by Justine A. Rosenthal
The principles of transformationalism—idealism spread by the barrel of a gun—have been central to America’s foreign-policy failings over the last eight years. With a new leadership in power, Washington has a chance to right past wrongs. But that will only be possible with a more realist approach to our international engagements and a concerted effort to reach out to our allies and enemies alike.
by Richard Perle
One of America’s best-known neoconservatives gives his take on what went wrong over the past eight years, the role of the State Department in hijacking Bush’s foreign policy and why 50 million conspiracy theorists have it wrong.
by Nikolas K. Gvosdev
Obama hasn’t said much about Mumbai or Gaza. That’s fine for now, but he’s missing a chance to test his national-security team in private.
by The National Interest
Bloggers react to Obama tapping Leon Panetta to head the CIA. Some are happy; many are simply bemused—for now.
by Jacob Heilbrunn
A new year brings some new problems—and some old ones. How will Obama deal with Israel, Russia and uppity liberal interventionists?
by J. Peter Pham
Ghana is on the verge of electoral crisis. Will one of Africa’s few success stories collapse into chaos?
by The National Interest
Obama chooses a CIA director and contemplates giving Robert Gates a new deputy.
by The National Interest
Is Obama trying to prove his mettle with a hard-line on Afghanistan? If so, he better have a plan and exit strategy.
by Nikolas K. Gvosdev
Our stance on the conflict in Gaza might undermine our attempts to rein in India over November’s Mumbai attacks.
by Dimitri K. Simes
Things look somewhat normal in Russia, but the global financial crisis is taking its toll. What impact will it have on the Kremlin’s behavior?