Morning Brief - Lignet

NATO’s Big New Idea Could Work to Keep Alliance Strong
As its members struggle with fiscal crisis and economic stagnation, NATO is launching a scheme to reinvent itself. Will it be enough to hold the alliance together? Maybe. But it will require that nations trust one another enough to depend on each other’s military capabilities. It seems likely under such an arrangement that some nations will carry a bigger burden for the defense of the West while others get a free ride. But the bigger question is whether NATO is strong enough to pull off what is likely to be a massive task of coordination.
To continue reading this LIGNET special report, upgrade your account status by clicking here.

Cayman Islands: Leader Axed Over Corruption, Chinese Influence
The December 18 ouster of Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush, while explicitly tied to allegations of abuse of office, is likely implicitly linked to British attempts to rein in corruption and limit Chinese influence in the UK territory and offshore tax haven. The Caymans, one of fourteen prized British Overseas Territories, has long fought corruption tied to its financial industry and is also currently facing a push by the Chinese to expand influence in the region.
To continue reading this LIGNET special report, upgrade your account status by clicking here.