United States and Canada

Obama: US aircraft part of French raid in Somalia, but no weapons fired

By White House

From White House:  On January 11, 2013, French forces conducted an operation in Somalia in which they attempted to rescue a French citizen being held hostage by al-Shabaab.

Canada sending C-17 transport plane to help French mission in Mali

By CBC News

From CBC News:  Canada will provide one RCAF C-17 transport aircraft in a non-combat role to support the operations of its allies in Mali for a week, the Harper government announced Monday morning in a press release.

Dempsey to discuss withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan with NATO defense chiefs

By Kevin Baron, E-Ring

Obama Accelerates Transition of Security to Afghans

By Mark Landler and Michael R. Gordon, New York Times

From Mark Landler and Michael R. Gordon, New York Times:  President Obama, eager to turn the page after more than a decade of war, said Friday that beginning this spring American forces would play only a supporting role in Afghanistan, which opens the way for a more rapid withdrawal of the troops.

Banks seek NSA help amid attacks on their computer systems

By Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post

From Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post:  Major U.S. banks have turned to the National Security Agency for help protecting their computer systems after a barrage of assaults that have disrupted their Web sites, according to industry officials.

Top U.S. General: Stopping Assad from using chemical weapons is ‘almost unachievable’

By Lolita C. Baldor, AP

From Lolita C. Baldor, AP:  Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged that it will be nearly impossible to prevent the Syrian government from using its chemical weapons, so the U.S. must rely on deterrence and continue warning Syria that using them would be unacceptable.

Atlanticist nominations offer Europe a valuable opportunity

By Philip Stevens, Financial Times

From Philip Stevens, Financial Times:  Mr Obama’s nominations of John Kerry to the state department and Chuck Hagel to the Pentagon would fill these two top posts with politicians that Europeans should clamour to do business with.

Security issues will test transatlantic co-operation in 2013

By Bruce Stokes, European Voice

From Bruce Stokes, European Voice:  Both Pew and GMF surveys show that Americans and Europeans continue to back NATO, but they want out of Afghanistan, currently a joint US-European military operation. How that disengagement is managed may shape future public support for NATO.

Britain faces intense debate over its nuclear weapons

By James Blitz, Financial Times

From James Blitz, Financial Times:  [A]s London struggles to regain control of its finances, debate is stirring about the affordability of the independent nuclear deterrent.