United States and Canada

Reports of American Declinism Premature

By Derek Reveron

It’s been popular to discuss the decline of the United States. Yale Ferguson wrote in 2008, “United States capabilities appear to be gravely waning today and its exercise of both hard and soft power has recently been so inept as to limit its current influence and possibly future role in global politics.”

Russia-NATO cooperation in Afghanistan brings hidden costs

By James Kirchick, Foreign Policy

Top Russian spy defects after betraying ring in U.S.

By Thomas Grove, Reuters

From Thomas Grove, Reuters:  The head of Russia’s deep cover U.S. spying operations has betrayed the network and defected, a Russian paper said on Thursday

Russia warming to NATO missile defense plan: U.S.

By Reuters

From Reuters:  Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said that Russia was showing willingness to work with NATO on the system, aimed at countering ballistic threats from the Middle East, in particular Iran. [L]ast week Russia pledged to boost cooperation with NATO in Afghanistan and consider a joint missile defense […]

The Peril That NATO Can’t Ignore

By Judy Dempsey, the New York Times

From Judy Dempsey, the New York Times:  When NATO leaders meet next week in Lisbon, one topic is unlikely to be discussed: how to make the most of the dwindling funds available for defense spending. The NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, will present his new strategic concept for the 28-member U.S.-led military alliance. Much […]

Did Britain and France Make the Wrong Deal?

By the Editors of the New York Times

The Iran stalemate and the need for strategic patience

On November 8th, the Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force launched its first Issue Brief, “The Iran Stalemate and the Need for Strategic Patience,” authored by journalist and Iran expert, Barbara Slavin.

Cyber Command Achieves Full Operational Capability

By the U.S. Department of Defense

From the U.S. Department of Defense:  Department of Defense announced today [11/3/10] that U.S. Cyber Command has achieved full operational capability (FOC). Achieving FOC involved U.S. Cyber Command completing a number of critical tasks to ensure it was capable of accomplishing its mission.  U.S. Cyber Command is responsible for directing activities to operate and defend […]

Entente Suicidal

By Andrew Roberts, the Wall Street Journal

From Andrew Roberts, the Wall Street Journal:  Great Britain desperately needed to sign a 50-year defense pact with a close ally to protect her dwindling military resources and retain the power to project force in the world.

NATO Seeks Unity on Kabul

By  Yaroslav Trofimov, the Wall Street Journal

From Yaroslav Trofimov, the Wall Street Journal:  Coalition commanders in Afghanistan are pushing for a show of unity at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Portugal this month, concerned about the pressure by some European allies to speed up transition to Afghan control and leave.