CFR.org - Must Reads

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

Nicholas Noe — 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.

NYT: 'We the People' Loses Appeal Around the World

Adam Liptak — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:18:29 -0500

Adam Liptak of the New York Times writes that the U.S. Constitution no longer acts as the model for modern states. He cites the consitution's conservative interpretation and relatively few secured rights in making it a poor model in light of newer constitutions that reflect modern values and contexts.

CRS: A Historical Perspective on "Hollow Forces"

Andrew Feickert and Stephen Daggett — 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

Jennifer K. Elsea — 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?

Gordon Orr — 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

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.

TIME: Class War 2012

Michael Scherer — 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.

Foreign Policy: The Bin Laden Bounce

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.

Pew: Latinos in the 2012 Election: Florida

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.

CRS: The FBI and Terrorism Investigations

Jerome P. Bjelopera — 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.

National Interest: The (Almost) Triumph of Offshore Balancing

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:25:39 -0500

The U.S. Defense Strategic Guidance (DSG) reflects the reality that offshore balancing has jumped from the cloistered walls of academe to the real world of Washington policymaking, says Christopher Layne.

FT: How to pull Italy and Spain back from the precipice

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:12:08 -0500

The ECB and EFSF could do what the ECB alone cannot, writes George Soros.

CSIS: The U.S. Defense Budget and Changes in U.S. Strategy

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:11:56 -0500

This brief by Anthony H. Cordesman analyzes the pattern of cuts in recent, ongoing, and possible future defense and national security spending that affects the U.S. and its ability to project power and aid its friends and allies.

The New York Times: How the U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:28:06 -0500

Charles Duhigg and Keith Bradsher point out that America does not train enough people in the mid-level skills that factories need, a reason for companies like Apple to rely on outsourcing that helps them generate enough profits and keep investing for innovation rather than solving America's problem of unemployment.

The New York Times: Will Israel Attack Iran?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:10 -0500

After exploring Israel's ability, legitimacy, and necessity to attack Iran, Ronen Bergman believes that the country would certainly do so in 2012.

Daily Beast: Gingrich, Romney, and GOP Forget Iraq Mistake

Peter Beinart — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:52:16 -0500

Gingrich, Romney and Santorum pushed for the Iraq War. Now the media should make them explain what they've learned from being wrong and why we should trust their eagerness to bomb Iran, writes Peter Beinart.

Carnegie Endowment: The United States Beyond 2012

Uri Dadush — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:57:13 -0500

Uri Dadush writes that the United States still has three major assets that keep it ahead of other countries, but needs to actively respond to current economic and political trends to keep its advantages.

Pew: Public Priorities: Deficit Rising, Terrorism Slipping

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:39:05 -0500

A Pew Research Center polling report shows that the public focus is predominantly domestic and economic, while still keeping a wary eye on Iran and related security issues.

New York Times: Bomb-Bomb...Bomb-Iran?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:12:34 -0500

The New York Times' Bill Keller discusses why a hawkish position concerning Iran is the most abused foreign policy issue in this presidential campaign year, and why a military option may be the best way to guarantee exactly what we are trying to prevent.

New Yorker: The Obama Memos

Ryan Lizza — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:48:05 -0500

Ryan Lizza writes about the making of Obama's post-post-partisan presidency, referencing hundreds of pages of internal White House memos showing Obama grappling with the unpleasant choices of government.

Brookings: The Next President Must Solve the U.S. Deficit Crisis

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:18:29 -0500

The course to fiscal sanity is straightforward: Congress and the next president must work together to reduce spending, especially on Medicare, and increase taxes, writes Ron Haskins.

Guardian: Barack Obama's Presidency, Three Years on

Jonathan Freedland — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:49:05 -0500

Many onetime believers say Obama has no stomach for a fight. But rather than give up hope, Jonathan Freedland writes that Obama does not have such a bad record and still has time to move away from his early mistakes.

Economist: The Visible Hand

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:44:20 -0500

The crisis of Western liberal capitalism has coincided with the rise of a powerful new form of state capitalism in emerging markets, says Adrian Wooldridge.

The Washington Post: Muslim Without Sharia?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:11:18 -0500

Harris Zafar says presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's opinion that he would support a Muslim for U.S. presidency only when the person publicly pledges to "give up sharia" is not just ignorant of him but also unconstitutional.

TIME: Inside Obama's World

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:16:43 -0500

In an exclusive interview with TIME's Fareed Zakaria, President Obama opens up on Iran, Afghanistan, China and the challenges the U.S. faces in navigating a rapidly changing world.

New York Times: Iran Face-Off Testing Obama the Candidate

Mark Landler — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:02:23 -0500

The New York Times' Mark Landler discusses how Obama's response to escalating tensions with Iran will impact his campaign.

Chicago Tribune: Republicans Lack Diplomacy in Economy-Focused Race

Patricia Zengerle — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:52:42 -0500

Patricia Zengerle presents criticism of the Republican candidates' approaches to foreign policy in a campaign that has centered primarily on domestic issues.

Washington Post: Vulture Capitalism on Trial

Katrina vanden Heuvel — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:27:28 -0500

Katrina vanden Heuvel of the Washington Post addresses Republican criticism of "Romney capitalism" and the different visions it presents for our nation and its economy.

Guardian: Obama Must Beware GOP Foreign Policy Vortex

Simon Tisdall — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:17:20 -0500

The Guardian's Simon Tisdall writes that Obama must find ways of dealing with Romney's rhetoric without betraying his own beliefs or overreacting to foreign crises.

Politic365: Don’t Democrats Have the Latino Vote on Lock?

Justin Velez-Hagan — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:50:30 -0500

Justin Velez-Hagan of Politic365 points out potential contradictions in Latino support for Obama in the 2012 presidential race.