2 New Messages
Digest #4707
Messages
Fri May 24, 2013 7:55 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.stripes.com/news/eu
Stars and Stripes
May 24, 2013
White House adviser on Afghanistan nominated as new US envoy to NATO
By John Vandiver
====
Daalder’s departure after a four-year stint as ambassador comes just weeks after the parting of Adm. James Stavridis, the soon-to-retire former NATO supreme allied commander. The two men and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took over as commander of the international force in Afghanistan, were appointed at roughly the same time by the incoming Obama administration to conduct the NATO-led war.
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STUTTGART, Germany: Retired Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, who for the past six years has served as a White House adviser on Afghanistan, was nominated by President Barack Obama on Thursday to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to NATO.
If confirmed, Lute will replace current ambassador Ivo Daalder at the Brussels post, where the focus in the coming year will likely be on crafting drawdown plans in Afghanistan.
Daalder’s departure after a four-year stint as ambassador comes just weeks after the parting of Adm. James Stavridis, the soon-to-retire former NATO supreme allied commander. The two men and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took over as commander of the international force in Afghanistan, were appointed at roughly the same time by the incoming Obama administration to conduct the NATO-led war.
During Daalder and Stavridis’ tenure, the U.S. surged into Afghanistan as part of an effort by the Obama administration to refocus efforts on the neglected “good war,” which critics say was under-resourced as a result of the military campaign in Iraq. While the U.S. boosted its troop presence in Afghanistan, U.S. officials also urged its European allies in NATO to bump up their troop contributions, getting mixed results in the process.
Now, as NATO shifts from a combat mission to one focused on training Afghan forces to provide for their own security, the question will be whether NATO’s security gains can hold in the years ahead. For Lute, and new SACEUR Gen. Philip Breedlove, the focus will be on pushing ahead with security transition plans while still maintaining enough of a troop presence to keep the training mission on course.
If confirmed, Lute also will serve at a time of instability in other areas of strategic concern for NATO. Chief among them is the ongoing civil war in Syria [which] threatens to destabilize the region.
Lute, who retired from the Army in 2010, brings more than 30 years of military experience to his new diplomatic post. Last year, Lute was even rumored to be under consideration by Obama for the position of SACEUR, which would have required the unusual step of a return to active duty.
Meanwhile, Daalder will take up a new position later this summer as president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a nonpartisan group focused on international affairs.
==============================
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==============================
Stars and Stripes
May 24, 2013
White House adviser on Afghanistan nominated as new US envoy to NATO
By John Vandiver
====
Daalder’s departure after a four-year stint as ambassador comes just weeks after the parting of Adm. James Stavridis, the soon-to-retire former NATO supreme allied commander. The two men and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took over as commander of the international force in Afghanistan, were appointed at roughly the same time by the incoming Obama administration to conduct the NATO-led war.
====
STUTTGART, Germany: Retired Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, who for the past six years has served as a White House adviser on Afghanistan, was nominated by President Barack Obama on Thursday to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to NATO.
If confirmed, Lute will replace current ambassador Ivo Daalder at the Brussels post, where the focus in the coming year will likely be on crafting drawdown plans in Afghanistan.
Daalder’s departure after a four-year stint as ambassador comes just weeks after the parting of Adm. James Stavridis, the soon-to-retire former NATO supreme allied commander. The two men and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took over as commander of the international force in Afghanistan, were appointed at roughly the same time by the incoming Obama administration to conduct the NATO-led war.
During Daalder and Stavridis’ tenure, the U.S. surged into Afghanistan as part of an effort by the Obama administration to refocus efforts on the neglected “good war,” which critics say was under-resourced as a result of the military campaign in Iraq. While the U.S. boosted its troop presence in Afghanistan, U.S. officials also urged its European allies in NATO to bump up their troop contributions, getting mixed results in the process.
Now, as NATO shifts from a combat mission to one focused on training Afghan forces to provide for their own security, the question will be whether NATO’s security gains can hold in the years ahead. For Lute, and new SACEUR Gen. Philip Breedlove, the focus will be on pushing ahead with security transition plans while still maintaining enough of a troop presence to keep the training mission on course.
If confirmed, Lute also will serve at a time of instability in other areas of strategic concern for NATO. Chief among them is the ongoing civil war in Syria [which] threatens to destabilize the region.
Lute, who retired from the Army in 2010, brings more than 30 years of military experience to his new diplomatic post. Last year, Lute was even rumored to be under consideration by Obama for the position of SACEUR, which would have required the unusual step of a return to active duty.
Meanwhile, Daalder will take up a new position later this summer as president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a nonpartisan group focused on international affairs.
==============================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.co
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups
==============================
Fri May 24, 2013 1:06 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.azernews.az/
AzerNews
May 24, 2013
Azerbaijan’s security minister meets senior NATO official
====
The minister informed the NATO official about...the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its consequences, and stressed that this factor is also a serious threat for the security of the whole of Europe.
Then Mahmudov touched upon the issues of security of oil and gas pipelines...
====
Azerbaijan's Minister of National Security Eldar Mahmudov has met the Deputy Secretary General of NATO Iklodi Gabor, who is on an official visit to Baku, the ministry reported on May 23.
Mahmudov noted the successful implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO and the development of bilateral relations, stressing that in this case the important role is played by the directions given by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his decisions to intensify cooperation with NATO and accelerate integration into the Euro-Atlantic space.
The minister said...that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to strengthening ties in international security with the relevant structures within the Euro-Atlantic partner countries.
The minister informed the NATO official about the measures undertaken by Azerbaijan on security issues, as well as the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its consequences, and stressed that this factor is also a serious threat for the security of the whole of Europe.
Then Mahmudov touched upon the issues of security of oil and gas pipelines and other projects of international importance, stressed the importance of close cooperation and mutually coordinated activities in this direction.
Iklodi noted that NATO is satisfied with the work carried out by the relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of National Security on the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan.
The sides also discussed the issues related to subsequent development of relations between Azerbaijan and NATO as well as issues of mutual interest.
AzerNews
May 24, 2013
Azerbaijan’s security minister meets senior NATO official
====
The minister informed the NATO official about...the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its consequences, and stressed that this factor is also a serious threat for the security of the whole of Europe.
Then Mahmudov touched upon the issues of security of oil and gas pipelines...
====
Azerbaijan's Minister of National Security Eldar Mahmudov has met the Deputy Secretary General of NATO Iklodi Gabor, who is on an official visit to Baku, the ministry reported on May 23.
Mahmudov noted the successful implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO and the development of bilateral relations, stressing that in this case the important role is played by the directions given by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his decisions to intensify cooperation with NATO and accelerate integration into the Euro-Atlantic space.
The minister said...that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to strengthening ties in international security with the relevant structures within the Euro-Atlantic partner countries.
The minister informed the NATO official about the measures undertaken by Azerbaijan on security issues, as well as the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its consequences, and stressed that this factor is also a serious threat for the security of the whole of Europe.
Then Mahmudov touched upon the issues of security of oil and gas pipelines and other projects of international importance, stressed the importance of close cooperation and mutually coordinated activities in this direction.
Iklodi noted that NATO is satisfied with the work carried out by the relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of National Security on the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan.
The sides also discussed the issues related to subsequent development of relations between Azerbaijan and NATO as well as issues of mutual interest.
