The right analogy for Israel-Palestine is not South Africa but the wars of succession in the former Yugoslavia that concluded with very messy territorial compromises imposed by outside powers.

The economic problems affecting the EU -- sovereign debt; the decline of the euro; financial contagion -- go beyond, well, economics, and could have a major impact on global politics, including on U.S. foreign policy

The failure on the part of Brazil and Turkey to win the backing of China and Russia for their initiative displayed the success Obama's more pragmatic diplomatic approach.

U.S. policymakers assume they have the right and obligation to steer the wheel of international diplomacy, but the view from Beijing (and other capitals) is very different.