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Presidency 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.

Detention Nation

Karen J. Greenberg | Apr 27, 2009
George W. Bush’s policies toward terror detainees were perhaps some of his most jaw-dropping. Barack Obama came to office promising to change course. So far, he has done little. It remains to be seen whether the president can—or wants to—develop a

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 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.

U.S. Asia (and China) Policy Reconceived

George J. Gilboy
Eric Heginbotham
| Sep 01, 2002
True realism about Asia transcends the Bush Administration's narrow focus on geopolitics and China.
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Commentary

The Obama Peace Doctrine

Kim R. Holmes | Sep 28, 2011
Obama's recent UN speech encapsualted his "peace-is-hard-work" approach. But it did not demonstrate the type of leadership Americans want to see.

China the Aggressor?

Michael J. Green | Sep 02, 2010
A look at how China may be thinking about its sphere of influence—and American ambitions.

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

Obama's Middle East Hail Mary

Jacob Heilbrunn | Nov 16, 2010
Obama's last-chance gasp at a Middle East peace deal could work, even if it is desperate.

The Timorous Republican Pledge to America

Jacob Heilbrunn | Sep 24, 2010
If their Pledge is anything to go by, the Republicans aren't thinking about foreign policy.

Civil-Military Relations and Decision-making on Afghanistan

Paul R. Pillar | Sep 16, 2010
General Petraeus is no Ulysses S. Grant.
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