United States and Canada

Why Obama Can’t Reset Relations with Putin’s Russia

By Alexander Motyl

U.S. President Barack Obama wants to “reset” America’s relations with Russia, but the nature of the Russian regime won’t permit much change. Obama can easily reject the style and correct the mistakes of his predecessor, George W. Bush, but doing so will not alter the fact that Putin’s Russia must engage in imperialist rhetoric and […]

France names 2 generals to new NATO posts

By Taiwan News

From Taiwan News: “(Associated Press): Sarkozy has proposed Gen. Stephane Abrial to head the NATO transformation command in Norfolk, Va., and Gen. Phillippe Stoltz to lead an operational command of rapid reaction forces in Lisbon. They would succeed two American officers.”

Iran’s Election and U.S. Foreign Policy

By Bernard Finel

The Administration of George W. Bush was close to an unmitigated disaster for the image of the United States abroad. His ill-informed, often offensive, and counter-productive public statements and policy preferences set back American national security dramatically. Trying to undo some of the damage of the Bush years is the reason that President Obama has […]

Communication key for anti-pirate fleet

By Navy Times

From Navy Times: “Some are part of the U.S.-fostered Combined Task Force 151, led at the moment by a Turkish admiral.Other combatants in the area fall under a NATO mission called Operation Allied Protector, ships that include the U.S. frigate Halyburton, led from the flagship frigate Côrte Real of Portugal.The European Union organized its first […]

Georgia the Key to US-Russia “Reset”

By David Smith

US President Barack Obama will travel to Moscow July 6-8 on the first real test of his attempt to “reset” US-Russian relations.  At the Kremlin, Obama must articulate what is negotiable and what is not. 

U.S. Gives Absolution to Its Allies

By New York Times

Strong critique of the hardening division of labor within NATO. From New York Times: “Another official, from Continental Europe, requesting anonymity, said he considered the circumstances ones that brush the quasi-historical: in his view, the United States has de facto abandoned the idea of asking Europe to go to war while the administration re-Americanizes the […]

Turkey to Participate in Loyal Arrow – 2009 Military Exercise

By Turkish Weekly

From Turkish Weekly: “Turkey will participate in Loyal Arrow-2009 military exercise which will take place in Sweden between June 4-17.Air Forces Command stated on Monday that air forces of Turkey, the U.S., Germany, Finland, Britain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Portugal and NATO would take part in the exercise that would be performed at Sweden’s Kallax […]

Hassan for regional bloc against US, NATO

By South Asian News Agency

Leader of major Pakistani political party calls for anti-NATO alliance during meeting with Iranian official. From South Asian News Agency: “Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Syed Munawar Hassan has said that Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and China should from a bloc against the US and NATO forces.Talking to media holding meeting with Iranian Council General Agha Massod Zamani here […]

Confidence Building between Turks and Iraqi Kurds

The Obama administration’s “responsible redeployment” from Iraq is made even more urgent by the requirements resulting from worsening conditions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. For redeployment to occur on scale and on schedule, the United States seeks an end-state in Iraq that is stable and at peace with its neighbors. Simmering sectarian violence is inevitable, but […]

Europe’s Last Dictatorship

By Wall Street Journal

Jeffrey Gedmin visits Minsk and presents strong reasons for the US and the EU to continue pressure on the Belarus regime. From Wall Street Journal: “NATO sees Belarus as a potential threat toneighboring Lithuania. Russian tanks stationed in Belarus can be in theLithuanian capital, Vilnius, in about 90 minutes . . . The man who […]