James J. Townsend, Jr.
jtownsend@acus.org
202-778-4969
Assistant Director:
Magnus Nordenman
mnordenman@acus.org
202-778-4968
Featured Events:
COMMANDER SERIES: Major General Ton van Loon on Afghanistan
Unless we immediately begin a coordinated effort to refocus NATO's military and civil strategy in Afghanistan, there will be grave consequences for both the region and the Alliance. That's the conclusion of "Saving Afghanistan: An Appeal and Plan for Urgent Action," an Atlantic Council issue brief unveiled at the Senate Foreign Relations committee. Senator Norm Coleman said this "important paper" will spark "much needed discussion about the need for a clear, long-term vision" for addressing this "critical front in the War on Terror."
Saving Afghanistan: An Appeal and Plan for Urgent Action
Afghanistan Study Group Final Report released
by Center for the Study of the Presidency
COMMANDER SERIES: Major General Ton van Loon on Afghanistan
Dutch Major General Ton van Loon, former commander of NATO forces in Southern
Afghanistan, told an audience at the Atlantic Council that the Taliban have
"lost the war". They remain dangerous in some parts of the country, but are
unable to launch an effective offensive, van Loon continued. Van Loon warned that NATO will still face tough days ahead as the alliance and its partners continue to work to stabilize and reconstruct the war torn country of Afghanistan.
[watch video]
[view PowerPoint presentation]
Media Coverage:
Wall Street Journal
"Dozens of Taliban Reported Dead In Afghan Clashes"
International Herald Tribune
Dutch General Says Taliban Still Dangerous But Unable to Launch Major Offensive in Afghanistan
COMMANDER SERIES: GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFReY
In
front of a full auditorium General Barry McCaffrey, USA ret., a
member of the board at the Atlantic Council of the United
States, delivered a sweeping assessment of America’s current
challenges in the Global War on Terror, Afghanistan, Iraq, as
well as the home front. General McCaffrey has traveled to Iraq,
Afghanistan, and the greater Middle East several times in the
last few years to meet with senior U.S. diplomats and military
commanders engaged in the region to garner impressions and
information for his After Action Reports that have become widely
circulated in the White House, the Pentagon, and the Washington
policy community. General McCaffrey’s last trip to Iraq was in
March, 2007.
 [read transcript]
[view
presentation]
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US Military Academy
After Action Report
on Afghanistan
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US Military Academy
After Action Report
on Iraq
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US Military Academy After Action Report
on Saudi Arabia |
Third Site: Missile Defense in Europe
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On Thursday April 19th the Atlantic Council hosted
“Third Site: Missile Defense in Europe,”
a major conference featuring key European and U.S. policy makers including: Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, BG Patrick O’Reilly, Deputy Director of the Missile Defense Agency, former NATO Assistant Secretary General Robert Bell, former U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control Robert Joseph, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Dan Fried, former Polish State Secretary for Defense Dr. Andrzej Kakorszka, and Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-CA). Participants provided their perspectives on the evolving debate about U.S. missile defense arrangements in Europe.
[read more]
[view video of conference]
Featured Publications:
September 2006
How Should nato Handle
Stabilization Operations and
Reconstruction Efforts?
Topic(s):
NATO,
Defense
Program:
International Security
March 2006
Libya and the United States: The Next Steps
This issue brief examines the current state of U.S. – Libyan
relations and the vast improvement that has occurred, while
also noting the remaining obstacles. To overcome these, the
issue brief offers a set of suggestions on how the
normalization process may be completed to mutual benefit. By
Ronald Bruce St John.
Topic(s):
Middle East & North Africa
Program:
International Security
Projects:
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Commander Series — regular
briefings by the Combatant Commanders of the unified and
specified commands to discuss current challenges and potential
future threats within their areas of responsibility.
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Project for New NATO — pulls under one roof the many Atlantic Council events and programs that have a NATO focus. It will launch several new projects and will be the host of additional projects over time to intensify and strengthen the Atlantic Council’s voice in the NATO debates ahead.
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Transatlantic Defense Industry — supports improved US-European bilateral defense industrial cooperation, and improved NATO military capability and interoperability among Allies.
