United States and Canada

Libya a reminder that Europe matters

By Clayton M. McCleskey, the Dallas Morning News

From Clayton M. McCleskey, the Dallas Morning News:   [T]he on-going crisis in Libya and the unrest across the region are reminders that the U.S. cannot solve every problem on its own.

Would a Kosovo-level intervention succeed in Libya?

By Max Boot, the Wall Street Journal

A regional strategy for democracy in the Middle East

By   Zalmay Khalilzad, the Washington Post

From  Zalmay Khalilzad, the Washington Post:  President Obama has reportedly settled on a country-specific strategy for the Middle East uprisings.

The United States watches as Moammar Gaddafi gains

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  Two weeks ago, when Mr. Obama flatly decreed the end of the Gaddafi era – "So let me just be very unambiguous about this," Mr. Obama said then.

The impact of US defense cuts on the transatlantic alliance

By Tomas Valasek, the Center for European Reform

From Tomas Valasek, the Center for European Reform:  The US defence budget seems set to fall as Washington begins to restore order in its finances.

The Gates Doctrine: Discernment of US interventions

By Michael Gerson, the Washington Post

From Michael Gerson, the Washington Post:  [Secretary of Defense Robert] Gates’s skepticism about the practical applicability of foreign policy ideals is a throwback to the days of President George H.W. Bush.

Poll: Nearly two-thirds of Americans say Afghan war isn’t worth fighting

By Scott Wilson and Jon Cohen, the Washington Post

From Scott Wilson and Jon Cohen, the Washington Post:  Nearly two-thirds of Americans now say the war in Afghanistan is no longer worth fighting, the highest proportion yet opposed to the conflict

Former SACEUR: “Libya doesn’t meet the test for U.S. military action”

By Wesley Clarke, the Washington Post

From Wesley Clarke, the Washington Post:  Understand the national interests at stake, and decide if the result is worth the cost. We went into Lebanon with a reinforced battalion of Marines in 1982 because we believed that it was in our national interest to stabilize the situation after the Israelis had been forced out of […]

The Next Steps in the U.S.-Russia Reset

By Joe Biden, the International Herald Tribune

From Joe Biden, the International Herald Tribune:  The next frontier in our relationship will be building stronger ties of trade and commerce that match the security cooperation we have achieved. Since the reset, major American companies — including Chevron, Pepsico, Alcoa, General Electric and Cisco — have signed major deals in Russia. Last week, in […]