Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellows Richard Betts and Max Boot join Staff Writer Jonathan Masters in a discussion of the Department of Defense's recent strategic review, military spending, and U.S. defense strategy.

The Pentagon's new strategic review signals a shift toward the Asia-Pacific region and calls for a leaner fighting force at a time when the United States must exercise fiscal restraint.

The payroll tax debate caps a year of legislative battles that call into question the ability of U.S. lawmakers to pass crucial long-term fiscal reforms in 2012.

Arab states in the throes of political change must embrace economic policies that combat cronyism, spur private sector growth, and ensure safeguards for the poor, says the World Bank's Manuela Ferro.

As the U.S. military formally ends operations in Iraq, four top expert voices in the debate on the war differ over whether it merited the cost in blood, treasure, and U.S. credibility.

One year since the eruption of protests convulsed the Arab world, countries in the region continue to endure the pangs of revolution--some further along the road to democracy than others.

The failure of the bipartisan supercommittee adds to a pattern of legislative gridlock that has left critics and international investors doubting Congress's ability to address the nation's looming fiscal challenges.

Despite the failure of a supercommittee deficit deal, budget expert Peter Orszag says there will still be opportunity for policies, such as more economic stimulus and cutting healthcare costs, to avert a U.S. fiscal crisis.

The Arab League's decision to suspend Syria if it fails to end its violence must be followed by economic and political sanctions, including trade and oil embargoes, say analysts.

New Prime Minister Lucas Papademos faces daunting challenges to rescue Greece's economy. A fiscal collapse, analysts say, will also raise questions over the eurozone's ability to manage debt crises in other struggling European economies.

President Obama vowed in January 2009 to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. Two years later, the White House continues to face challenges to that promise, leaving critics to suggest the facility will remain open for the foreseeable future.

Lawmakers are considering sharp cuts to defense spending as part of mandated deficit-reduction efforts. This Backgrounder discusses the effects of such major cuts and implications for U.S. military strategy.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has become the most dangerous al-Qaeda affiliate and is attempting to exploit the ongoing political unrest in Yemen. This Backgrounder profiles the group and looks at U.S. counterterrorism operations against its members.

Despite Syria's agreement to an Arab League-brokered peace deal, the Assad regime's continued repression of protests could lead to a civil war in the country and greater regional upheaval, say experts.

This CFR Issue Guide provides expert analysis and essential background on some of the central issues facing Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Yemen, as the Arab Spring enters a critical new phase.

As the Internet continues to evolve as a medium for social and economic exchange, four experts suggest ways for the United States to improve its cyber competitiveness in the global marketplace.

U.S. policymakers tout the death of radical Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki as a victory for counterterrorism operations, but the episode highlights controversial aspects of the expanding targeted killing policy.

Pakistan has emerged as a terrorist sanctuary for some of the world's most violent groups, including al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and homegrown militants, that threaten the stability of Pakistan as well as the region.

This CFR Issue Guide provides expert analysis and essential background on the central questions facing U.S. policymakers ten years after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Within days of the 9/11 attacks, Congress authorized U.S. military and intelligence agencies to kill and detain terrorists. It is time to revise that authority on matters like detentions and drone attacks, says CFR's John B. Bellinger III.