As partisan wrangling over the U.S. debt ceiling continues in Washington, fears are mounting that a default could trigger another global economic crisis. This guide offers timely analysis on the global implications of the U.S. debt crisis.

Britain's phone-hacking scandal is raising questions about the power and reach of Rupert Murdoch's media empire. For Columbia University's Nicholas Lemann, the episode proves the value of expanding public media.

Defense-spending cuts should be a big part of a deficit reduction deal, says CFR's Richard Betts, with the Pentagon pursuing a budget that reflects a reduced threat environment and limits the production of expensive, state-of-the-art equipment.

The Pentagon's new strategy for operating in cyberspace breaks little ground and offers few specifics, says CFR's Adam Segal. While the last six months have been busy for U.S. cybersecurity policy, he cautions that "speed is not a measure of efficacy."

With the deadline looming for resolving the U.S. debt standoff, concern is rising among international creditors and markets about the largest economy and home of the world's reserve currency.

The International Monetary Fund, both criticized and lauded for its efforts to promote financial stability, finds itself again in the forefront of global economic crisis management. This Backgrounder examines the Fund's history and role.

Is U.S. involvement in Afghanistan a mission to build a stable Afghan state or eliminate the al-Qaeda threat? As a decision nears on U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, lawmakers are making new calls for clarity, adding to the debate over the war's endgame.

U.S. drone strikes and "kill/capture" missions against al-Qaeda operatives, particularly in Pakistan and Yemen, have gained new attention and notoriety this spring. Four experts debate the legality and efficacy of the controversial counterterrorism strategy.

Foreign governments, non-state actors, and criminal networks are targeting the digital networks of the United States with increasing frequency and sophistication. U.S. cybersecurity has made progress, but relies heavily on the private sector to secure infrastructure critical to national security.

Osama bin Laden's death has raised pointed questions over the legitimacy of Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts and the viability of its relationship with the United States. Four experts discuss whether, and on what terms, the United States should continue aiding Pakistan.

The arrest of IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges of sexual assault could hamper the fund's short-term ability to help manage the eurozone crisis but is not likely to harm the IMF over the long term, says CFR's Steven Dunaway.

Revelations about Osama bin Laden's plans to attack targets in the United States raises questions about his role in al-Qaeda and the impact his death will have on the idea of global jihad.

What are the implications for U.S. global competitiveness of running large budget deficits, and what should be done to reign in the fiscal shortfall? Five experts provide their take on the risks and recommend solutions.

President Obama is right to balance U.S. national interests with democracy promotion in dealing with the Middle East, intervening in select cases and standing behind democracy advocates in others, says expert Larry Diamond.

How can the United States improve its aging infrastructure to maintain its global economic competitiveness? Four experts offer their suggestions and discuss the implications of inaction.

The repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy in December 2010 has led some Ivy League universities to reconsider a campus homecoming for ROTC after four decades of exile.

The U.S. Navy's maritime strategy, in which humanitarian missions play a prominent role, is based on a debatable assumption that credible enemies have largely disappeared and that competition of the seas is something of the past, says defense expert Seth Cropsey.

The Muslim community has played an integral role in U.S. counterterrorism efforts, and congressional hearings on radicalization of Muslims risk polarizing a considerable asset for law enforcement, says expert Mark Fallon.

With his new executive order on Guantanamo, President Obama acknowledges that the controversial detention center will remain open for some time, says CFR's Matthew Waxman, but provides improved protections and review processes.