All Foreign Policy
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.
Progress WatchUS sees progress and touts 'heroes' in fight against slavery worldwideMore countries are taking modern-day slavery seriously and more people are being prosecuted, says the annual State Department report on Trafficking in Persons.
Iran nuclear talks: New plan barely masks failureA 'tense' and 'tough' round of Iran nuclear talks ends in Moscow without a compromise, but fearing the fallout from a collapse in negotiations, world powers set a new round for July.
Obama will have hands full with prickly Putin at G20 summitPresident Obama will sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit Monday. Putin has already shown that he's in no mood to kowtow to the US.
If Russia is sending attack helicopters to Syria, should US arm rebels?When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accused Russia of sending attack helicopters to Syria, she might have ratcheted up the pressure not only on Russia, but on the US, too.聽
US says Russian arms kill Syrians 'hourly' as West turns up pressureUS ratchets up its charges even as Russia says it's supplying only defensive weapons. Britain and France join a chorus that appears to be pressing Moscow to give up on Syria's Assad.
Rock star no more: why global opinion of Obama has deflatedA poll of global opinion finds that Obama's popularity has fallen 鈥� apparently because of disapproval of his drone-strike campaign. The drop in Arab countries is worse than in Europe.聽
Clinton accuses Russia of sending attack helicopters to Syria, escalating warHillary Clinton says the US has information that a delivery of Russian attack helicopters to Syria is imminent, saying 'such weapons will escalate the conflict quite dramatically.'
Grim toll on Syrian children: UN report cites torture, executionThe UN's annual report on children and armed conflict notes that children in war zones are never exempt from violence, but that the plight of Syrian children is especially shocking.
US halts talks with Pakistan on supply routes. Could ties get any worse?A US negotiating team will leave Pakistan without an agreement on the routes, the Pentagon says. Both sides stand to gain from a deal, but 'the over-all crisis in the relationship won out.'
Hubris from Ahmadinejad: prelude to compromise on Iran nuclear program?'If Iran wants to build an atomic weapon ... no one will be able to prevent it,' President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday. Here are some interpretations of what that boast really means, as talks near on the Iran nuclear program.
Ousting Syria's Assad: Can UN get Russia on board?UN envoy on Syria Kofi Annan unveiled a new plan to get all five permanent Security Council members to back the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. Russia has begun to hint that it may consider it.
US calls for broader international sanctions on SyriaStepped up diplomatic activity may further antagonize Russia and China, who issued a statement on Wednesday opposing any outside efforts to promote regime change in Syria.
Drone strikes: Should US capture, and not kill, Al Qaeda leaders?The White House hailed the killing of Abu Yahya al-Libi as bringing Al Qaeda 'closer to its demise than ever.' But some say the drone strike policy is squandering sources of valuable intelligence.
US expels Syrian envoy: a clear message whose impact is dubiousJoining with its Western allies, the US ordered Syria's top diplomat in Washington to leave the country to protest a massacre of civilians that included executions.