All Foreign Policy
Google exec to visit North Korea: why Obama administration isn't happyFormer US diplomat Bill Richardson is planning to take a Google executive to North Korea. The State Department has said the visit is unhelpful. The concern is about timing, it seems.
Obama-Karzai talks near: How many US troops should stay in Afghanistan?Afghan President Hamid Karzai will be in Washington next week to meet with President Obama. Top of the agenda: deciding whether US troops should stay beyond 2014 鈥� and how many.
Hillary Clinton hospitalized: Tough end to successful 2012?Hillary Clinton has been hospitalized for a blood clot. The setback comes at the end of a very successful year for her professionally.
Russia's proposed ban on US adoptions: What would it mean for orphans?Children's rights advocates say there's nothing wrong with efforts to reduce international adoption 鈥� if those efforts are focused on strengthening families and encouraging domestic adoption. Russia, however, has a long way to go to find domestic families for its orphans.
In war-torn Syria, tactic of targeting civilians is on the riseUnder international law, it's a war crime to target civilians in a war zone. That hasn't halted the tactic in Syria, where hundreds of civilians have died in attacks such as one Sunday at a bakery in Halfaya in a rebel stronghold.
John Kerry as secretary of State: expect a more traditional styleSecretary of State Hillary Clinton, with her late-night dancing and talks with children, was known for her 'people to people' style. John Kerry is expected to adopt a more traditional version of diplomacy.
Obama chooses John Kerry for secretary of State. How might he do?President Obama is expected on Friday to name Sen. John Kerry to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He'd come with his own pet issues 鈥� as well as a reputation as a patient negotiator.
Stinging Benghazi report leads to three resignationsAn independent panel faults two State Department offices for the security shortcomings that contributed to the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11.
For newly recognized Syrian rebel coalition, a first dispute with USIn Morocco, the 'Friends of Syria' recognized the new rebel coalition. But the day was marred by reports of Scud fire by the Assad regime and by a dispute with the US over designating a group as terrorist.聽- In human rights spat, Russia poised to target US adoptive parentsAfter the US Congress approved a bill to punish Russian officials involved in human rights abuses, Moscow is set to blacklist Americans accused of violating Russians' rights 鈥� including US parents accused of abusing adoptive children from Russia.
US draws line in Syria: aligns with moderate rebels, labels others terroristsOn the verge of formally recognizing a rebel coalition as representing the Syrian people, the US designated the al-Nusra Front as a terrorist organization that is an arm of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
FocusWhich world hot spots will clamor for Obama's attention in second term?Obama is unequivocal about his intent to refocus on US domestic issues during his second term. But the world is not likely to cooperate. Here are seven foreign-policy challenges already bearing down on him.
Bill Clinton: US ambassador to Ireland? Rumors catch fire.Bill Clinton loves Ireland, and Ireland loves him, but fresh Beltway rumors are suggesting that he might even like to be the US ambassador to the Emerald Isle. Is Dublin big enough for Bill?
Syria chemical weapons scare: Is Assad threatening to use them, or lose them?A report suggests that Syria has ramped up activity at chemical-weapons sites. But President Bashar al-Assad might simply be sending a message to the international community.
Palestinians win upgrade to 'state ' at UN. What does that change?The UN General Assembly's 138-to-9 vote officially put 'Palestine' together with 'state' for the first time. But it appeared to offer little practical change. Even Palestinians called it part of a 'process.'
Palestinians push for elevated UN status: Did Gaza conflict help?Some nations are warming to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's bid for enhanced UN status. After the Gaza conflict, they see the moderate Abbas as a counterweight to Hamas.
Susan Rice: why GOP opposition to her is no longer white-hotKey GOP voices including Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham have tempered their rhetoric about Ambassador Susan Rice, who could be nominated as a possible secretary of State.
Gaza cease-fire: Clinton role shows US still dominant in tough neighborhoodAfter two days of shuttle diplomacy, Hillary Clinton and Egypt's foreign minister announced a cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel. Despite its weakened influence in the Middle East, the US is still the dominant diplomatic force.
Conflict in Gaza: Why is US taking a back seat?In the effort to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the US has not taken a front-line role. Partly, that's President Obama's style, partly it's because of new realities.
Obama's Myanmar speech sends message to North KoreaBarack Obama on Monday became the first US president to visit Myanmar, showing other Asian nations 鈥� such as North Korea 鈥� that America is willing to reach out to help reforms.