CFR.org - First Take

Rejecting Austerity, Italians Rekindle Euro Jitters

Charles A. Kupchan — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:37:39 -0500

Should a functioning government fail to emerge in Italy, the eurozone could soon find itself engulfed in another round of expensive and controversial bailouts, says CFR's Charles Kupchan.

Bringing the Foreign Policy Debate Home

Richard N. Haass — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:08:58 -0400

The final presidential debate reinforced the sentiment that "home" issues will restrain the foreign policy choices of the next administration, writes CFR's Richard Haass.

Israeli-Palestinian Divergence on Display

Robert M. Danin — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:05:24 -0400

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders focused on different conflicts in their UN speeches, underscoring the difficult path for Washington in the region, writes CFR's Robert Danin.

Iran's Marginal UN Moment

Ray Takeyh — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:35:31 -0400

President Ahmadinejad's final UN General Assembly address lacked the bombast of previous speeches and added little to the debate over Iran's nuclear program, says CFR's Ray Takeyh.

Obama's Free Speech Message at the UN

James M. Lindsay — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:41:31 -0400

President Obama's UN address sought to assert universal rights in the Mideast while taking on issues resonating in the U.S. presidential campaign, writes CFR's James Lindsay.

The Legacy of the 9/11 Terrorists

Richard N. Haass — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:09:07 -0400

The 9/11 attacks on the United States catalyzed effective counterterrorism efforts worldwide and demonstrated the ongoing need for public resilience, says CFR President Richard Haass.

Al-Qaeda's Specter in Syria

Ed Husain — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 07:20:41 -0400

Al-Qaeda may become the Free Syrian Army's most potent weapon against the Assad regime, but its collaboration with rebel forces poses serious risks for the country's future, says CFR's Ed Husain.

Syria: Beyond the UN Veto

Richard N. Haass — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:41:07 -0400

Following a UN Security Council veto, the United States should bypass the UN to pressure the Assad regime and support the Syrian opposition, writes CFR President Richard N. Haass.

Pakistan's Escalating Vaccine Tensions

Laurie Garrett — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:26:51 -0400

Efforts to vaccinate Pakistani children are in peril after the CIA's vaccine ploy to help capture Osama bin Laden, placing the entire region at risk of outbreaks, says CFR's Laurie Garrett.

U.S. Strategic Signals in Southeast Asia

Joshua Kurlantzick — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:30:02 -0400

The steady U.S. presence at Asian meetings--like the upcoming ASEAN ministerial--reinforces its ties to countries in China's shadow, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.

Libya's Election Milestone

Isobel Coleman — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:30:20 -0400

This weekend's successful nationwide elections are a major first step in a long process of building new political and civic institutions, says CFR's Isobel Coleman.

Aligning U.S. Health Care with U.S. Foreign Policy

Laurie Garrett — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:00:57 -0400

The Supreme Court's ruling on the U.S. health-care law helps bring domestic and foreign policies on health-care access and spending priorities into closer alignment, says CFR's Laurie Garrett.

A Greek Boost for the Euro

Charles A. Kupchan — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:32:22 -0400

A victory for Greece's center-right New Democracy party is a reprieve for the euro, but eurozone leaders must still grapple with systemic fixes, writes CFR's Charles A. Kupchan.

NATO Tries to Pivot Past Afghanistan

Charles A. Kupchan — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:04:39 -0400

The Chicago summit attempted to map a new NATO agenda, but instability in Afghanistan and the European fiscal crisis still cloud the alliance's path, says CFR's Charles Kupchan.

Francois Hollande's Stimulus Alternative

Charles A. Kupchan — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:58:35 -0400

France's new president will likely pursue growth policies that could put him at odds with Germany on austerity measures, with serious ramifications for the EU and the global economy.

Afghanistan: More Questions Than Answers

Richard N. Haass — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:24:36 -0400

President Obama's speech in Afghanistan lacked a strong rationale for continuing a substantial U.S. commitment beyond 2014, says CFR President Richard N. Haass.

Serious Steps to Stop Atrocities

Paul B. Stares — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:31:47 -0400

President Obama's move to strengthen efforts to prevent genocide and mass killings deserves credit, but must be given time to work properly, says CFR's Paul Stares.

Partial Progress on U.S.-Afghan Front

Max Boot — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:12:18 -0400

The new U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership agreement is a step forward as the Western troop drawdown clock ticks down, but Washington must provide more specific pledges for Afghanistan's security, says CFR's Max Boot.

North Korea's Failure: The Good and the Bad

Richard N. Haass — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:18:57 -0400

Pyongyang's unsuccessful missile launch delays a new nuclear threat but raises disturbing prospects for violence on the Korean Peninsula, says CFR President Richard N. Haass.

Guantanamo Bay Justice on Trial

Matthew C. Waxman — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:25:39 -0400

News of planned military trials for five 9/11 suspects underscores the Obama administration's need to more forcefully defend the necessity of military tribunals if they are to have legitimacy at home and abroad, says CFR's Matthew Waxman.

Nuclear Summit Progress and Pitfalls

Micah Zenko — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:54:52 -0400

The Seoul summit advances global efforts on securing nuclear materials in dozens of countries, but the challenge will be to sustain the focus on the universal elimination of weapons-usable material, writes CFR's Micah Zenko.

How to Read North Korea Deal

Scott A. Snyder — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:59:21 -0500

North Korea's decision to suspend nuclear tests in exchange for U.S. food aid may pave the way for resumption of the Six-Party Talks on denuclearization, but it's unlikely to yield significant progress, says CFR's Scott Snyder.

Gauging Foreign Policy in Obama's Address

James M. Lindsay — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:58:02 -0500

President Obama's 2012 State of the Union address emphasized his economic revival plans but it also included a potent foreign policy message, says CFR's James M. Lindsay.

Franco-German Misstep on Eurozone

Sebastian Mallaby — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:02:42 -0500

Italy's budget may matter more than ineffectual Franco-German summitry, but the new agreement between France and Germany on reforming EU rules remains a reckless distraction, says CFR's Sebastian Mallaby.

Egypt's Deepening Rifts Shadow Vote

Steven A. Cook — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:51:25 -0500

Egypt's military appears to be pursuing a divide-and-rule approach to defuse mass protests ahead of planned November 28 polls, but this may backfire, says CFR's Steven A. Cook.

Iraqi Rivalries Spell End for U.S. Troops

Ned Parker — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:30:10 -0400

The pullout of U.S. troops by year's end points to the troubling rift in Iraqi politics and big questions about the country's stability, writes CFR's Ned Parker.

In Qaddafi's End, New NATO Challenges

Ed Husain — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:15:45 -0400

Disunity among Libya's rebels, a growing Islamist radical movement, and angry Qaddafi loyalists will mean a continued need for NATO involvement to check a possible slide into chaos.

Libya's Quixotic Despot Meets His End

Ray Takeyh — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:36:51 -0400

In four decades of rule, Qaddafi chased doomed adventures that isolated his regime from Arabs and the world. Libyans now have a chance to recast their state and reintegrate with their region, says CFR's Ray Takeyh.

Libya: Now the Hard Part Starts

Richard N. Haass — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:02:58 -0400

The reported death of Muammar al-Qaddafi marks a dramatic end to his sway over Libya. Libyans now need considerable Western help in securing and rebuilding the country he leaves behind, writes CFR President Richard N. Haass.

Weighing U.S. Response to Iranian Plot

Elliott Abrams — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:29:39 -0400

The alleged Iranian plot to kill a Saudi ambassador in Washington, DC requires a strong response from the Obama administration and makes Iran a national security priority, says CFR's Elliott Abrams.