Why NATO Matters to U.S. Security

Posted by Philip H. Gordon / May 14, 2012

NATO foreign ministers attend a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Dec. 3, 2009. [AP Photo]

About the Author: Philip H. Gordon serves as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

President Obama will host leaders from around the world in Chicago this weekend for an important diplomatic summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This Chicago Summit will be the first NATO summit on American soil in 13 years, and the first ever outside of Washington.

In addition to the opportunity to showcase one of our nation's great cities, our hosting of the summit in Chicago is a tangible symbol of the importance of NATO to the United States. It is also an opportunity to underscore to the American people the continued value of this alliance to security challenges we face today.

Indeed, NATO is vital to U.S. security. More than ever, the Alliance… more »

Posted under: Europe & Eurasia

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U.S. Student Ambassadors Tour the Forbidden City

Posted by Lee Satterfield / May 14, 2012

Deputy Assistant Secretary Lee Satterfield tours the Forbidden City with NSLI-Y students, their host families, and teachers from their host school, Beijing 80, May 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

About the Author: Lee Satterfield serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Professional and Cultural Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Touring a city with a group of students, parents, siblings, and teachers could be conceived as a relatively ordinary experience, except that I was touring the Forbidden City with American high school students studying abroad in China on the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program. The parents and siblings were members of their Chinese host families and the teachers are from their international high school, Beijing 80, known for its excellent academics and offering a unique cultural experience for its 3,000 students. The American students, who represent all corners of the United States, are perfecting their Mandarin skills, taking advantage of after school activities, living with host families, and learning about China's… more »

Posted under: East Asia and the Pacific

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Pacific Partnership 2012 Departs for Indonesia

Posted by Thomas E. Weinz / May 14, 2012

USNS Mercy takes on supplies for Pacific Partnership 2012 in Pearl Harbor, HI on May 9, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

About the Author: Tom Weinz serves as the dedicated Foreign Service Officer for Pacific Partnership 2012.

I awoke this morning, May 14, to the soft strains of the call to prayer emanating from the stately mosque near my hotel -- an encouraging start to my first day back in Indonesia to prepare for the arrival of Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12). Only two days ago I was on the deck of the incomparable hospital ship USNS Mercy sailing into Pearl Harbor. The scene at Pearl Harbor reminded me of movie versions depicting dockside activities prior to a voyage: there were mobile cranes everywhere, several eighteen-wheelers disgorging supplies, sailors, volunteers, and family members loaded down with duffels, suitcases, boxes, and crates to be tucked into the ship's relatively confined berthing areas.

Pearl Harbor was the initial PP12 interim port; in addition to taking on supplies and personnel, commanding officers met with Pacific Fleet counterparts, held a briefing at… more »

Posted under: East Asia and the Pacific

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Giving Mothers a Very Special Gift

Posted by Eric Goosby / May 13, 2012

Woman enters mobile healthcare clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nov. 29, 2010. [AP File Photo]

About the Author: Ambassador Eric Goosby serves as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

What is the greatest gift we can give a mother this Mother's Day? There are many answers, but one is to help her live and help her children live a healthy life.

As we celebrate Mother's Day and think about mothers around the world, the American people are working through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to make every day Mother's Day. This program is quietly saving lives every day, restoring the health and hope of mothers and children.

Each year, nearly 400,000 children are born with HIV around the world, with sub-Saharan Africa being the most challenged region. In June of last year… more »

Posted under: Policy

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London 2012 Olympics Countdown Calls for Friendly Competition

Posted by Cindy Gire / May 13, 2012

U.S. Department of State employees pose for a photograph after participating in Embassy Olympics at Reeves Field American University in Washington, D.C., on April 18, 2012, to mark 100 days until the start of the London Olympics. [Photography copyright Tony Powell/ British Embassy]

About the Author: Cindy Gire serves as Division Chief of Sports United in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Today marks 75 days until the start of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. As London prepares to welcome the world for the Olympics, the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. organized a medley of sports activities, or "Embassy Olympics," in recognition last month of the "100 Days To Go" mark.

On April 18, international colleagues from the diplomatic community joined to compete in the "Embassy Olympics." SportsUnited representatives from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs along with their colleagues in the Bureau of International Information Programs and Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs were key "players" in the event.

Even the rainy weather -- true to form for a British activity -- did not dampen the spirits of the participants. Embassy teams enthusiastically represented countries that have previously… more »

Posted under: Europe & Eurasia

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