The law of diminishing returns — and rising costs — appears likely to bring Western troops home from Afghanistan even as the Taliban insurgency rages
Obama
Apocalyptic Talk Aside, Israel Has Dialed Down Its Threat to Bomb Iran — for Now
Netanyahu says at present rates of enrichment, Iran’s nuclear program will cross Israel’s red line for military action next spring or summer
Obama at the U.N.: Solid on Principles, Vague on Policy
The U.S. President’s address to the U.N. General Assembly raised more questions than it answered on the substantial foreign policy challenges in the Middle East
The U.N. General Assembly: 5 Political Potholes for Obama
Tricky relations with an emerging Arab public, Netanyahu’s shaming rhetoric and a growing China-Japan spat. What’s to love about the U.N. for a President whose appointment with his electorate is just weeks away?
Don’t Expect a Romney Intifadeh, the Palestinians Are Used to Disappointment
Even before Romney revealed his cards, it was clear to a growing number of Palestinians that their fate is in their own hands
Can the U.S. Stop the Wave of Muslim Protests Targeting Its Embassies?
The furor over a provocative video has obscured the deep anger at U.S. foreign policy that has long existed in the Middle East.
Red Lines, Deadlines and End Games: Netanyahu Turns Up Iran Heat on Obama
The Israeli prime minister’s problem is not the lack of a red line. It’s that the U.S. one isn’t the same as his.
Is the Regional Showdown in Syria Rekindling Iraq’s Civil War?
It may have been checked off President Obama’s to-do list, but the Iraq war is far from over.
Obama’s DNC Speech: How China Became an Issue of Domestic, Not Foreign, Policy
American grandstanding about human rights in China has been replaced by more pressing fears over jobs and prosperity
Worried About Israel Bombing Iran Before November? You Can Relax
By demanding a U.S. statement of ‘red lines’ in exchange for Israeli restraint, Netanyahu appears to be seeking a retreat from an untenable position
Exclusive: U.S. Scales Back Military Exercise with Israel, Affecting Potential Iran Strike
A smaller U.S. contingent may make it more difficult for the Israeli government to launch a pre-emptive strike on Tehran’s nuclear program
China’s Response to the U.S. Political Conventions? Big Yawn
The U.S. may be all agog with the pageantry and pomp of its political conventions, but the Chinese? Not so much
Why Afghanistan Isn’t a Campaign Issue: Neither Obama nor Romney Have a Solution
The ‘systemic problem’ of uniformed Afghans attacking their American mentors raises questions about the viability of a bipartisan exit plan