NATO

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Albania, Croatia Join NATO, Will Share Afghan Load

(Newser) - Albania and Croatia both officially joined the NATO alliance today, the BBC reports. The former Yugoslav republics will likely be asked to send troops to bolster NATO’s mission in Afghanistan. Insiders say NATO wanted to celebrate its 60th birthday by welcoming nations from a region recently wracked by bloody...

Obamas Arrive in Britain
 Obamas Arrive in Britain 
Mar 31, 2009 2:28 PM CDT

Obamas Arrive in Britain

President readies for G20 summit tomorrow

(Newser) - President Obama has arrived in Europe, with a hefty economic and political agenda for his first journey across the Atlantic since taking office two months ago. The first stop for the president and first lady was London, with the focus on the G20 meeting of the world's major economic powers...

US Takes Charge in Afghanistan
 US Takes Charge in Afghanistan 
Mar 26, 2009 9:32 AM CDT

US Takes Charge in Afghanistan

With troop increase, US resources in country tower over NATO's

(Newser) - As President Obama sends 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan—making American service members two-thirds of the foreign force there—the US is taking a firmer grip on the country’s reins, the Washington Post reports. America’s civilian presence in the country is also growing by at least half,...

NATO Troops Kill Key Taliban Commander in Afghanistan

Maulawi Hassan responsible for numerous bombings, attacks in recent months

(Newser) - A top Taliban commander was killed by NATO-led forces in Afghanistan this weekend, the New York Times reports. Maulawi Hassan had been the coordinator of many suicide bombings and other attacks since fall 2008 and reported directly to Mullah Rahmatullah, a Taliban leader who directs operation from outside Afghanistan. Hassan’...

Medvedev: NATO Threat Means Russia Will Rearm

Prez says nuclear force is priority

(Newser) - Russia will rearm its military and boost its nuclear capabilities in response to NATO's growth, President Dmitry Medvedev told Russian military heads today. “Attempts to expand the military infrastructure of NATO near the borders of our country are continuing,” Medvedev said. That, alongside international terrorism and local concerns,...

Sarkozy Faces Confidence Vote Over Rejoining NATO

But French opposition unlikely to best president's party

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy’s government must submit to a vote of confidence after the president announced his intention to have France rejoin NATO’s integrated military command, the BBC reports. Opposition politicians and some in Sarkozy’s UMP party say tightening NATO ties will threaten France’s independence. But Sarkozy says...

France to Rejoin NATO
 France to Rejoin NATO 
Mar 11, 2009 11:28 AM CDT

France to Rejoin NATO

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy intends to bring France back into the NATO fold, ending 40 years of self-imposed exile, the BBC reports. But the decision, which the French president is expected to confirm tomorrow, may not go over well. The French treasure their “independence” from NATO, and critics say the move...

US Can Turn 70% of Afghan Taliban: Biden

Largest group of insurgents just hired mercenaries, VP says

(Newser) - A majority of the Taliban fighters in Afghanistan are just hired guns whose loyalties could be bought by the US, Joe Biden said today. “Five percent of the Taliban is incorrigible, not susceptible to anything other than being defeated,” the vice president said. “Another 25% or so...

Clinton: 'Reset' Relations With Russia

But US won't forget all our differences with Moscow

(Newser) - Ahead of her meeting today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Hillary Clinton advocated a thaw in relations with Russia, an approach a bit less "confrontational" than her predecessors. "We're going to press the reset button," she told the BBC at an EU meeting in Brussels, but...

US Inviting Iran to Afghanistan Meeting

Rejecting Bush approach, she wants Tehran at conference table

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton has announced the US is inviting Iran to a major conference on Afghanistan this month, setting up the first possible face-to-face meeting between Tehran and the Obama administration. The secretary of state said at a NATO meeting in Brussels that Iran could play a critical role in stabilizing...

