Western Europe

NATO to spend almost $4 billion on UAV program

By Justyna Pawlak, Reuters

From Justyna Pawlak, Reuters: NATO is to buy five U.S.-made unmanned drone aircraft capable of countering Afghan insurgents, hunting pirates off Somalia or monitoring arms embargoes, an alliance official said on Wednesday. . . . "The acquisition itself is plus 1 billion (euros)," a NATO official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The cost […]

Head of US Army Cyber Command: ‘Cyberspace requires a world-class cyber warrior’

By Peter Apps, Reuters

From Peter Apps, Reuters:  With growing worries about the threat of "cyber warfare," militaries around the world are racing to recruit the computer specialists they believe may be central to the conflicts of the 21st century. But whilst money is plentiful for new forces of "cyber warriors," attracting often individualistic technical specialists and hackers into […]

Republicans need more than rhetoric on defense

By George F. Will, the Washington Post

From George F. Will, the Washington Post:  The U.S. defense budget is about 43 percent of the world’s total military spending — more than the combined defense spending of the next 17 nations, many of which are U.S. allies.

Can Germany Summon the Will to Lead?

By John Vincour, the International Herald Tribune

From John Vincour, the International Herald Tribune:  Mr. Putin’s goal is not only to paint an American-led enemy in time for next month’s vote, but to get the West to back off on Iran and on deployment of NATO’s missile shield in Europe through threats and by sowing the notion that America is shoving its […]

Britain and France had to insist US allow their warships to join Iran flotilla

By James Kirkup, the Telegraph

From James Kirkup, the Telegraph:  Defence sources have revealed that the Americans only relented and allowed a Royal Navy frigate to join the mission following an intervention from Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president.

NATO allies complain they were blindsided by Panetta’s remarks on Afghanistan

By David S. Cloud, the Los Angeles Times

A Leaner NATO Needs a Tighter Focus

By Hans Binnendijk, the International Herald Tribune

From Hans Binnendijk, the International Herald Tribune:  European nations have slashed their defense budgets to record low levels without much regard for NATO’s overall defense requirements.

Now Not the Time to Retreat from Europe

By Chad Manske, Global Post

From Chad Manske, Global Post:  Critics do not recognize that we have significantly reduced our forces and installations in Europe since the end of the Cold War. Of the 1.4 million current US military personnel, only 90,000 are in Europe, or about 6.4 percent.