Western Europe

The role of British Special Forces in defeating Gaddafi

By Mark Urban, the BBC

From Mark Urban, the BBC:  At a meeting near the end of March, we have been told, authorisation was given to take certain steps to develop the [Libyan opposition’s National Transition Council] NTC’s embryonic ground forces.

British and French troops train together in France

By Defpro

From Defpro:  The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS), have recently been training in France with the French Army’s 152nd Infantry Regiment. 

Why Is Europe a Dirty Word?

By Nicholas D. Kristof, the New York Times

From Nicholas D. Kristof, the New York Times:  The Republican candidates unleash these attacks on Obama because so many Americans have in mind a caricature of Europe as an effete, failed socialist system.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ‘unable to land on aircraft carriers’

By Andrew Hough and Thomas Harding, the Telegraph

From Andrew Hough and Thomas Harding, the Telegraph:  The Royal Navy’s multi-billion pound fighter plane programme is under threat amid claims that its new all-purpose jets cannot land on aircraft carriers, it has emerged.

NATO Allies Deny Plans for Syrian No-Fly Zone to Aid Rebels

By Henry Meyer and Ilya Arkhipov, Bloomberg

From Henry Meyer and Ilya Arkhipov, Bloomberg:  NATO and three alliance members said there are no plans for military intervention in Syria after Russia said it has information about preparations for a no-fly zone over the country.

US ranked 13th in security of nuclear material

By William J. Broad, the New York Times

From William J. Broad, the New York Times:  The 32 nations with materials that can fuel atom bombs are typically mum on security, which looks to the public like a closed world of barbed wire and armed guards. Behind the scenes, atomic insiders have long told horror stories of risky practices and security flaws

Russia Says NATO, Persian Gulf Nations Plan to Seek No-Fly Zone for Syria

By Henry Meyer and Ilya Arkhipov, Bloomberg

A new kind of NATO

By Sean Kay, Foreign Policy

From Sean Kay, Foreign Policy:  NATO needs a radical new kind of American leadership if Europe is to be incentivized to assume new responsibilities in effective ways.