United States and Canada

Is the U.S.-European Relationship Really in Decline?

By James Joyner, the Atlantic

From James Joyner, the Atlantic:  The blistering farewell speech to NATO by U.S. defense secretary Robert Gates warning of a "dim, if not dismal" future for the Alliance drew the Western public’s attention to a longstanding debate about the state of the transatlantic relationship.

U.S. signs agreement to station F-16s and military personnel in Poland

By Reuters

From Reuters:  NATO allies Poland and the United States signed a deal on Monday for the stationing of U.S. airforce personnel on Polish soil, a symbolically important move for Warsaw as it keeps a nervous eye on neighbouring Russia. The accord, endorsed by U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to Warsaw late last month, […]

Gaddafi thanks Congress for challenging Obama on Libya Op

By Mark Landler, the New York Times

From Mark Landler, the New York Times:  Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi has written to members of Congress thanking them for criticizing President Obama last week over his involvement in the NATO-led military campaign in Libya.

Can European leaders avoid driving NATO over a cliff?

By Joseph Wood, the German Marshall Fund of the US

‘Collective Military Irrelevance’

By the Editors of the Wall Street Journal

From the Editors of the Wall Street Journal:  Defense Secretary Robert Gates is leaving office with a bang, and yesterday his target was a NATO alliance that he said is risking "collective military irrelevance" by spending so little on defense that it can’t defeat a two-bit dictator like Moammar Gadhafi

The 24th anniversary of Reagan’s “Tear down this wall” speech in Berlin

By Ronald Reagan, the Reagan Foundation

From Ronald Reagan, the Reagan Foundation:  We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness.

The West is still waiting for its Libya gamble to pay off

By Doyle MacManus, the Los Angeles Times

From Doyle MacManus, the Los Angeles Times:  Hope isn’t a strategy. But it was a major part of NATO’s decision to launch an air war against Libya’s Moammar Kadafi almost three months ago.

Robert Gates’ Harsh Words to NATO

Kurt Volker, Atlantic Council Senior Advisor, Managing Director at Johns Hopkins University – SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations, and former US Ambassador to NATO, appeared on Fox News

Talking Truth to NATO

By the Editors of the New York Times

From the Editors of the New York Times:  Defense Secretary Robert Gates spoke bluntly to America’s NATO allies on Friday. They needed to hear it.

U.S. and NATO: If We Don’t Shoulder the Burden, Nobody Will

By Max Boot, Commentary

From Max Boot, Commentary:  Bob Gates is leaving the Defense Department with a bang—or at least a blast—rather than a whimper.