United States and Canada

On this date: Truman signed the Marshall Plan

By the New York Times

From the New York Times:  On April 3, 1948, President Truman signed the Marshall Plan, which allocated more than $5 billion in aid to 16 European countries. In signing the plan, officially called the Economic Recovery Program, Truman declared, “This measure is America’s answer to the challenge facing the free world.”

Clinton: US may offer ‘intelligence capacity’ to Syrian opposition

By the US Department of State

From the US Department of State:  Excerpts from interview of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton by Wendell Goler, FOX News

Why Europe Still Matters

By Alberto R. Coll, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs:  Over the past decade it has become fashionable to write off Europe and downgrade its importance to American interests.

Dutch arrest Foreign Ministry official for spying for Russia

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Police in the Netherlands arrested a 60-year old employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is suspected of taking bribes and transferring classified information to Russian spies, local media reported on Monday.

Senate passes resolution supporting NATO and the Chicago summit

By the U.S. Senate

From the U.S. Senate:  Resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the NATO summit to be held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 20 through 21, 2012.

Turkey’s PM: NATO radar could be dismantled if conditions not respected

By Today's Zaman

A new doctrine of intervention?

By Henry A. Kissinger, the Washington Post

From Henry A. Kissinger, the Washington Post:  Not the least significant aspect of the Arab Spring is the redefinition of heretofore prevalent principles of foreign policy.

Alliance and Partnership

By Kenneth Weisbrode, the New Atlanticist

From Kenneth Weisbrode, the New Atlanticist:  The language of partnership has become so popular, even contagious, that several, mainly American, officials have described the Atlantic Alliance itself as an important, if not the most important, partnership to the United States.

Russian intelligence chief accuses West over cyber security

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Western special services are trying to compromise Russia’s cyber security, Army Gen. Sergei Smirnov, first deputy director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), said on Tuesday.