All Foreign Policy
Obama vs. Romney: VFW hosting campaign side trip into foreign policyPreceding Romney by a day, Obama addresses the VFW convention, saying he'd kept his foreign policy promises to the veterans and touting, not surprisingly, the Osama bin Laden mission.
Syria holds out threat of chemical weapons against 'exterior aggression'The embattled Assad regime pledges not to use chemical weapons against Syrian civilians 'no matter how the crisis evolves,' but leaves the option open against foreign powers who intervene in Syria.
Syria resolution defeated at UN. Does that free up US to act on its own?For the third time since the crisis began, Russia and China teamed up to defeat a UN Security Council resolution on Syria. The US may now pursue 'action outside of the council.'
Massive bombing rocks Damascus: why it didn't break UN logjam on SyriaThe crisis in Syria, capped by the massive bombing in Damascus, has yet to bridge the gap between world powers. While the US called for 'transition,' Russia said the UN has no place in supporting a 'revolution.'
Syrian opposition group warns: If the UN won't act, 'we have other options'The opposition Syrian National Council issued an ultimatum of its own as the UN Security Council prepared to vote on extending the mandate of the UN's cease-fire monitors in Syria.
On Syria, who might give first 鈥� Russia or the West?The West says that any extension of the UN mandate for monitors in Syria must have teeth. But Russia is categorically rejecting any resolution that foresees enforcement of punitive measures.
Hillary Clinton to meet Egypt鈥檚 new president: what is at stakeHillary Clinton is delivering important US messages to Egypt's newly-elected president from the Muslim Brotherhood: on women, minorities, the peace treaty with Israel, and US support for democracy.
Syrian ambassador's defection boosts idea of booting Assad, keeping othersThe defection of two top Syrian officials, including the ambassador to Iraq, is prompting foreign policy experts to explore the idea of removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but keeping lower level officials.
Kofi Annan, in jab at US, travels to Tehran to say Iran can help on SyriaDiplomacy over the crisis in Syria and what role, if any, Iran can play is looking increasingly like a boxing match between the heavyweight US and the veteran statesman Kofi Annan. When does the bell ring?
ASEAN: Can US open door to Asia trade by softening stance on China?Following the lead of its ASEAN partners, the US has replaced tough talk about China with calls for cooperation. At stake is a share of the booming trade supplying a rising consumer class in Southeast Asia.
Syria: Has Obama done enough to bring the violence to an end?The failure of diplomacy to address the grinding violence in Syria 鈥� hopes are dim for Kofi Annan's latest effort 鈥� is feeding renewed criticism of the Obama administration's Syria policy.
Pakistan to reopen key supply route to Afghanistan, after US apology'We are sorry,' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said about a December attack near the Afghanistan border that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. That sticking point resolved, a key supply route will reopen, but US-Pakistan ties are weaker now.
Iran missile test: glimpse of what's ahead if nuclear talks failAn Iran missile test Monday sent a clear warning to the US: Attack our nuclear facilities, and we'll target your military bases. It showed what US-Iran military gamesmanship might look like.聽
Not much progress at Geneva meeting on Syria violenceWorld powers agreed Saturday on a plan for ending Syria鈥檚 violence 鈥� but only by sweeping under the rug unresolved differences over the role Bashar al-Assad should play in a political transition.
Putin to Israel: Beware 'not that smart' wars, like ones in Iraq, Afghanistan'To do something without knowing the final consequence isn't that smart,' Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week, citing US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was in Israel, warning leaders there of risks of a military strike against Iran.
Can the US and Russia save the UN cease-fire monitoring mission in Syria?All signs in Syria seem to point to the demise of Kofi Annan's peace plan, including the UN cease-fire monitoring mission. But Annan is hoping the US and Russia can agree on a new contact group to rescue the plan.聽- US lies low on Egypt, acting behind the scenes. Is that approach wise?Obama and administration officials have remained relatively quiet, at least in public, as turmoil revived in Egypt and a new president was elected. Tougher communication is likely going on behind the scenes, some analysts say.
Rio+20 earth summit: Why Hillary Clinton won applause for statement on womenThe UN's Rio+20 earth summit set only modest goals, but sparked controversy over the Vatican's successful effort to remove reference to 'reproductive rights' from the final document. Hillary Clinton vowed the US would ensure 'those rights are respected.'
US ambassador taps Facebook to drive wedge between Syrian military and AssadUsing social media, US Ambassador Robert Ford warns Syrian military officers they could be prosecuted for crimes against humanity by following聽President Bashar al-Assad鈥檚 orders.- Hillary Clinton meets with Palestinian and Israeli. Is something cooking?The Israeli-Palestinian peace process seems to be stirring, and the US is calling it 'very much alive.' But analysts doubt anything significant can be achieved before the US elections in November.
