NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will remain in his position through July 2014, after the North Atlantic Council on Oct. 3 extended his four-year term for another year. In a press briefing in Brussels following the decision, Rasmussen said he was “honored by the trust and support” bestowed on him by the allied governments. He highlighted the alliance’s accomplishments during his first years in office, including the decision to develop a NATO missile defense system and the alliance’s involvement in Libya in 2011. However, he said there is still plenty of work to be done, such as “completing the process of transition in Afghanistan within the timeline we have set, strengthening our unique network of partners, and keeping our alliance fit for the future.” (AFPS report by Cheryl Pellerin) (See also NATO webpage with Rasmussen briefing.)
Since President Donald Trump first unveiled his “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative in late January, much of the focus for it has been focused on space—how the Pentagon may deploy dozens, if not hundreds, of sensors and interceptors into orbit to protect the continental U.S. from missile barrages. But the Air…