Council on Foreign Relations

Daniel Markey offers some advice for the next U.S. special envoy to South Asia.

Federiga Bindi, Charles Kupchan, Justin Vaisse write that, "Sarkozy offered a brand of EU leadership that works, reviving the Union...the Obama administration should recognize this for what it is - the stirrings of the more capable and collective European partner that the United States so sorely needs."

Richard N. Haass discusses Iran's nuclear program and the Obama administration's options for diplomacy.

Michael Gerson writes that Obama "will require sober supporters--and loyal critics--to get through challenges" in 2009.

Walter Russell Mead calls for the Obama administration to engage with both the Israelis and Palestinians more deeply than past U.S. administrations.

Richard Haass and Martin Indyk argue that Obama "can capitalise on new opportunities rather than be overwhelmed by old realities in this critical and troubled region."

Richard Haass writes that "Americans must accept China's rise. There's no guarantee we could prevent it anyway, and the attempt would only worsen the rivalry."

Michael Gerson writes that "there is a lesson here for Barack Obama's administration: Sometimes power must be lightly held to be effectively employed."

Noah Feldman writes that "the time for change is now, lest Afghanistan become the quagmire that Iraq was once said to be."

Shannon K. O'Neil and Sebastian Chaskel write that "the U.S. can improve Colombia's human rights situation by bolstering economic opportunities through the FTA."

Michael Gerson writes that "administration officials believe they have taken precautions that will encourage Iraqi nationalism over a destructive pan-Shiism."

Scott Snyder  writes that "on the list of potential crises that the Obama administration will inherit come January 20th will be the task of achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."

Daniel Markey writes that "the new Obama team will need to step forward quickly to determine whether Karzai is a minimally capable partner."

Vali Nasr argues that U.S. diplomacy can turn Tehran against Russia.

Michael J. Gerson writes that "Predicting the ideal combination of background, skills and values in a successful president--or VP--is no easy task."

Richard N. Haass writes that "understanding how a candidate thinks about the world gives a better sense of how he is likely to react to both opportunity and crisis."

Daniel Senor focuses on Sen. Joseph Biden's plan for segregation of Iraq along ethnic and sectarian lines.