United States and Canada

Troop pullout deadline working, Sen. Levin says

By  Nathan Hurst, the Detroit News

From Nathan Hurst, the Detroit News:  The July 2011 deadline for beginning to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan has helped stabilize the war-torn nation’s security, Sen. Carl Levin said Tuesday. "The Afghans must be in charge … with their own troops," Levin, D-Detroit, said during a Tuesday breakfast in Washington sponsored by the Boston-based Christian Science Monitor […]

U.S. deports alleged 12th Russian spy, a former Microsoft employee

By Jerry Markon, the Washington Post

From Jerry Markon, the Washington Post:  Federal authorities detained a 12th person in their investigation of a Russian spy ring in the United States, and he has been deported to Russia, U.S. law enforcement officials said Tuesday. The man, Alexey Karetnikov, entered the United States in October and was living in the Seattle area, where […]

National Security Advisor Gen. James Jones in Europe to discuss Afghanistan and upcoming NATO Summit

By the White House

From the White House: Statement by Ben Chang, Deputy NSC Spokesman, on the meetings of National Security Advisor General James Jones in Paris and Brussels On July 12 and 13, General Jones visited Paris and Brussels to consult with NATO Secretary General Rasmussen, senior French officials, and other allies.  His discussions focused on coordinating transatlantic actions […]

Nato chief: Afghanistan timetable puts British troops at risk

By James Kirkup, the Telegraph

From James Kirkup, the Telegraph:  David Cameron’s signal of a five-year timetable for withdrawing British troops from Afghanistan risks encouraging the Taliban to step up their attacks on Western forces, the head of Nato has said. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Nato secretary-general, delivered the blunt message after the Prime Minister said he wanted most British […]

U.S. Detains 12th Person in Russian Spy Probe

By Evan Perez, the Wall Street Journal

From Evan Perez, the Wall Street Journal:  Authorities are detaining a 12th, previously undisclosed person implicated in the federal probe that busted a Cold War-style Russian spy ring, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Federal Bureau of Investigation counterintelligence investigators have been investigating the 23-year-old Russian man since last fall when his […]

Turkey Steps In to Fill Void in Former Yugoslavia

By Marc Champion, the Wall Street Journal

Ukraine and NATO begin Sea Breeze military exercise

By the Kyiv Post

From the Kyiv Post:  The U.S. and Ukrainian Sea Breeze 2010 exercises were started at the Odesa House of Officers on Monday. "I am glad to announce the beginning of the Ukraine-U.S. Sea Breeze exercises. Thirteen member countries began the exercises, which will help Ukraine practice interaction with other fleets.

Davutoğlu considers question “Who lost Turkey?” an insult

By Zaman

From Zaman:  In remarks delivered at the Chatham House think tank in London on Thursday during an official bilateral visit to the UK capital, [Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet] Davutoğlu said that the question, “Are we losing Turkey?” is extremely annoying. Such a question is humiliating for Turkey and Turkey is not an object to be […]

Somalia: NATO-US collaboration rescues crew of sunken dhow

By raxanreeb.com

From raxanreeb.com:  Early yesterday Puntland authorities contacted the NATO flagship HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën requesting aid for the dhow, Al Anwari. The dhow reportedly with a crew of 19, which was sailing from Oman to Boosaaso, had sunk off the North Eastern coast of Somalia. A US Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), conducting counter piracy missions […]