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The Obama Doctrine

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:57:55 -0500

Elliott Abrams argues that President Obama's recent State of the Union address settled the matter on the existence of an Obama Doctrine.

Life After Assad Could Be Worse

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:10:23 -0500

Ed Husain argues that it is impossible to tell whether Bashar al-Assad's time is running out, but containing--not fanning--the current conflict in Syria is in everybody's interests.

R2P in Crisis Following UN Syria Vote

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:43:32 -0500

The Russian and Chinese veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to violence in Syria calls into question the viability of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine and poses a dilemma for the Obama administration, says CFR's Stewart Patrick.

Israel and Netanyahu, Pipe Down the Threats of War on Iran

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:44:21 -0500

Leslie H. Gelb says Israeli threats undercut prospects for a settlement with Iran.

Syria's Deepening Crisis

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:38:14 -0500

Amid increasing fears of a civil war in Syria following the failure of the UN Security Council resolution, analysts remain divided over the question of intervention and how best to address the crisis.

CRS: A Historical Perspective on "Hollow Forces"

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:24:31 -0500

This Congressional Research Service report describes the potential pitfalls of improperly managed defense budget cuts by recalling the notion of the "hollow force" in U.S. military history--a superficially battle-ready military force that, upon closer inspection, reveals itself to be inadequately prepared.

CRS: Detention of U.S. Persons as Enemy Belligerents

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:07:37 -0500

This Congressional Research Service report focuses on the legal issues of wartime detention, with special emphasis on how it applies to U.S. citizens and residents after September 11, 2001.

McKinsey: What's In Store For China in 2012?

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:42:00 -0500

Gordon Orr, a director in McKinsey Quarterly's Shanghai office, offers a forecast for growth in China this year: Despite food price inflation and a stagnant housing market, he writes, China should maintain a rapid rate of growth.

NPP: A People’s Guide to The Federal Budget

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:16:35 -0500

The National Priorities Project presents an accessible guide to both the history and economics of America's federal budget and explains the impacts the budget has on the general public.

Sorry, Mitt: It Won't Be an American Century

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:47:54 -0500

Charles A. Kupchan says American politicians need to stop pretending the United States runs the world.

Africa as a Frontier Market

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:45:06 -0500

Obiageli Ezekwesili discusses the rise of Africa as a frontier market, the prospects for growth in coming years, the emergence of new players in African economies, and the World Bank's most innovative projects in the region.

Mitt Can Win by Battling America’s Debt Addiction

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:22:46 -0500

Sebastian Mallaby proposes that Mitt Romney declare war on America's addiction to debt.

TIME: Class War 2012

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:18:26 -0500

TIME's Michael Scherer comments on the class-based sense of injustice that is now roiling all sides of the ideological spectrum.

Campaign 2012: The Candidates on U.S.-Russia Relations

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:59:26 -0500

This CFR Issue Tracker looks at the United States' relationship with Russia and presidential candidates' stances on the issue.

U.S. Trade Policy

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:49:33 -0500

Trade accounts for an increasing portion of the U.S. economy, and the Obama administration has embraced a ramped up export strategy. But debate persists over the merits of a vigorous free trade agenda.

Drawing Down in Afghanistan

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:08:19 -0500

The Pentagon's plan for an end to U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2013 has drawn familiar battle lines in the public debate over the proper endgame for the war.

U.S.-Pakistan Relations: The Year Past, The Year Ahead (Video)

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:00:54 -0500

Steve Coll, Robert Grenier, and Daniel Markey look at changes in U.S.-Pakistan relations over the past year and make recommendations for moving forward.

U.S.-Pakistan Relations: The Year Past, The Year Ahead (Audio)

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:00:23 -0500

Steve Coll, Robert Grenier, and Daniel Markey look at changes in U.S.-Pakistan relations over the past year and make recommendations for moving forward.

The World Next Week: February 2, 2012

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:49:13 -0500

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: The debate over intervention in Syria continues; an annual security conference convenes in Munich; and the twentieth anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty is marked.

The New Afghan Combat Timetable

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:33:12 -0500

The newly announced U.S. plan to end its combat mission in Afghanistan by mid-2013 could make it more difficult to realize the chief goal of helping Afghan national forces become self-sufficient, says CFR's Stephen Biddle.

Obama's "Blueprint for an America Built to Last", January 2012

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:17:53 -0500

The White House describes this January 2012 document: "In his State of the Union address, President Obama laid out a Blueprint for an America Built to Last, calling for action to help responsible borrowers and support a housing market recovery. While the government cannot fix the housing market on its own, the President believes that responsible homeowners should not have to sit and wait for the market to hit bottom to get relief when there are measures at hand that can make a meaningful difference, including allowing these homeowners to save thousands of dollars by refinancing at today's low interest rates. That's why the President is putting forward a plan that uses the broad range of tools to help homeowners, supporting middle-class families and the economy."

Ron Paul's Economic Plan to Restore Nevada, February 2012

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:30:44 -0500

Ron Paul released this "Economic Plan to Restore Nevada" on February 2, 2012. The press release states,

"The plan helps Nevada residents, workers, retirees, debtors, home buyers, homeowners including those facing foreclosure, job-creators like the tourism industry, federal land ownership victims, and other stakeholders renew the Silver State's economy and sovereignty after decades of disastrous Washington interference.

The five key elements of the 'Plan to Restore Nevada' include:

1. Restoring Nevada's Job Market
2. Restoring the Housing Market
3. Restoring Tipped-Worker Wages
4. Restoring a Common Sense Visa System
5. Giving Nevada Back To Nevadans."

Obama's Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, February 2012

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:28:34 -0500

President Obama gave these remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 2, 2012.

Campaign 2012: Latin America

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:45:32 -0500

Drug trafficking, changing immigration trends, and rising economic opportunities are the major issues the winner of the 2012 U.S. presidential election faces in dealing with Latin America, says CFR's Shannon O'Neil.

Don't Abandon Europe

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:15:02 -0500

Colonel Chad T. Manske, USAF, says Western economies and capabilities are more inextricably linked than ever and warns against a policy shift away from U.S. security and interests in Europe.

A Third Option for Iran

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:55:59 -0500

The extraordinary risks posed by a nuclear-armed Iran require Washington and its partners to step up activity on economic sanctions and diplomacy, even while preparing military options, says CFR President Richard N. Haass.

Iran and the U.S.-Saudi Relationship

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:34:58 -0500

The U.S.-Saudi relationship has become increasingly strained since the onset of the Arab awakening, and Iran's nuclear ambitions could pose further challenges, says expert F. Gregory Gause III.

Conservatives, Liberals, and Human Rights

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:27:38 -0500

Mark P. Lagon and William F. Schulz take a closer look at how liberals and conservatives understand and advance human rights and lay out options for creating a more unified human rights movement focused on resilience and creative policies rather than dogmatism.

Foreign Policy: The Bin Laden Bounce

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:27:03 -0500

Obama's potential voters might not judge him only by his success on catching the al-Qaeda mastermind, but also by the way he has been handling the American economy, writes Scott Clement.

How Myanmar Changed and What It Means

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:40:17 -0500

Myanmar's sudden transition from repressive pariah to potential democracy should be viewed through the lens of a military alarmed by people power revolts and by the country's increasingly shaky economic condition, says CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.