United States and Canada

Obama Repeating Bush Mistakes in South Asia?

By James Joyner

Juan Cole, a leading historian of the Islamic world and fervent critic of the Bush administration’s policies, tells Harper‘s Scott Collins that he’s not so pleased with the Obama administration’s policies, either.

Pakistan Protests Bring Fear of Military Coup

By James Joyner

Top diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom are trying to broker a deal between the government of Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari and chief opposition leader Nawaz Sharif amid fears that a string of protests could result in yet another military takeover.

Beyond Closing Guantanamo: Rebuilding a Transatlantic Partnership in International Law

In one of his first acts as president, Barack Obama signed an executive order closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp within a year.  According to a new paper published by the Atlantic Council, Beyond Closing Guantanamo, this is a step in the right direction, but the new U.S. administration should undertake several additional measures aimed […]

Making Nice with Iran?

By Don Snow

In yet another example of the cascade of ways the Obama administration is abandoning the policies of its predecessor, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced last week the willingness of the Obama administration to talk directly to representatives of Iran. The vehicle for this change of policy was offering an invitation for Iran to attend […]

Power Transitions in U.S. and Iraq

By David Smith

“Congratulations, Mr. President.”  With those words from US Chief Justice John Roberts, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States.  Under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, this orderly transfer of power happened at 12 noon on January 20 — no sooner and no later. 

Munich: First Look at Obama Foreign Policy, Big Boost for Georgia

By David Smith

Last weekend’s 45th Munich Security Conference afforded the world its first look at the emerging foreign policy of U.S. President Barack Obama.  The conference’s mostly European audience heard the constructive new tone for which it had hoped.  However, the substantive policy studiously delivered by all Administration representatives in Munich was one of cautious continuity.

Canada’s MacKay Unlikely NATO Secretary General

By James Joyner

While some have touted Canadian defense minister Peter MacKay as Jaap de Hoop Scheffer’s successor as NATO’s secretary general, precedent makes it highly unlikely. 

Canada Encouraged on ‘Buy America’ Rollback

By James Joyner

Canada has expressed relief that the U.S. Senate has watered down the “Buy America” provision of the economic stimulus package currently under negotiation but that it will continue pressure to keep trade between the two countries open. John McCrank for  Reuters:

Foreign Policy Priorities for the Next President (Hunter)

By Robert Hunter

Editor’s note: We polled several friends of the Atlantic Council last week on the question What are the top foreign policy priorities for the next president?   We’ll be running their responses all week.