United States and Canada

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

How is the Obama administration using social media to disarm Syria’s chemical arsenal?

By Eli Lake, Daily Beast

From Eli Lake, Daily Beast:  If you are a Syrian military officer in charge of some nasty chemical weapons, you’ve probably been friended or Skyped by the U.S. government. The message is simple: think twice before using or selling that mustard gas you are guarding.