United States and Canada

Ahead of NATO talks, Gates warns on defense cuts

By Phil Stewart, Reuters

From Phil Stewart, Reuters: U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said ahead of talks with NATO allies Thursday that he was concerned by defence spending cuts in Europe that threatened to put more pressure on an increasingly stretched U.S. military.

Are Allied forces in Afghanistan protecting Europe from terrorist attacks?

By Con Coughlin, the Wall Street Journal

From Con Coughlin, the Wall Street Journal:  If ever there was a compelling argument for not withdrawing American forces from Afghanistan, it is the State Department’s latest terror-threat warning to American citizens that al Qaeda is planning a fresh wave of attacks in Europe.

Kyrgyz political battle is only beginning

By Robin Paxton, Reuters

From Robin Paxton, Reuters:  While Sunday’s peaceful election in Kyrgyzstan bodes well for attempts to build Central Asia’s first parliamentary democracy, the struggle for influence in a highly fragmented legislature is only just beginning. Five parties won seats in parliament on Monday after a landmark election aimed at shifting the strategic nation in a region […]

France and Britain discussing nuclear cooperation

By James Blitz and Ben Hall, the Financial Times

From James Blitz and Ben Hall, the Financial Times:  An agreement being negotiated by the UK and France would see British nuclear warheads serviced by French scientists and break with half a century in which neither country has collaborated on its independent deterrent. Ahead of a summit in three weeks, the governments are close to […]

9/11 link to militant in Europe terror alert

By Juergen Baetz,  the AP

From Juergen Baetz,  the AP:  Ahmad Wali Siddiqui, a 36-year-old German of Afghan descent arrested by the U.S. military in July in Afghanistan, has emerged as the latest link between Germany and al-Qaida’s worldwide terror campaign.

How Europe puts America at risk

By Stewart Baker, the Washington Post

From Stewart Baker, the Washington Post: But since he [President Obama] took office, Europe has consistently opposed the Obama administration’s counterterrorism initiatives.

German militants training in Pakistani border area

By David Rising, the AP

From David Rising, the AP:  Between 15 and 40 Germans and a smaller contingent of other Europeans are believed to be getting militant training in Pakistan’s lawless border region, intending to join the Taliban’s fight against NATO forces in neighboring Afghanistan or return to Europe and strike at the soft underbelly of those countries.

The Case Against the Case Against NATO

By James Joyner, the New Atlanticist

From James Joyner, the New Atlanticist:  I share [Daniel] Larison’s skepticism of the value of many of the post-Cold War military adventures in which the United States has engaged.

Why a Terrorist Strike on Europe Risks Geopolitical Meltdown

By Tony Karon, Time

Pakistan in NATO?

By Derek Reveron, Nikolas Gvosdev and Hayat Alvi, the New Atlanticist