Tony Blair: President of Europe?
James Joyner | July 02, 2009
Tony Blair is reportedly opening campaigning for the yet-to-be-created position of European President. Sweden and Spain are quietly trying to thwart him.
U.S. Launches Major Afghan Offensive
James Joyner | July 02, 2009
Operation Khanjar, a massive show of force in Helmand Valley, has kicked off today in what may be the last chance for the success of the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
Open Letter to President Obama on Russia
Damon Wilson | July 01, 2009
Dear Mr. President: You have stated your intention to forge a positive relationship between the United States and Russia. We write on the eve of your summit meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev to express our belief that such a relationship requires a commitment by both countries to democracy and human rights and to urge you to reiterate that these values, which you have called universal, are inextricably linked to humane behavior at home and responsible behavior abroad.
Contradictions in Counterinsurgency: U.S. Drone Strikes in the Tribal Areas
Brendan Boundy | July 01, 2009
U.S. and Pakistani anti-Taliban operations along the AfPak border are plagued by contradiction, recent reports say. A counterinsurgency doctrine emphasizing population protection that also relies upon unmanned armed drones will inevitably kill innocents in addition to terrorists.
Rule Britannia
Harlan Ullman | July 01, 2009
Late last month Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pointedly restated Great Britain's longstanding designation as Tehran's public enemy No. 1, surpassing the Great Satan America and Zionist Israel. In this verbal assault, the clerics credited "Perfidious Albion" with manipulating and even controlling the actions of the United States in confronting Iran and containing its ambitions. Wow!
Jones: International Community Still Failing in Afghanistan
James Joyner | July 01, 2009
A January 2008 Atlantic Council report began, "Make no mistake, the international community is not winning in Afghanistan." General Jim Jones, who was chairman of both the Council and that report, tells WaPo's Bob Woodward that, "We are doing the same things well and the same things poorly."
Rumors of War in Georgia
David J. Smith | July 01, 2009
Russia Monday launched Kavkaz 2009—the largest ever military exercise in the North Caucasus—possibly the prelude to another assault on Georgia. Meanwhile, rumors of war loom like thunderheads on a hot summer evening.
German Court Upholds but Delays Lisbon Treaty
James Joyner | June 30, 2009
"Germany's highest court has ruled that the Lisbon Treaty is not fundamentally incompatible with the country's constitution. However, it has called a halt to the ratification process until the German parliament changes a domestic law to strengthen the role of the country's legislative bodies in implementing European Union laws."
Weak States and National Strategy
Derek S. Reveron | June 30, 2009
Foreign Policy and the Fund for Peace released the annual failed states index to categorize economic, political, and social stability of the world's countries. Unsurprisingly, topping the list of most stable and sustainable countries are the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Iraq Victory Achieved with Handover?
Chris Dierkes | June 29, 2009
Tomorrow is the deadline for the exit of US Forces from the cities in Iraq, as per the details of the Status of Forces Agreement between the (then) Bush and Maliki governments.
