United States and Canada

Drones and the Law: Restoring Checks and Balances

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

The Department of Justice has recently released a white paper detailing what it believes to be the scope of the president’s authority to kill Americans suspected of being members of al Qaeda—killings that are usually conducted via drones. The white paper argues that the killing of such suspects does not violate due process or the […]

Time to Pivot Back to Europe

By Harlan Ullman

Last year, the Obama administration released its latest strategic guidance for the Pentagon. The lead headline read “U.S. pivots to Asia.” 

Iran and Hezbollah building 50,000 strong militia in Syria for post-Assad contingencies

By Karen DeYoung and Joby Warrick, Washington Post

From Karen DeYoung and Joby Warrick, Washington Post:  Iran and Hezbollah, its Lebanese proxy, are building a network of militias inside Syria to preserve and protect their interests in the event that President Bashar al-Assad’s government falls or is forced to retreat from Damascus, according to U.S. and Middle Eastern officials.

U.S. said to be target of massive cyber-espionage campaign

By Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post

From Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post:  A new intelligence assessment has concluded that the United States is the target of a massive, sustained cyber-espionage campaign that is threatening the country’s economic competitiveness, according to individuals familiar with the report.

America Should Stay Out of Africa

By Sarwar Kashmeri

Why on earth is the United States thinking of setting up drone bases around the African country of Mali when French forces seem to have the situation well in hand? In this instance, American leadership is not just unnecessary but also unwise. Especially when the U.S. record of helping Mali protect its security has already […]

Rasmussen: ‘NATO cannot act as the world’s policeman’

By Andrew Rettman, EUobserver

From Andrew Rettman, EUobserver:  Nato head Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that the alliance would only take action against Syria if Turkey is attacked.

Abandoning the MEADS missile defense program may cost the U.S. more than completing it

By Tom Kington and Albrecht Muller, Defense News

From Tom Kington and Albrecht Muller, Defense News:  Italy and Germany have warned the U.S. that it could be liable for penalty payments of $400 million if it pulls out of a trilateral anti-missile program, almost exactly the sum U.S. politicians want to save by canceling U.S. involvement.

Foreign Minister Bildt: “Sweden will not be neutral if Baltic states are attacked”

By Jorge,  Lithuanian Tribune

From Jorge,  Lithuanian Tribune:  [Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt] did recognize that Russian military capabilities are being develop to a great extent but he expressed that they still haven’t manage to achieve the arsenal they had during the Soviet era.

China underbids Raytheon proposal for Turkey’s new missile defense system

By Hurriyet Daily News