United States and Canada

Iran and Russia Outmaneuvering US in the Syrian Proxy War

By Vali Nasr, Bloomberg

From Vali Nasr, Bloomberg:  Events in Syria are spinning in Iran’s favor.

US Is Syria’s Only Hope

By R. Nicholas Burns

Syria’s savage civil war may have just entered a new and darker phase. During the past few weeks, momentum has shifted sharply away from the rebels in favor of the Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. The real possibility that his government, long presumed to be on life support, may now survive is bad news for rebel […]

United States Trapped in Cul-de-Sac of No Good Choices

By Harlan Ullman

Unlike the past when the United States faced potentially existential dangers, from the Revolution to the Civil War, Great Depression, World War II and the Cold War, since the attacks on New York’s Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, too many of today’s crises and challenges have no obvious solutions let alone good ones. The […]

Why NATO is Staying Out of Syria Conflict

By James Joyner, New Atlanticist

From James Joyner, New Atlanticist:  NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen reiterated Friday that the Alliance will not intervene militarily in Syria.

SACEUR Sees ‘Uncertainty and Insecurity’ Along Europe’s Borders

By Philip Breedlove, Department of Defense

From Philip Breedlove, Department of Defense:  These are dynamic times, and I’m invigorated by the challenges and opportunities in front of us today, and encouraged by the passion and the professionalism of the whole NATO team to meet those challenges and to address those opportunities. 

Germany and Italy Commit to Leadership Roles in Post-2014 Afghanistan Mission

By Ken Dilanian, Los Angeles Times

From Ken Dilanian, Los Angeles Times:  Germany and Italy have committed to join the United States in helping to train Afghan troops after combat operations cease at the end of next year, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Wednesday.

The Ghosts of Task Force Smith

By Pete Dillon

Here we are again. Since World War I the United Sates has consistently entered into a post conflict reduction of military capacity that attempts to rebalance the national ledgers and reign in spending.  The contemporary conversation inside the Beltway is saturated with opinions on the best way to proceed this time, even though our nation is […]

Hagel: NATO’s ‘Over-Dependence’ on US Capabilities ‘Brings with it Risks’

By Chuck Hagel, Department of Defense

Obama to Announce Susan Rice as His New National Security Advisor

By Mark Landler, New York Times

From Mark Landler, New York Times:  In a major shakeup of President Obama’s foreign-policy inner circle, Tom Donilon, the national security adviser, is resigning and will be replaced by Susan E. Rice

Defense Ministers to Discuss NATO’s Cyber Defenses

By Jerome Rivet, AFP

From Jerome Rivet, AFP:  Defense ministers from NATO’s 28 member states meet on Tuesday with cyber-defence top of the agenda, amid concerns about the threat posed by increasing cyber-attacks, many blamed on China. “The challenge evolves all the time, probably (much faster) than any other type of threat we face at the moment,” said one […]