North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

He said the U.S. can exert the most leverage when it is signing the checks. "The place for us to start is to deal with corruption that may be associated with contracts we're letting or work that we're having done and development projects that we are undertaking in partnership with others including with the Afghans," Gates said. Gates spoke to reporters at the historic military fort carved into Halifax's Citadel Hill, just prior to the start of the first Halifax International Security Forum, ...  

Afghanistan would go "back to square one" if NATO forces were to withdraw at this point in time, British Foreign Minister David Miliband told the Guardian on Friday. According to the report, Miliband said following a visit to Kabul for the inauguration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai that without international support, the rebuilding of the country would be sabotaged at the hands of insurgents. "The costs of staying are real, but they are less than the costs of leaving," he was quoted as saying.  

THE Conservatives have committed to end 70 years of history by withdrawing all troops from Germany. Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox has said it is "no longer necessary" to maintain the presence of more than 20,000 military personnel. Ending the commitment would free up forces to carry out vital Nato operations outside of Europe, he said.  

Defence Minister Peter MacKay has opened talks with other nations asking them to provide a security force for diplomats and development workers when the Canadian army withdraws from Kandahar in 2011. He said U.S. troops would be able to fill the gap left by departing Canadian soldiers — an assertion backed up Friday by U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates. MacKay said he's had talks on the matter with the Americans, but no firm conclusion has been reached.

out to shoot the messenger, but the more he called Richard Colvin a liar, the more the minister contradicted himself.   -Peter MacKay

 

Asked whether Mr Obama would wait until after next week's annual holiday to make his announcement, Mr Gibbs said yes. Mr Obama had earlier indicated he would end months of deliberations over the possible deployment of thousands more troops to Afghanistan "in the coming weeks". Mr Obama has held a series of closed-door meetings with top advisers -- including his war General Stanley McChrystal, overall commander of more than 100,000 US and NATO troops already in the country -- to discuss the campaign in Afghanistan and how to achieve US goals there.

uncertain about (his) commitment to the war   -John Boehner

 

As of now, Canada, the Netherlands and Denmark have all announced that they will be out of Afghanistan as of 2011. Italy also wants to leave. Germany will take its annual vote on the mission in the Bundestag next month; the German parliamentarians are likely to agree to stay, especially after this week's endorsement by the cabinet, but only for another year.  

The United States will do its part to reduce corruption in Afghanistan by examining its own contracts and projects, even as it is demanding the same from the Afghan government, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday. He said the U.S. can exert the most leverage when it is signing the checks. "The place for us to start is to deal with corruption that may be associated with contracts we're letting or work that we're having done and development projects that we are undertaking in partnership with others including with the Afghans," Gates said.

The place for us to start is to deal with corruption that may be associated with contracts we're letting or work that we're having done and development projects that we are undertaking in partnership with others including with the Afghans   -Robert Gates

 

Just how easily could terrorists get into on the of the Dutch queen's palaces? Politicians are angry that a journalist managed successfully to enter Queen Beatrix's 'office' palace in The Hague - yet another security failure just seven months after the attack on the royal family in April on the national holiday, Queen's Day. However, experts say absolutely watertight security is probably achievable only - if at all - in a police state.

Stegeman is no Muslim fundamentalist nor a political extremist. If he were, the intelligence service would know about him and pick him up before he carried out an attack. If they’re doing their work properly.   -Edwin Bakker

 

Israeli and NATO officials say Israel will dispatch a warship to join a NATO naval force, marking an upgrade in ties. An Israeli missile ship will join NATO's "Active Endeavor" naval force, aimed at curbing terrorism in the Mediterranean. Israeli defense officials say Israel already has a liaison officer with the naval force.

political events in the Middle East.   -James Appathurai