United States and Canada

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.

Turkey’s defense market worth $14 billion

By UPI

From UPI:  A recent report has valued the Turkish defense industry market at $14 billion.

European powers no longer have role across Pacific

By Robert M. Farley, the Global Times

From Robert M. Farley, the Global Times:  Over the past decade, NATO has increasingly stepped outside of its traditional regional boundaries and begun operating in far flung corners of the world.