Leslie H. Gelb

Leslie H. Gelb is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, a former senior official in the State and Defense Departments, and a former New York Times columnist. He is also a member of The National Interest’s Advisory Council.


Essays

Politics

The Elusive Obama Doctrine

| 08.22.12

The president gets solid marks for his handling of a host of tactical challenges. But his Afghan policy proved disjointed, he lacks a clear strategic framework and he has failed to put U.S. economic power at the core of his foreign policy.

Politics

We Bow to the God Bipartisanship

| 10.25.11

Bipartisanship: the Holy Grail of American politics. Long the go-to buzzword for presidents, elusive cross-aisle support at home has all too often been purchased at the price of good policy abroad.

A Realist Rally

| 09.03.08

As featured in the IHT: Realism can lead the way out of our foreign-policy shambles. But first the camp’s heavyweights need to bridge the partisan

Security

The Freedom Crusade, Revisited

| 12.01.05

Leslie H. Gelb, Daniel Pipes, Robert W. Merry and Joseph S. Nye offer their reactions to Robert W. Tucker and David Hendrickson on the Bush Doctrine.

Security

In Defense of Striped Pants

| 03.01.05

Governments get the bureaucracies the deserve.

The Great Debate

Society

Does Libya Represent a New Wilsonism?

| 02.28.12

Three leading thinkers respond to the bold thesis of Nikolas K. Gvosdev and Ray Takeyh.

Commentary

Security

What American Leadership?

| 10.15.07

Presidential aspirants frequently talk about restoring America’s international influence, but this monumental task will require a lot more than glittering generalities.

Follow The National Interest

May 24, 2013