Posts by Rosa Lin
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A historical perspective on NATO and G-8 protests
(May. 17, 2012)BY MELISSA KANDEL
As activists descend upon Chicago in preparation of the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit, dusting off anti-War tee shirts and putting the finishing touches to demonstration signs, their collective actions may join a long but modest history of NATO and G-8 protests. Continue reading -
Eurozone’s complex economics frame sluggish recovery
(May. 09, 2012)G-8 members are meeting this May against a backdrop of one of the worst global recessions in history, and the best course of action for recovery is the hottest topic up for discussion at their summit. The countries’ leaders need a meeting of the minds to figure out how to boost their sluggish economies, but economists say many factors are dragging down growth. For starters, the United States and Europe have a sensitive symbiotic economic relationship, which continues to upset the slow improvement. Continue reading
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Different views of NATO countries keep energy security off summit agenda
(May. 09, 2012)Crude oil remains consistently above $100 a barrel, with intermittent spikes caused by unrest in the Middle East. Rising countries such as China and India press their demands on the world oil supply. The most viable alternative to crude oil, nuclear power, took a blow from the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Despite all this, energy security likely won’t be on the agenda at the NATO summit this year. Continue reading
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Developing norms, deterring terrorism expected topics of NATO’s difficult cybersecurity discussion
(May. 09, 2012)Cybersecurity is a shared concern of all NATO nations but one that is almost impossible for them to discuss openly. Not only are the issues highly technical, but talking about them in public is unlikely in diplomatic meetings or even among defense departments and ministries. “This is a highly technical area. The people who count are maybe the intelligence communities of the countries, some quasi-governmental organizations, (and) some defense contractors” said Kenneth Dam, a former deputy secretary of the State Department. “So how do you really get such a diplomatic conversation going?” Continue reading
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Despite repeated promises, biodiversity protection still a no-go for NATO and G-8
(May. 08, 2012)Biodiversity, once a strictly scientific concept, captured the limelight when G8 member countries meeting in Italy issued in 2009 the landmark Syracuse Charter, vowing to significantly reduce the disappearance of species. However, with the conflict in Afghanistan and global economic recession seeming more pressing concerns, biodiversity has a bleak chance of being addressed by either G8 or NATO this month. Continue reading
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NATO says European missile defense ready for next phase
(May. 08, 2012)NATO’s future ballistic missile defense passed its first significant operational test in early April, raising questions about how aggressively the alliance now will pursue the U.S.-led European missile shield that continues to elicit vehement opposition from Russia. Continue reading
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Piracy and NATO
(May. 08, 2012)The Gulf of Aden is one of the busiest maritime routes in the world. It is also one of the most dangerous. For several years, Somali pirates have been capturing the world’s attention, along with its commercial ships, which they hold for ransoms of millions of dollars. NATO reacted in 2008, by launching its anti-piracy effort with the mission to escort UN and World Food Programme shipping, and protect merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden. Continue reading
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21st century threats to be focus for alliance in Chicago
(May. 08, 2012)When the leaders of NATO’s 28 member nations meet in Chicago, they will encounter a heavy-topic agenda including discussions and decisions on Afghanistan transition, ballistic-missile defense, cyber security and the Eurozone crisis. Underlying all, however, and perhaps the most fundamental issue of the Chicago Summit is NATO’s direction: What is the role of an alliance whose members’ interests sometimes compete in a globally complicated, many-shades-of-gray 21st century? Continue reading
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Libya mission could be a ‘game changer’ for alliance
(May. 08, 2012)Less than a year since the completion of NATO’s successful but still controversial Libya mission, the Chicago summit may serve as a venue to discuss both its accomplishments and shortcomings and what they mean for the future of the alliance. “It is clear that Libya is a precedent for how missions will be carried out in the future and how NATO defines its role as a military organization,” said Graham Paul, the French Consul in Chicago. Continue reading
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Cowboy conflict: The cyberworld has few rules when it comes to war
(May. 08, 2012)The nightmare cyberattack scenarios: Hackers shut down electricity for millions of people. Hackers cause the banking system to collapse. Hackers manipulate the military’s global positioning system, disrupting communications in combat. Even worse, it might be impossible for the U.S. to know who’s really behind the attacks—or how to respond. Continue reading
