United States and Canada

Prime Minister Claims Power in Tunisia as President Flees

By David D. Kirkpatrick, the New York Times

Is Germany Out Growing the Franco-German Partnership?

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  While the agonies of the European Union — sovereign defaults, deficits and bubbles — unfold like a great wonk drama, at their core is something more intimate: the fractured tale of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Russia’s Parliament Amends START to Highlight Withdrawal Option

By Steve Gutterman, Reuters

US 17th Air Force in Germany to be deactivated

By John T. Bennett, the Hill

From John T. Bennett, the Hill:  [Air Force Secretary Michael Donley] provided more details about which facilities and organizations the service will shutter and consolidate as part of Pentagon’s cost-cutting drive, moves guaranteed to garner attention on Capitol Hill.

Russia’s Lavrov rules out global war over Arctic resources

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday dismissed as "provocation" suggestions that world powers could fight a war over valuable Arctic natural resources. Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway are seeking to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic, which is believed to contain over 25% of the world’s oil […]

Russia wants “its own security sector” in European Missile Defense

By RIA Novosti

Gates May Cut At Least One Army Brigade from Europe

By Spencer Ackerman, Danger Room

From Spencer Ackerman, Danger Room:  In his Thursday press conference, [Defense Secretary Robert] Gates called out U.S. European Command for hosting way too many cushy billets for senior officers

Sarkozy Talks Terrorism with Obama: “Democracies cannot afford to give in”

By the White House

From the White House:  Excerpts from remarks by U.S. President Barack Obama and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France after Bilateral Meeting. Obama:  We don’t have a stronger friend and a stronger ally than Nicolas Sarkozy and the French people.  We have cooperated over the last several years on dealing with a global economic crisis, dealing […]

End of EU Arms Embargo with China may Spark Transatlantic Quarrel

By John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune

From John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune:  [T]he E.U.’s attitude on its 20-year-old embargo on supplying China with military wherewithal looks wobbly.

Chinese Amb: “Cold Europe is feeling the warmth of the Chinese breeze”

By Anthony Faiola, the Washington Post

From Anthony Faiola, the Washington Post:  [S]peculation among traders that cash-rich China might step in and buy hard-hit European bonds, along with Chinese officials suggesting that Beijing would keep supporting the euro, helped the currency claw out a gain Monday