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War

Rethinking the Pakistan Plan

U.S.-Pakistani relations are in crisis. Strategic fear of India prevents Pakistan from bending to U.S. demands. Easing India-Pakistan tensions could change the dynamics of the U.S.-Pakistan alliance.

Triumph of the New Wilsonism

No national interest was cited as a rationale for America's Libya campaign; the action was justified solely on humanitarian grounds. This marks a fundamental break with past U.S. policy prescriptions for such military interventions.

Chinese Nationalism and Its Discontents

China must choose between kowtowing to domestic nationalism and submitting to a peaceful rise. Lately, nationalist belligerence has ruled the day. Washington is overreacting, encircling China. A latent rivalry ratchets up to dangerous levels.

The End of the American Era

Two lost wars. Eroding infrastructure. A crippled economy. The time when the United States could create and lead a political, economic and security order in virtually every part of the world is over. The cure? A new American strategy.

Brezhnev in the Hejaz

Saudi Arabia is the guardian of the Mideast counterrevolution—and America is its greatest enabler. A club of royals under the Kingdom’s protection is now a reality.

The Zawahiri Era

Meet Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian doctor-turned-jihadist-mastermind—and the new head of al-Qaeda. He will out-terrorize his predecessor. Prepare for the new age of jihad.

Commentary

Turkey's Syria Imperative

Ankara wants to prove it is a regional leader. It should start by helping find a solution for Syria.

Don't Abandon Europe

The new Defense Strategic Guidance implies U.S. withdrawal from the Continent. This would be a big mistake.

Obama vs. the Hawks on Iran

How Obama's opaque Iran policy is lending feul to the fire of bellicose GOP contenders and their Israeli allies.

Blogs

Occupy Afghanistan

Rosy reports of progress are wrong. The only successful occupation in Afghanistan is that of the Taliban.

Regime Change, Humanitarianism and Syria

Muddied thinking on Syria is leading the United States toward dangerous conclusions.

Unanswered Questions on Afghanistan

Though vague, the Afghanistan-withdrawal announcement is good news—and a brilliant political move.

Books & Reviews

Death by Irrelevance

Rockefeller, Lindsay, Scranton—just three of the “moderates” who failed to keep the GOP from the clutches of Goldwater and Nixon. Geoffrey Kabaservice laments their defeat with a wistfulness that obscures from him their true frustration.

In the Hall of the Vulcans

We thought the lessons of Vietnam could never be unlearned. But Washington warmongering heeds no warnings, plunging America into the quagmires of Iraq and Afghanistan. The depths of dysfunction behind these decisions seemingly know no bounds.

Gods in Flight

Think airpower is the military strategy cure-all? Martin van Creveld begs to differ. His latest offering argues that aerial armaments have failed to confer a decisive advantage, tricking aggressors into believing that victory will be easy.

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February 10, 2012