SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 22, 2012
NATO has announced concrete plans for withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, a decision that leaders called both "irreversible" and "responsible." But German commentators on Tuesday aren't convinced. They question whether Afghan forces can maintain control. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 21, 2012
NATO leaders gathered in Chicago are faced with an ever-worsening conundrum: How can they cut military expenditures while at the same time boosting the alliance's military capabilities? The answer is called "Smart Defense," and critics worry it could result in the weakening of the alliance. By Sebastian Fischer and Matthias Gebauer more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 18, 2012
With the German army pulling out of Afghanistan in 2014, hundreds of Afghan workers fear they will become victims of revenge by the Taliban, who have already condemned them as traitors. German authorities are already preparing for a wave of visa applications. By Matthias Gebauer and Shoib Najafizada in Berlin and Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 18, 2012
Germany may be Europe's driving force in the euro crisis, but a prominent US think tank has accused the country of shirking its defense duties. In a report released ahead of the NATO summit in Chicago, a group of experts criticizes Germany for threatening the future of the whole alliance through its weakness. By Gregor Peter Schmitz in Washington more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 17, 2012
Ahead of the NATO summit in Chicago, Germany's standing in the alliance has reached a low point. The country's abstention in the UN vote on military action in Libya has done lasting damage to its reputation. The Germans are now seen as unreliable partners who don't know what they want. By Ulrike Demmer and Christoph Schult more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 26, 2012
NATO cyberwarfare experts suspect that Chinese and Russian intelligence services are behind a recent uptick in cyberattacks against the Western alliance. SPIEGEL ONLINE has learned that NATO's cyberwarfare unit registers up to 30 such attacks each day. Employees have been warned to be on their guard. By Matthias Gebauer in Mons, Belgium more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 23, 2012
The German military may soon adopt new guidelines that call into question the export of democracy, SPIEGEL has learned. In the future, the Bundeswehr is to take greater account of local traditions and institutions, even if they are violent and corrupt. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 19, 2012
NATO has promised it will provide significant financial support to Afghanistan over the next decade. Reaching agreement on who will pay how much is proving difficult, however. Aside from the US, all member states are doing their best to keep their share as small as possible. By Matthias Gebauer more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 09, 2012
On Thursday, Abdo Husameddine, Syria's deputy oil minister, reportedly became the first high-ranking official to turn on the regime and urge his compatriots to "abandon this sinking ship." German commentators welcome the news as a signal that the days of the Assad regime may be numbered. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- November 30, 2011
Following deadly NATO attacks on Pakistani border posts, the country has refused to attend the upcoming international conference on the situation in Afghanistan. But as the most influential nation in helping stabilize their war-torn neighbor, Pakistan's presence is crucial, German commentators say on Wednesday. more...
