Western Europe

Lockerbie Bomber Released Over U.S. Objections

By James Joyner

The man who murdered 270 people by bombing Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, has been given a compassionate release from prison so that he may spend his dying days with his family.

Combined NATO-EU Operation Foils Piracy Attack

By NATO

From NATO: Dramatic events in the Gulf of Aden last night demonstrated the level of co-operation that now exists between the international counter piracy forces in that region. Following an approach by pirates, the Turkish flagged merchant vessel ELGIZ NUR CEBI issued a distress call. The rapid, determined and coordinated response by both NATO and […]

German Terrorists Wanted to Kill Americans

By James Joyner

A foiled German terrorist plot against airports, military bases and off duty hangouts of American soldiers was motivated by Islamist zeal and hatred of American foreign policy, the group’s leader has revealed. Their intent was to kill as many Americans as possible to punish us for an alleged “war against Islam.”

Britain’s Afghan role could last “30 to 40 years” – general

By Reuters

From Reuters: Britain could play some role in Afghanistan until 2050, the next head of the British army said in an interview published on Saturday. General Sir David Richards, who becomes chief of the general staff later this month, said Britain’s military involvement should only be needed for the medium term before giving way to […]

Russian Subs Seen Off U.S. East Coast

By the Wall Street Journal

From the Wall Street Journal: Two Russian attack submarines were detected patrolling the waters off the East Coast of the U.S. in recent days, including one that came as close as 200 miles offshore, according to U.S. military officials . . . The senior military official said the two Russian vessels were nuclear-powered Akula class […]

Madeleine Albright named head of NATO’s Wise Men

NATO’s new Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, appointed twelve experts to oversee the development of the new Strategic Concept for the alliance. The special NATO committee (popularly referred to as the group of Wise Men), will be lead by a historic female diplomat, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Her Vice Chair will be […]

British Conservatives Back Away from Afghanistan

By Steve Hynd

In two scathing op-eds today, the conservative Daily Mail set out a framework for British conservative thinking on the ongoing Afghanistan occupation which is seriously at odds with their American cousins.

Britain opts out of NATO cyber centre

By defencemanagement.com

From defencemanagement.com: Britain will not take part in a NATO cyber security and warfare scheme due to the conflicting interests that participation would cause with other government departments and allies. NATO members Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Spain are all sponsoring a cyber defence and warfare centre that is being setup in Estonia […]

Europe Slashes Its Defense Budgets

By Newsweek

From Newsweek: Already this year, Italy has downsized its defense spending by about 7 percent and Spain has cut about 4 percent. Analysts are predicting that Britain’s roughly $60 billion annual defense budget could face cuts as high as 25 percent in coming years. And top military and civilian officials, including Lord Paddy Ashdown, are […]

NATO’s Scheffer urges allies to do more in Afghanistan

By Reuters

From Reuters: NATO’s secretary general said on Monday he regretted failing to get more member states to give up national ‘caveats’ that mean they won’t carry out dangerous missions in places such as Afghanistan. Speaking to foreign policy experts before he leaves his post next week after 5-1/2 years, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said he […]