United States and Canada

World leaders praise Havel’s legacy

By the BBC

From the BBC:  Tributes have been pouring in for the man many consider a driving force in the overthrow of communist rule in eastern Europe.

Firms Bid on NATO Cyberwar

By Daniel Michaels, the Wall Street Journal

Syria’s civil war is already drawing in foreign powers

By Jim Hoagland, the Washington Post

From Jim Hoagland, the Washington Post:  It is the Arab Earthquake. Not “spring,” not “wave of reform,” not even “awakening” can describe the systemic upheaval that has engulfed Syria, where other Arab nations actively press for the overthrow of the regime headed by Bashar al-Assad. Let us call an earthquake an earthquake.

China’s cyberwar

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  China is waging a quiet, mostly invisible but massive cyberwar against the United States, aimed at stealing its most sensitive military and economic secrets and obtaining the ability to sabotage vital infrastructure.

British Defense chief signals era of new military alliances

By Richard Norton-Taylor and Nick Hopkins, the Guardian

From Richard Norton-Taylor and Nick Hopkins, the Guardian:  The British government’s most senior defence and security policy advisers are finally facing up to a fundamental shift in the world’s military and economic balance.

Serb air force seeks new fighter jets

By Aleksandar Vasovic, Reuters

From Aleksandar Vasovic, Reuters:  The Serbian air force, left with just a handful of operational planes after wars in the 1990s, wants to buy a dozen aircraft at a cost of around 1 billion euros (1.3 billion), a defence official said on Friday.

Congress cautious about selling armed drones to NATO allies

By Adam Entous and Julian E. Barnes, the Wall Street Journal

From Adam Entous and Julian E. Barnes, the Wall Street Journal:  The Obama administration has been quietly pushing to sell armed drones to key allies, but it has run into resistance from U.S. lawmakers concerned about the proliferation of technology and know-how.

Afghanistan Plan Would Reduce NATO Combat Role

By Thom Shanker, the New York Times

From Thom Shanker, the New York Times:  The senior American commander in Afghanistan said Tuesday that his plans for next year would emphasize deploying American and allied military trainers directly within Afghan security units, which could lessen the direct combat role of NATO and accelerate local forces taking the lead in a growing number of […]