New Atlanticist

Obama in Stockholm: A Missed European Opportunity

By Fran Burwell

Don’t get me wrong — Sweden has been an exceptional partner to the United States. Although technically not an ally, Swedish soldiers have stood with ours in Afghanistan and Kosovo, and the Swedish air force played a serious role in enforcing the no-fly-zone during the Libyan revolution. Sweden is also a strong supporter of a […]

Syria, Obama, and the Value-Interest

By Julian Lindley-French

President Obama’s 31 August decision to authorize but delay a military strike against Syria’s Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the wake of the alleged use of chemical weapons is an important moment. Taken together with the 29 August decision of Britain’s Parliament to deny Prime Minister Cameron permission to use force two changes are apparent.

Damon Wilson Looks at President Obama’s Visit to Sweden

As Magnus Nordenman summarizes in his piece on NATOSource, there could be any number of reasons why President Obama is visiting Sweden this week. Obama’s decision to visit Stockholm may be explained with something as banal as Russia’s acceptance of Ed Snowden’s asylum application and a wish by Washington to send a message of displeasure […]

Obama’s Hamlet Act

By James Joyner

As recently as two days ago, it looked as if strikes would commence this weekend. Yesterday, though, the president announced that he would seek permission from Congress, which won’t be back in town for more than a week. This Hamlet act is drawing jeers from friend and foe alike.

Obama’s Syria Decision and US Global Credibility

By Barry Pavel and Alex Ward

After a week of signaling that a US-led attack on Syria was imminent to punish the Assad regime for the inhumane and internationally condemned use of chemical weapons against his own people, US President Barack Obama announced two decisions Saturday: first, that he had decided to take military action against Syrian regime targets; but second, […]

Obama Will Seek Congressional Authorization on Syria

In an announcement from the Rose Garden at the White House, President Obama announced two decisions on Syria. He said in his statement that he has decided the United States should take military action against the regime in Syria for their use of chemical weapons.

Why Obama’s Plan to Strike Syria Makes No Strategic Sense

By James Joyner

Having backed himself into a corner by declaring a “red line” that has now been crossed, President Obama is by all appearances ramping up for military action in Syria. As best we can tell from the not inconsiderable leaks coming from Washington and elsewhere, the planned strikes would use aerial assets, last only a short period, and […]

Exclusive Interview with Estonian President Ilves on Cyber Security

While the presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are in Washington, DC to meet with President Obama to discuss economic cooperation and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Estonian President Hendrik Ilves sat down with Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson for an exclusive interview on Estonia’s role in cyber security and its importance […]