United States and Canada

Russia conducts biggest test of its nuclear triad since end of the Cold War

By J. Michael Cole, the Diplomat

From J. Michael Cole, the Diplomat:  With the U.S. and Russia deadlocked over a plan by NATO to deploy a European missile defense system, Moscow showed the world what it meant by “technical response” last week by holding what has been described as the most comprehensive test of its strategic nuclear arsenal since the collapse […]

CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say

By Greg Miller, Washington Post

From Greg Miller, Washington Post:  The CIA is urging the White House to approve a significant expansion of the agency’s fleet of armed drones, a move that would extend the spy service’s decade-long transformation into a paramilitary force, U.S. officials said.

Turkey calls on major powers to intervene in Syria

By Simon Tisdall, Guardian

U.S.-German relationship on the rocks

By Ian Bremmer and Mark Leonard, Washington Post

From Ian Bremmer and Mark Leonard, Washington Post:  [W]hy does a widening divide between Berlin and Washington threaten the entire Western alliance?

Cyber: The Navy’s newest warfighting imperative

By Kendall L. Card and Michael S. Rogers, Proceedings

From Kendall L. Card and Michael S. Rogers, Proceedings:  The opening shots of the next war will likely occur in cyberspace.

Russia Warns of ‘Technical Response’ to NATO Missile Plans

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Russia may deliver a "technical response" to NATO over its plans to deploy a European missile defense program, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday.

Obama administration divided over ‘openly admitting that the United States has deployed a new cyber weapon’

By Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger, New York Times

From Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger, New York Times:  In advance of Mr. [Secretary of Defense Leon] Panetta’s speech in New York on Thursday, senior officials debated how much to talk about the United States’s offensive capabilities, assessing whether such an acknowledgment could help create a deterrent for countries contemplating attacks on the country.

U.S. suspects Iran behind wave of cyberattacks

By Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger, New York Times

From Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger, New York Times:  American intelligence officials are increasingly convinced that Iran was the origin of a serious wave of network attacks that crippled computers across the Saudi oil industry and breached financial institutions in the United States