United States and Canada

Is there a NATO consensus on the future of the Arctic?

By Marten Lindberg, ISN

Complexity in the Caucasus: Regional rivals cooperating in peacekeeping missions

By Mark P. Hertling, Foreign Policy

From Mark P. Hertling, Foreign Policy:  European Command’s strategy of Theater Security Cooperation — and USAREUR’s contribution as part of that strategy in training and exercising with the militaries and engaging with military and political leaders — is bearing significant results.

Poland’s desire for own missile defense system linked to uncertainty over U.S. alliance

By Rachel Oswald, Global Security Newswire

From Rachel Oswald, Global Security Newswire:  Poland’s recently expressed interest in acquiring an independent capability to counter theater-level missile attacks has much to do with insecurities over whether the United States, with all of its competing priorities, can reliably be counted on to defend Polish interests, according to issue experts and former diplomats.

Obama warns Assad not to cross ‘red line’ on chemical weapons

By Barack Obama, the White House

From Barack Obama, the White House:    I have indicated repeatedly that President al-Assad has lost legitimacy, that he needs to step down.  So far, he hasn’t gotten the message, and instead has double downed in violence on his own people. 

Obama to ‘reach out’ to Karzai over Afghan attacks against US troops

By CNN Security Clearance

From CNN Security Clearance:  President Obama is "deeply concerned" about the growing number of deadly attacks on U.S. forces by Afghan security forces, and plans to contact the Afghan president to discuss taking tougher actions, he said Monday. "I’ll be reaching out to President (Hamid) Karzai," Obama told reporters at the White House, adding, "We’ve […]

Official: British intell helped Syrian rebels ambush pro-Assad tank column

By Leon Watson, the Daily Mail

From Leon Watson, the Daily Mail:  British intelligence on Syrian troop movements is helping rebels in their fight against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, it was revealed today.

Report: Germany helping Syria rebels with spy ship intel

By Reuters

USAF Gen. Breedlove begins duties as NATO’s new Allied Air Commander

By NATO

From NATO:  After receiving the flag of Allied Air Command Ramstein (AC Ramstein) from NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Sir Richard Shirreff during a change of command ceremony on 31 July, General Philip M. Breedlove, arrived at the NATO compound on Ramstein Air Base early this Friday morning.

Number of NATO forces killed by Afghan recruits hits new high

By Ariel Zirulnick, the Christian Science Monitor

From Ariel Zirulnick, the Christian Science Monitor:  The number of ‘green-on-blue’ attacks in Afghanistan this year has surpassed that of all 2011, eroding trust and deepening concern about the security transition.

Hadley: US should provide Syrian opposition with ‘antitank and antiaircraft weapons’

By Stephen J. Hadley, the Washington Post

From Stephen J. Hadley, the Washington Post:  What began as a peaceful civil resistance is increasingly degenerating into a sectarian war between Syria’s Sunnis and its Alawite Shiites that will almost surely spread beyond its borders.