CFR.org - U.S. Strategy and Politics

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.

New Blog Tracks Foreign Policy Issues in the U.S. Presidential Election

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:35:29 -0500

The Council on Foreign Relations has launched a new blog, The Candidates and the World, to provide information and nonpartisan analysis on the foreign policy and national security dimensions of the 2012 presidential race.

U.S.-Egypt Ties on Shifting Sands

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:53:10 -0500

A year after President Hosni Mubarak's ouster from power, U.S.-Egypt relations are under threat as Cairo presses charges against U.S. nongovernmental pro-democracy workers. CFR's Steven A. Cook discusses the implications this has for U.S. aid to Egypt.

How Europe Views the U.S. Presidential Campaign

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:14:44 -0500

Europeans are closely watching the U.S. presidential campaign despite their ongoing economic troubles because the United States remains the number one power in the world, says German expert Josef Joffe.

The World Next Week: February 9, 2012

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:52:34 -0500

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: President Obama presents the 2013 budget to Congress; the Senate Armed Services Committee debates worldwide threats; Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visits Washington; and the one-year anniversary of Mubarak's ouster is marked.

Campaign 2012: Energy

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:33:59 -0500

U.S oil dependence has been steadily decreasing recently, but energy policy will continue to present great challenges for the U.S. president taking office in 2013, says CFR's Michael A. Levi.

Tie U.S. Recovery Program to Economic Indicators

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:46:52 -0500

Peter Orszag wants the United States to rely more on automatic stabilizers to stem the shocks from recessions.

NYT: In Syria, We Need to Bargain With the Devil

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:33:39 -0500

Nicholas Noe argues that an internationally led reconciliation effort and subsequent peace-keeping presence in Syria would bypass the resulting destruction of a military intervention or civil war, while still keeping the diplomatic upper hand.

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

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:35:41 -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.

Fostering Greater Chinese Investment in the United States

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:18:28 -0500

David Marchick calls for new U.S. government efforts to increase the small share of Chinese direct investment in the United States, including combating perceived prejudices, removing policy impediments, and encouraging U.S. businesses to partner with their Chinese counterparts.

U.S. State Department Statement on "Subnational Engagement as a 21st Century Foreign Policy Tool"

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:05:21 -0500

Reta Jo Lewis, Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, gave these remarks on "Subnational Engagement as a 21st Century Foreign Policy Tool" at the 7th Annual Peacekeeping, Reconstruction, & Stabilization Conference in Alexandria, VA on February 7, 2012.

Lessons Learned: Nelson Mandela's Release from Prison

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:48:35 -0500

CFR's James M. Lindsay discusses Nelson Mandela's release from prison in February 1990 and his subsequent rise to the presidency to show how individuals shape history.

Santorum's Speech After the Minnesota Caucus, February 2012

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:53:48 -0500

Rick Santorum gave this speech on February 7, 2012, following his wins at the Minnesota caucus and Missouri primary.

Shame on You, Mr. Obama, for Pandering on Trade

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:07:53 -0500

Jagdish Bhagwati criticizes U.S. President Barack Obama for failing to close the Doha Round, decrying outsourcing, and surrending to the "manufactures fetish."

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

Blame Canada

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:56:24 -0500

Max Boot reviews Eliot Cohen's Conquered into Liberty: Two Centuries of Battles Along the Great Warpath that Made the American Way of War.

Obama’s Faster, Smarter Afghan Exit

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:01:31 -0500

Leslie H. Gelb says the Obama administration's announcement of a quick end to U.S. combat in Afghanistan is a surprise decision of strategic skill and political courage.

Pew: Latinos in the 2012 Election: Florida

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:29:15 -0500

This Pew Research Center profile provides Florida voter registration data as reported by the Florida Division of Elections through January 3, 2012. It also provides key demographic information on eligible Latino voters and other major groups of eligible voters in Florida.

The Florida Primary and Immigration

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:47:51 -0500

As GOP candidates vie for Florida, analysts say immigration remains a major issue for the presidential contest, but whether comprehensive reform can be achieved in the current political climate is unclear.

Lessons Learned: The Tet Offensive

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:42:16 -0500

CFR's James M. Lindsay recalls the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam and the importance of managing public expectations amid major foreign policy initiatives.

Mitt Romney Follows Failed MBA Theory

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:14:18 -0500

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon says Mitt Romney embodies U.S. business management's view that serving shareholders and investors is crucial to serving society, but as this view is beginning to evolve, Romney should change with it.

CRS: The FBI and Terrorism Investigations

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:34:42 -0500

Jerome P. Bjelopera of the Congessional Research Service sets forth possible considerations for Congress as it executes its oversight role for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has reformed itself since 2001 to be more proactive and intelligence-driven concerning domestic terrorism.