United States and Canada

US Official Accuses Turkey of ‘Inventing Reason Not to Act’ Against Daesh

By Mark Landler, Anne Barnard, and Eric Schmitt, New York Times

While Turkish troops watched the fighting in Kobani through a chicken-wire fence, Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that the town was about to fall and Kurdish fighters warned of an impending blood bath if they were not reinforced

Hungary Hosts NATO Exercise in ‘Show of Strength’

By AFP

Hungarian and US soldiers took part in a joint military exercise Thursday, simulating “everyday” battle situations in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

Report: Huge Cyber Attack on JPMorgan Linked to Russia

By Matthew Goldstein, Nicole Perlroth, & David E. Sanger, New York Times

The huge cyberattack on JPMorgan Chase that touched more than 83 million households and businesses was one of the most serious computer intrusions into an American corporation. But it could have been much worse.

Russian and Polish Analysts Concerned War in Ukraine Could Escalate and Approach Nuclear Level

By Gideon Rachman, Financial Times

In European capitals I have visited recently – in particular, Warsaw and Berlin – certain ideas about the Ukraine crisis are regarded as established facts.

Tensions Surge in Estonia Amid a Russian Replay of Cold War Tactics

By Andrew Higgins, New York Times

So far, the only solid fact, at least according to Estonia’s version of what happened in a thicket of pine trees and scrub on the border here with Russia, is that a well-trained and well-armed squad of Russian security operatives crossed into Estonia on Sept. 5 and grabbed Eston Kohver

US Worried about ‘Twin Cancers of Democratic Backsliding and Corruption’ in Central Europe

By Victoria Nuland, Department of State

We live in a better world because the countries of Central Europe chose the path of a Europe whole, free and at peace 25 years ago. But today that choice is under threat, and Central Europe is once again on the frontline

Obama Thanks Rasmussen for Making NATO Stronger

Today marks the end of Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s term as Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Three Questions for Ukrainian President Poroshenko

By Mark Seip, The Hill

While [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko was asked several questions during his visit, there are three key ones that should have been asked to better understand his point of view and the way ahead for his country: