Leavenworth Strategist

NATO leaders deadlocked over new secretary-general

By SLOBODAN LEKIC and SELCAN HACAOGLU 

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — NATO deadlocked Saturday over the choice of a new secretary-general after Turkey blocked the candidacy of a Dane who angered Muslims by defending the right to print cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, officials said.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen was seen as the front-runner but he infuriated many Muslims by defending freedom of speech during an uproar over a Danish newspaper's publication of the cartoons in 2006. He has also angered Turkey by opposing its membership in the European Union...

Turkey Joins Counterpiracy Mission in the Gulf of Aden

Navy NewsStand  Newstory Number: NNS090227-07, Release Date: 2/27/2009 1:50:00 PM

By Lt. John Fage, Combined Task Force 151 Public Affairs

MONTEREY, At Sea (NNS) -- The Turkish frigate TCG Giresun (F-491) joined
Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 Feb. 26 and began conducting counterpiracy operations in the Gulf of Aden alongside other coalition naval forces.

"Bringing another professional navy into the fold is going to make it even more difficult for the pirates to operate out here," said Rear Adm. Terence McKnight, commander, CTF 151. "Giresun and her crew will add even more experience and manpower to a very robust counterpiracy mission. We're making life very difficult for those looking to disrupt the free flow of commerce in the area."

Commanded by Capt. Cenk Dalkanat, Giresun joins CTF 151's flagship USS Monterey (CG 61), the Danish flexible support ship HDMS Absalon (L 16), and other ships from the U.S. and U.K., which have conducted operations as part of the task force...

 

Denmark To Reinforce Afghan Deployment

Agence France-Presse
COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Denmark's defense ministry said April 8 it was sending extra helicopters and troops to Afghanistan, where it has suffered one of the highest per capita death tolls among coalition forces.

"In the context of efforts aimed at strengthening the security of troops [already] deployed, it has been decided to reinforce the Danish contribution in Afghanistan with reconnaissance helicopters," a statement read. Between two and four Fennec craft as well as some 50-75 staff will be mobilized in about two months, it added.