Long Menu of Options to Contain, Punish North Korea
China and North Korea were no doubt as surprised as anyone by Donald Trump’s dramatic electoral victory. They had probably anticipated that a new Clinton […] More
Diplomacy
Can Trump Get Iran and Europe to Ink a New Nuclear Deal?
U.S. President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani exchanged blows at the UN General Assembly in New York this week – taking aim […] More
Chances ‘Slim’ for a Quick Fix to GCC Standoff
The dispute between Qatar and its four regional counterparts – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates – has entered into its fourth […] More
Threats to American Interests Increase as Gulf Diplomacy Dissolves
The ongoing dispute between Qatar and its neighbors – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates – has thrown the U.S. into a […] More
Gulf Crisis Still Smolders as Washington Searches for Options
Well into its fourth month, the tense standoff between Qatar and the four Arab nations that severed diplomatic ties with Doha – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, […] More
Pick for Russia Ambassador Blasts Moscow Meddling
At a time when U.S.-Russia relations are at an extreme low, Tuesday’s nomination hearing for the new U.S. Ambassador to Russia attracted less than a […] More
Do Diplomatic and Defense Vacancies Risk U.S. Security?
When a new U.S. president takes office the January after an election, his or her administration takes over not only the world’s strongest and most […] More
The ‘World Doesn’t Wait’ for D.C. to Fill Top Jobs
North Korea is testing its nuclear program seemingly at will. Afghanistan and Iraq struggle with enormous security threats years after the U.S. intervened to help […] More
Personal Relationships Matter in Forging Foreign Policy
A new presidential administration needs a team of political and career appointees to run the government, including the world’s most powerful military and a vast […] More
World Watches as U.S. and Iran Spar Over Nuclear Deal at U.N.
The future of the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is likely to take center stage at this week’s […] More
Trump Pick for Afghan Ambassador Sees No Troop Pullout Soon
A critical diplomatic post took a major step towards being filled when the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan appeared at his confirmation hearing before […] More
U.S. Human Rights Policy Can Help Friends and Hobble Foes
The administration of President Donald Trump has focused very little on the promotion of U.S. values – particularly international human rights – in its first […] More
Will U.S. Human Rights Efforts Wilt Under Trump?
In remarks to his staff at the State Department this May, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to announce a departure from decades of U.S. […] More
“The Right Thing to Do”: Why Values Matter in Policymaking
Most casual students of U.S. history and foreign policy consider the beginning of the Carter Administration (1977) as the point at which concern for human […] More
Putin’s Long War against Russian Democracy
Russians are fond of saying “men’she znayesh, dol’she zhivyosh,” translated as, “the less you know the longer you live.” President Vladimir Putin’s formative experience serving […] More
Haftar Holds Upper Hand In Libya Power Struggle
Imagine a multi-pronged, low intensity conflict. It’s been dragging on for five or so years. Sometimes this faction gains ground. Sometimes that. Or maybe it’s […] More
Outsiders’ Bets on Libya Torpedo Peace
Political instability continues to plague Libya as the country is mired in its sixth year of conflict following the 2011 Arab Spring. In July, two […] More
State Department Special Envoys – Focus or Fat?
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson wants to eliminate dozens of special envoy positions at the State Department. Some would be removed altogether, like the special […] More