Obama's Magical Surrealism in Honduras

Bob Ostertag, 11.11.2009

Composer, historian, journalist, and Professor of Technocultural Studies and Music at UC Davis

"I've heard many in this room say that they will not recognize the elections in Honduras. I'm not trying to be a wiseguy, but what does that mean? Wha...

The World's Original "Banana Republic" Strong-Arms the World's "Last Remaining Superpower?"

Bob Ostertag, 11.09.2009

Composer, historian, journalist, and Professor of Technocultural Studies and Music at UC Davis

The deal to reinstate Honduran President Manuel Zelaya unraveled this week, leaving the U.S. as the only government in the western hemisphere willing to let the recent military coup there stand.

Give Joe Biden MVP Award This Week on Obama Foreign Policy Team

Steve Clemons, 11.09.2009

Publisher of "The Washington Note"

Joe Biden is turning out to be a very useful problem-solving tool for the president on the international stage.

Engaging Ambassadors in Social Entrepreneurship

Saul Garlick, 11.06.2009

Founder and Executive Director, ThinkImpact

What is the ideal role of the U.S. Government in connecting with rural, poor African communities? Does the U.S. Foreign Service have a responsibility to American citizens to know what is going on in the field?

Senator LeMieux On Wrong Track with anti-Cuba Political Action Committee and State Department Hold

Steve Clemons, 11.06.2009

Publisher of "The Washington Note"

Kind of sad when you see a Freshman US Senator get appointed and immediately hijacked by lobbying groups who have deeply parochial interests that run against the nation's.

Women and the Struggle for Democracy in Iran: A Discussion with a Nobel Laureate- Part II

Cynthia Boaz, 11.05.2009

Asst. Prof. of Political Science, Consultant on Nonviolent Action and Strategy

Reposted from Truthout. "The Iranian women's movement is not simply demanding equal rights alone. It is demanding a larger universal reality, which ...

The Commonwealth and the Commons

Gary Hart, 11.05.2009

Author, Wirth Chair professor at the University of Colorado

I've always been puzzled by our efforts to leave a private legacy for our children while neglecting our public legacy, the character and quality of our commonwealth and its resources that we also leave to our children.

Note to Assignment Editor: Not Your Dad's National Security Establishment

Heather Hurlburt, 11.05.2009

Executive Director, National Security Network

If you care about the people of the United States being engaged in our foreign policy, then you need to care what the faces of the people who represent our foreign policy look like.

President Obama's Credibility on the Line in Honduras

Mark Weisbrot, 11.05.2009

Co-director, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Washington, D.C.

The Obama team brokered the accord in Honduras, and got a commitment from the coup leaders. If they go back on it, how much will the Obama administration's word be worth on anything else?

Our National Journey? Get Out A Map

Jeffrey Shaffer, 11.04.2009

While media attention in Iraq and Afghanistan focuses on car bombings and combat casualties, other disturbing events in the region are slipping through the news cycle almost unnoticed.

'A World Without Nuclear Weapons' Might Still Be Possible

Phyllis Bennis, 11.04.2009

Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies

Achieving what Obama calls a "world without nuclear weapons" means more than just talking. It also means recognizing -- and implementing -- Washington's own NPT obligations to disarm.

Matthew Hoh: U.S. Has Lost Track of Why It Is in Afghanistan

Steve Clemons, 11.04.2009

Publisher of "The Washington Note"

The first U.S. government official to formally resign his post because of objections to America's course in Afghanistan makes a compelling case that America has lost its strategic sensibilities in this war.

Obama's "Timidity" is a Foreign Policy Virtue

Joseph Nye, 11.03.2009

Distinguished Service Professor at Harvard University and Author

Considering what he inherited, and the accomplishments he has made regarding America's image and extension of soft power abroad, Obama's first year cannot be said to have lacked audacity.

The Audacity Of Obama's Foreign Policy

Lionel Beehner, 11.03.2009

Former senior writer for the Council on Foreign Relations

Those who thought Obama would end all war, wipe out global poverty, save the environment, and eradicate terrorism in one fell swoop will be sadly disappointed by this mere earthling's first year performance.

Downsizing the Military

Jay Mandle, 11.04.2009

Professor of Economics at Colgate University

The next great political fight will be over a post-recession reduction in government spending in the name of narrowing the gap between government revenues and expenditures.

Now We Need Presidential Leadership

Jerry Fowler, 10.30.2009

President of the Save Darfur Coalition

President Obama's new Sudan strategy lays out a path for the administration to follow, and provides a basis for the advocacy community to hold the administration accountable.

The Lawyers Who Would Torture

David A. Love, 10.29.2009

Writer and human rights advocate based in Philadelphia

Throughout history we have witnessed the ways in which societies compromise their legal systems to oppress the many, benefit the few, and sanction the unconscionable.

Afghanistan: A Whole New Approach

Jim Wallis, 10.29.2009

Founder of Sojourners; speaker, author, activist

When you massively intervene in a country as much as the U.S. has in Afghanistan, you can't responsibly just walk away. We must lead with what works -- development.

Cuba United Nations Vote Today: US Should Abstain

Steve Clemons, 10.28.2009

Publisher of "The Washington Note"

Increasing numbers of national security leaders of the likes of Brent Scowcroft and George Shultz have said that the US embargo of Cuba makes no sense and harms American interests.

Mr. and Ms. Gates Go To Washington, Host Roundtable On Global Health Funding

Diane Tucker, 10.28.2009

Writer/producer/director living in Washington DC

The Gateses are visiting our nation's capital to reframe the conversation about global health aid. They said we should spend more time talking about what works and how to measure it.

Evaluating Obama's Afghan Policy

Sam Black, 10.27.2009

Research Associate at the Stimson Center

In order to appropriately judge whatever updated Afghanistan plan emerges from the White House, there are a number of until now omitted questions that must be taken into account.