Clinton Seeks World Meeting on Afghanistan

High-level conference would develop 'common way forward'

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton has proposed a high-level international conference on Afghanistan sponsored by the United Nations and attended by a wide range of countries including Pakistan and NATO allies. The secretary of State presented the proposal at a NATO meeting in Brussels, where she said the session could be held March...

Obama a Spineless Leader Thus Far: Krauthammer
Obama a Spineless Leader Thus Far: Krauthammer
OPINION
Feb 20, 2009 7:01 AM CST

Obama a Spineless Leader Thus Far: Krauthammer

While Russia and Iran make threats, president fails to show spine

(Newser) - Barack Obama has faced a spate of little challenges thus far from Russia, Iran, and Pakistan—and flunked them all, writes Charles Krauthammer. While Putin compounds his military strength and Ahmadinejad insults America, the new president has exhibited "utter passivity" on the world stage. In just one month, says...

World Euphoric, a Bit Worried About Obama

Positive outlook on US could heighten tension abroad

(Newser) - At recent international gatherings in Munich and Doha, world leaders were “mildly euphoric” about the Obama administration, writes Joe Klein in Time. Muslim leaders called for support for the new president, while Joe Biden’s promises to “listen” and “consult” left a “stunned silence.” But...

Kyrgyzstan Votes to Shut Critical US Airbase

Military must leave Central Asian republic in 180 days

(Newser) - The parliament of Kyrgyzstan voted nearly unanimously to close a critical American military base in the country, dealing a blow to Barack Obama's efforts to reinforce troops in Afghanistan. The vote, 78-1, means that the US has 180 days to remove its airplanes and equipment, reports the Guardian. Kyrgyzstan's president...

Afghan Civilian Deaths Soar 39%

Death toll is highest since invasion of 2001

(Newser) - Civilian casualties in Afghanistan rose by 39% last year, according to the UN. Some 2,118 Afghans died in 2008, the highest figure since the Taliban were removed from power in 2001. Of those deaths, 55% were blamed on militants, the BBC reports, while 39% resulted from US, NATO, and...

Kyrgyzstan Calls Closure of US Base 'Final'

Russia offers help to US with transport to Afghanistan

(Newser) - The decision to close an American air base in Kyrgyzstan was "final," the Kyrgyz government said today, contradicting claims from Washington that discussions are ongoing. The Manas Air Base is a vital stopover for US and NATO flights to Afghanistan, but this week Kyrgyzstan suddenly decided to shutter...

Kyrgyzstan to Shut Only US Air Base in Central Asia

Announces as Russia offers billions in aid

(Newser) - The fate of America's only military base in Central Asia was in doubt today after the president of Kyrgyzstan announced plans to shut the facility, reports the New York Times. The Manas Air Base serves as a refueling station for NATO fighter jets traveling to Afghanistan. But during a visit...

NATO Chief OKs Attacks on Afghan Drug Producers

(Newser) - NATO's top commander has authorized coalition troops “to attack directly drug producers and facilities throughout Afghanistan,” saying they “are inextricably linked to the Opposing Military Forces,” Der Spiegel reports. The order from US General John Craddock is not going over well with commanders on the ground....

War, Not Nation-Building, Will Be Obama's Top Afghan Goal

Objectives could strain, even break, US ties with President Karzai

(Newser) - In a departure from Bush policies, the Obama administration intends to ramp up military operations in Afghanistan at the expense of reconstruction, the New York Times reports, shifting the burden of civil work to NATO allies. “If we set ourselves the objective of creating some sort of Central Asian...

In Afghanistan, Taliban Control the Countryside

As Obama mulls more troops, NATO gaps give insurgents free rein

(Newser) - Barack Obama has signaled that he will send 20,000 to 30,000 new American troops to join NATO forces in Afghanistan. It certainly won't hurt, reports Dexter Filkins in the New York Times. Troops are stretched so thin that, more than 7 years after the initial invasion, the Taliban...

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