Yesterday, India and Pakistan reopened talks, following over a year of elevated tensions in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Both Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Defense Gates have welcomed the resumption of diplomacy.  This reflects the Obama administration's commitment to a comprehensive strategy for the region. But ultimately, as Secretary Clinton has acknowledged, the problems between the two countries must be "solved by the two countries themselves." 

More »

Pakistan's unprecedented effort against Afghan Taliban within its borders comes following a year of Obama administration engagement.  This comprehensive approach -on counterterrorism but also Pakistan's development, defense and diplomatic priorities -has built greater cooperation between the two countries, particularly on regional counterterrorism issues.  However, caution is warranted:  Pakistan's interests will not always align with those of the U.S., and the Administration should not repeat its predecessor's failure by simply assuming a "friendly" Pakistani government will pursue U.S. interests.

More »

The connection between the foundations of American power and its exercise abroad was one rarely tended to by the last administration.  Unfortunately, this led to a myriad of problems that hampered our country's efforts to project influence around the world. Fortunately, the Obama administration has reversed course. These reforms have made America better equipped to deal with the national security challenges of both today and the future.

More »

Just over a year ago, President Obama inherited an atrophied American diplomacy, hostile global public opinion, and an agenda that had disengaged from the international community.  The last year has seen an American diplomatic resurgence.  This renewed American appetite for sustained diplomatic action has produced modest but real results.  

More »

2009 began with wars in strategic drift in Iraq and Afghanistan and a counterterrorism strategy badly in need of an overhaul.

More »

Fareed Zakaria reminds us, "The purpose of terrorism is to provoke an overreaction."  This weekend's continuing coverage of the failed underpants bombing saw several prominent conservatives sink to an unprecedented depth of hysteria and nonsense.

More »

Announcing the steps his administration had undertaken to improve America's security following the failed terrorist attack last December, President Obama made it clear that the U.S. would not be ruled by fear. 

More »

The Obama administration has made it clear that in order to successfully advance American security and interests in the world, U.S. foreign policy must be grounded in America’s best principles. This is a positive break from the previous Bush administration, which too often defined American principles as values to be put to the side in the pursuit of a narrowly defined set of ambitions that often undermined American security.

More »

This weekend, with developments on civilian and military trials for Guantanamo detainees, a secure prison facility to house some of them in the US and reforms to the military prison in Bagram, Afghanistan, the Administration showed significant progress toward a comprehensive plan that uses military and law enforcement tools to keep Americans safe. National security experts, military and prosecutors, and the people of Thomson, Illinois responded positively.

More »

Yesterday brought more clarity on the failed interrogation and detention policies of the Bush administration—including new insight into the torture and abuse that permeated their prosecution of the “War on Terror.” But it also brought forward important reforms from the Obama administration: looking at best practices from professional interrogators in the FBI, CIA and elsewhere to create policies that will make America more secure and prevent abuses.

More »