Possible Clues:

• American ringing friend in NATO, perhaps
• 'AWOL' or 'NASA,' e.g.
• Word made from initial letters of other words
• Radar, for example, showing China invading America
• Ernie is one a friend married
• NATO's one friend in a million
• My acorn may generate a new word from first letters
• Word such as radar, laser
• Initially, that's a friend during the morning (7)
• Buddy's in America for the short term