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Political positions of Barack Obama

All the President's Dreams

Richard Burt | Feb 24, 2010
President Obama came to office promising a new era in international affairs. So far, he’s been big on rhetoric and has accomplished little. Obama’s inability to prioritize foreign policy risks destroying his presidency.

A Sit-Down with Brent Scowcroft

Justine A. Rosenthal | Jan 21, 2009
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 w

The Ascension

R. Nicholas Burns | Jan 21, 2009
The creation of Barack Obama’s legacy will play out against three fundamental backdrops: America’s financial crisis; the ability to shore up the power of the United States; and the willingness of Joe Q. Public to spend blood and treasure beyond ou

The New Realism

Bill Richardson | Nov 07, 2007
What should the United States do about problems like terrorism, global warming, nuclear proliferation and Iraq? Bill Richardson lays out his foreign policy vision.

The Art of the Possible

Lee H. Hamilton | Nov 01, 2007
When a U.S. administration announces unrealistic foreign-policy goals, it sets itself up for failure. Today, we confront a very different international landscape, and the heady days of 2003 permanently belong to the past.

Transatlantic Troubles

Andrew A. Michta | Nov 10, 2006
America need not restore the bygone, comprehensive relationship with Europe to achieve its purposes.
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Commentary

When Campaign Nonsense Makes Political Sense

Nikolas K. Gvosdev | Mar 30, 2012
Obama's off-mic remarks to Medvedev provide opportunity to reflect on campaign promises, foreign policy—and Etch A Sketches.

Obama's Iran Bluff

Amitai Etzioni | Mar 12, 2012
Why Obama's threats should not necessarily be taken at face value.

Spies and Politicians

Dimitri K. Simes | Jul 15, 2010
U.S. domestic politics played a role in the recent spy drama.
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Blogs

The Ruthlessness of Barack Obama

Jacob Heilbrunn | May 02, 2012
Obama has reinvented the Democratic party's approach to foreign policy. Will the GOP follow suit?

Why Should America Pay for Europe's Missile Defense?

Jacob Heilbrunn | Mar 27, 2012
A bolder president would abandon the bogus missile-defense effort and expose the fearmongering behind it.

The Obama Administration's Artful Evasions over the War Power

Christopher A. Preble | May 13, 2011
Why are we at war in Libya? Because Barack Obama chose to go to war there.
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Books & Reviews

Pax Californica

Andrew J. Bacevich | Apr 20, 2010
America has at times oriented itself to the East, at others to the West. But what we have always had is a sense of our manifest destiny. And now the ideals of California—nihilism with a suntan—seem to be our primary ideological export.

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May 26, 2012