Latest update: 21/02/2012 

- Barack Obama - China - debt - Economic crisis - Mitt Romney - US military - USA


Downsizing the US military

No Flash warning
To take advantage of all the features on FRANCE24.COM, please click here to download the latest version of Flash Player.

In a bid to decrease US debt, President Obama is planning to cut military spending. With the Iraq war over, and a pull out date set for all combat troops in Afghanistan, the troop drawdown comes as military expenditure has reached a breaking point. However, some disagree with the proposal. Our Washington correspondents Philip Crowther and Stanislas de Saint Hippolyte report.

FOCUS
By Philip CROWTHER / Stanislas DE SAINT HIPPOLYTE
INFLUENZA A(H1N1)
Is the swine flu threat real?
In France, where 14 people have died from the virus, dozens of schools have been closed to contain the virus since the start of the school year. However, are these preventive measures causing more alarm than needed?
08/09/2009 - THAILAND

Insurgency in the troubled south

On Thailand's southern border with Malaysia, near to the country's paradise holiday resorts, a dangerous and little-known conflict is pitting the army against a unique and highly secretive insurgency, threatening to turn into secretarian violence.
ISRAEL
Israel approves construction of more settlements
Defying demands by the US and the European Union for a freeze on settlement building, Israel has officially approved the construction of more than 455 new housing units in the occupied West Bank.
07/09/2009 - DEFENCE

French military deals with Brazil

The warming of ties between Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in Brazil for the country's independence day, could mean France securing a lucrative contract to supply Brazil with 36 modern fighter jets.
AFGHANISTAN

A questionable new strategy?

After a serious blunder from NATO on Friday that saw civilians killed, the question of local support for the Western coalition in Afghanistan seems more tricky than ever, since the US considers this support central to its new strategy.

React to the article
Comment this article typing your message in the above text zone. Please note that this is limited to 1500 characters or less.
(0) Reactions
Read more
Close