Expanding the Security Council?

French and EU President Nicolas Sarkozy issued a call from the floor of the UN yesterday to expand the Security Council and G8. Declaring that, "The 21st century world cannot be governed with the institutions of the 20th century," he argued that inclusion of today's emerging powers is not just "a matter fairness" but a necessary condition ...

NATO Toothless in Georgia Situation?

Charles Krauthammer has a scathing column this morning excoriating NATO for its weak response to the Georgia crisis.  He observes that NATO's recent statement on the matter is "almost comically evenhanded." It's not until paragraph six that NATO, a 26-nation alliance with 900 million people and nearly half of world GDP, unsheathes its mighty sword, boldly declaring "Russian military action" -- ...

G8 and EU Growing Pains

Two articles cited in today's Small Wars Journal roundup have almost nothing to do with wars, small or otherwise, but are nonetheless interesting in showing the state of flux of some key international institutions. Steven Erlanger reports on a bold attempt to forge a "Union of the Mediterranean" which would be something of a minor league for the European Union. Perhaps the ...

Ireland Rejects Treaty of Lisbon

It's received precious little notice here in the States but Irish voters have rejected the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU's latest move towards reform and greater consolidation of power in Brussels: DUBLIN, Ireland - Ireland's voters have rejected the European Union reform treaty, a blueprint for modernizing the 27-nation bloc that cannot become law without Irish approval, electoral officials said Friday. In ...

NATO Adds Albania and Croatia, Rejects Macedonia, Georgia, Ukraine

Despite -- or perhaps partly because of -- backing from the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has denied membership to Macedonia and rejected a bid to grant Membership Action Plans to put Georgia and Ukraine on a one-year path to membership in the Alliance. BBC: Nato has confirmed it will not yet offer membership to Georgia or ...

Sarkozy Vows to Punish Gun-Toting Rioters

"French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed Wednesday that rioters who shot at police during a flare-up of Paris suburban unrest would be severely punished," AFP reports. Strikes me as a good idea. Via OTB News.

Giuliani: Democrat Would Put U.S. Left of France

Rudy Giuliani says electing a Democrat in 2008 would put the United States to the left of France. Rudy Giuliani's speech Wednesday afternoon at Drake University had a general election feel as the contender for the Republican presidential nomination drew significant contrasts between himself and Democratic Oval Office hopefuls. "If we are not careful and you don't elect me, this country ...

Britain No Longer Closest Ally?

The Bush Administration is distancing itself from the UK and sidling up to the new governments of Old Europe powers France and Germany, Toby Harnden reports for the Daily Telegraph. The White House no longer views Britain as its most loyal ally in Europe since Gordon Brown took office and is instead increasingly turning towards France and Germany, according to Bush ...

France to Rejoin NATO Military Command

All signs point to France rejoining NATO's military structure more than forty years after declaring its independence and kicking the alliance headquarters out of Paris. Norman Polmar provides some background: France is expected to soon rejoin NATO's military command after a 40-year absence. The French government withdrew from the NATO military structure in 1966 (although remaining a member of NATO's political-policy ...

Sarkozy: Bombing Iran an Option

French President Nicolas Sarkozy caused quite a stir by raising the specter of bombing Iran to prevent it becoming a nuclear weapon state. The biggest challenge to the world was the avoidance of conflict between Islam and the West, President Sarkozy told the annual gathering of French ambassadors. Iran was the crossroads of the Middle East’s troubles and its nuclear aims ...