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NATO: Bombs and bullets are not the only danger faced by soldiers in the field. There is also the threat of infectious diseases and bioterrorist attacks. In an example of smart defense, NATO is working on building up a multinational system that identifies and tracks not only bioattacks but also naturally occurring maladies.
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Karsten Voigt: EU decisions have been driven by political motivations with major economic implications. Members were unable to agree on an efficient governance structure. Since some members want less Europe, not more, an improved system of governance cannot include all members for the time being.
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Tabish Shah: The on-going conflict in Syria, the anti-American nature of protests in the Middle East, increased Green on Blue attacks, among other issues has created a new set of geopolitical challenges. Could these challenges be better pre-empted by channelling smart defence through a more robust Germany-Turkey-United States partnership in order to advance NATO states' collective interests?
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Editorial Team: It is the 50th anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis. Occurring during the Cold War, the 1962 crisis was the moment when the world almost faced nuclear disaster. This interview with Graham Allison takes a look back at that incident and what it means for today. Does the past help us understand the Iran situation today?
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Joshua Clapp: Tomorrow marks the second US presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The debate, in a town meeting format, will include not only domestic policy but also foreign policy. How do the two candidates approach the outside world? Here is a look at five main foreign policy issues.
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Nikolay Shevchenko: The Syrian crisis marks the ultimate test for the responsibility to protect norm. The inability of the UN Security Council to reach a timely consensus does not only harm Syrians, but weakens the concept that shields populations from crimes against humanity. Instead of criticizing the vetoing of resolutions, Western powers must persuade Russia and China to propose their own visions of the norm.
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NATO Review: The world looks to have won a brief reprieve from a food security crisis, with grain prices stabilizing in the last few months of 2012 after a mid-year surge that brought back memories of the 2007-08 food riots. Geoff Hiscock looks at how enough food production and water usage for everyone is attainable.
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Shafiq Hamdam: The increasing number of insider attacks have been a serious issue for the coalition forces in Afghanistan. However, there are a number of reasons behind these attacks, which are known as green on blue. The issue of cultural sensitivity is one of those major elements.
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Sascha Lohmann: The order of steps undertaken within the West’s coercive dual-track approach has to be altered. In this regard, a lifting of sanctions as well as a recognition of Iran's right to nuclear energy must both be employed to facilitate a diplomatic solution.
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Tornike Zurabashvili: Georgia’s 2012 Parliamentary Election marks an extraordinary continuation of Georgian democratic tradition, with power to be transferred for the first time peacefully and the loser to courteously recognize the defeat. The further consolidation of the democratic process will serve as a catalyst for its spread to other states in the region.
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