United States and Canada

U.S. task force in Jordan seen as prep for possible ‘operation to secure Syria’s chemical stockpiles’

By Jamal Halaby, AP

From Jamal Halaby, AP:  From the edge of a steep mountain overlooking a desert compound built into an old rock quarry, machine gunfire echoes just outside hangars where U.S. special operations forces are training Jordanian commandos. The Americans, who arrived in the kingdom a few weeks ago at the request of the Jordanians, are helping […]

Germans still have a uniquely complicated relationship with their soldiers

By the Economist

From the Economist:  Germany nowadays joins its allies in sending troops to trouble spots such as Kosovo or Afghanistan. Last year it ended the draft in favour of an all-volunteer army like America’s. It is also undertaking a big reform of the Bundeswehr, which consists largely of shrinking the army from 250,000 soldiers in 2010, […]

The Biden Doctrine

By James Traub, Foreign Policy

Russia won’t renew pact on nuclear weapons with U.S.

By David M. Herszenhorn, New York Times

Denmark criticizes NATO’s Libya operation

By Politiken

From Politiken:  A Danish Air Force Tactical Command (FTK) report criticises NATO for its inability to direct bombing raids in Libya last year.

U.S. Cyber Chief: ‘Either you know you’ve been hacked, or you’ve been hacked and you don’t know you’ve been hacked’

By Amaani Lyle,  American Forces Press Service

From Amaani Lyle,  American Forces Press Service :  Analyzing and solving the challenge of cybersecurity is critical to the global economy, the National Security Agency director said during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Cybersecurity Summit here today.

NATO divided over partnership policy

By Julian Lindley–French, New Atlanticist

From Julian Lindley–French, New Atlanticist:  One of the many problems is that today’s distinction between NATO members and partners is entirely artificial.  Indeed, it is hard to imagine any sizeable NATO operation ever again taking place without partners.

Italian radar passes NATO missile defense test

By NATO Communications and Information Agency

From NATO Communications and Information Agency:  A successful ‘Ensemble Test 2’ conducted by the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency confirmed the compatibility of a new Italian sensor with the Alliance’s ballistic missile defence architecture.