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 friends into confrontations they don’t need.

From Leon Panetta, U.S. Department of Defense:  For Europe, the U.S. defense strategy reaffirms the lasting strategic importance of the transatlantic partnership with the United States. 

From Spencer Ackerman, Danger Room:  Starting in May, Europe will have the beginning of an operational shield against ballistic missiles, courtesy of NATO.

From Deutsche Welle:  NATO plans to set up the command center for its missile shield at the US military base Ramstein, a diplomatic source said Thursday.

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  I hope we will be in a position to adopt a political declaration on smart defence as a framework, as a political framework, for, I would call it a new way of doing business, in the coming years.

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  Many will remember 2011 as a year of austerity. But it has also been a year of hope. The international community united in its responsibility to protect. Much of the Arab world took a new path forward.

From Paisley Dodds, the AP:  The U.S. Ambassador to NATO said Monday one of the key goals of an upcoming summit is to ensure the alliance is prepared for new threats - comments that came as Iran threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz in response to an EU oil blockage.

From AFP:  NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen Thursday urged Russia to refrain from building up its military near the alliance’s borders, saying it was a concern for the 28-nation organization.