovo heralded as a victory but that legal experts warned could spur separatist movements around the world.

Britain’s coalition government attacked over withdrawal plans

By Alex Barker, James Blitz, and George Parker, the Financial Times

Obama strategist: ‘the durability of this mission has to be attended to’

By David E. Sanger, the New York Times

From David E. Sanger, the New York Times:  When President Obama announced a new strategy for Afghanistan in December, he argued that by setting a deadline of next summer to begin drawing down troops he would create a sense of urgency for the Afghan government to take the lead in the fight, while acknowledging the […]

All Together Now: Missile Defense

By Sam Nunn, Igor Ivanov, and Wolfgang Ischinger, the International Herald Tribune

From Sam Nunn, Igor Ivanov, and Wolfgang Ischinger, the International Herald Tribune:  No other initiative has more near-term potential to ease the NATO-Russian relationship out of its petulant, impacted state, while giving a positive jolt to the revived but tentative and unfocused interest in an improved and more inclusive European security system, than missile-defense cooperation. Were […]

Turkey: The sentinel swivels

By Delphine Strauss and David Gardner, the Financial Times

NATO official reveals heated exchange between Gen. Petraeus and Secretary General

By Marc Tran and Jon Boone, the Guardian

From Marc Tran and Jon Boone, the Guardian:  Plans to begin handing control of provinces to Afghan security forces by the end of this year have been quietly dropped amid fears among European countries that Petraeus is less committed to a speedy transfer of power. The change of tack, revealed in the final communique from […]

Kabul conference communique confirms 2014 as key deadline

By the New York Times

From the New York Times:  The draft communiqué, which will be signed later Tuesday and was obtained by The New York Times, sets 2014 as the date when Afghanistan’s security forces will be in the lead in military operations throughout the country. The document sets the end of 2010 as the date for a more […]

Allies privately differ on defining July date and withdrawal plans

By  Alissa J. Rubin, Richard A. Oppel, Jr. and Mark Landler, the New York Times

From Alissa J. Rubin, Richard A. Oppel, Jr. and Mark Landler, the New York Times:  The United States, European and other foreign leaders met here Tuesday to pledge anew their support for Afghanistan as they committed to complete transition of security and budgeting responsibility to the Afghan government by 2014. They acknowledged that neither the public in their […]

It’s Time to Ratify the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties

By Jonathan Ruemelin, Damon Wilson, and Jeff Lightfoot

During David Cameron’s first visit to Washington as Britain’s Prime Minister, a new Atlantic Council issue brief calls for the White House and Senate to act to ratify the U.S.-UK and U.S.-Australia Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties. To affirm the U.S.-UK special relationship, and to advance timely military, economic and diplomatic interests, Cameron’s visit is the […]