Stephen W. Preston, General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency, gave these remarks on "CIA and the Rule of Law" at Harvard Law School on April 10, 2012.

"Flanked by the coca-producing countries of the Andes and the world's leading consumer of illegal drugs—the United States—Central America is a strategic choke point for illicit trade," writes Michael Shifter, president of Inter-American Dialogue, in a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Special Report, Countering Criminal Violence in Central America.

News of planned military trials for five 9/11 suspects underscores the Obama administration's need to more forcefully defend the necessity of military tribunals if they are to have legitimacy at home and abroad, says CFR's Matthew Waxman.

Jagdish Bhagwati criticizes President Obama for nominating Jim Yong Kim to the World Bank presidency over candidates who would pursue pro-reform, pro-growth policies.

Charles A. Kupchan argues that the Atlantic alliance is remarkably resilient, but it must now face the urgent challenge of economic and political weakness that has descended upon the West.

President Obama signed executive order 13581 blocking the property of certain transnational criminal organizations on July 25, 2011.

This week's Arab League Summit in Baghdad presents questions about the organization's role in a changed Middle East, the durability of Assad's regime in Syria, and Iraq's security and regional ties, says CFR's Ned Parker.

Jerome A. Cohen discusses Bo Xilai, criminal justice, and China's leadership.

Obama's targeted drone strikes--even on Americans--aren't illegal, writes Jack Goldsmith for Foreign Policy. In fact, he writes, there's a solid legal foundation and a number of checks and balances upholding his right to take out terrorists.

Thierry de Montbrial, Yasushi Kudo, and Igor Yurgens, the heads of three major international policy institutions, give French, Japanese, and Russian perspectives on how the world views the United States.

Captain Melissa M. Bert, USCG saysnow is the time for the Obama administration to advance a comprehensive Arctic strategy that addresses both governance and acquisition requirements, or it risks further harm to the economic and national security of the United States.

For all its goodwill, Invisible Children's "Kony 2012" film is dangerous propaganda, pure and simple, writes David Rieff at Foreign Policy. It's not a call to make a notorious celebrity out of Joseph Kony, he writes--it's a call to war.

Richard Haass leads the inaugural meeting of the Council of Councils, a network of policy institutes from around the world looking to discuss and identify global challenges as well as global opportunities.

Drawing on the lessons of the Information Technology Agreement, Matthew Slaughter calls for the elimination of international trade and investment barriers in energy industries.

Robert Hormats, Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment at the US Department of State, in a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations points out his two important priorities--economic challenges of the Middle East and North Africa and the effort to bring China into the global system.

Rajiv Shah of the USAID talks about how foreign assistance can help reach out to vulnerable populations and serve them with American technology, spirit, and willingness to transform their lives.

Targeted killings have become a central component of U.S. counterterrorism operations around the globe. Despite pointed criticism over transparency and accountability issues, analysts say the controversial practice seems likely to expand in the future.

NATO's operation in Libya has rightly been hailed as a model intervention.

The United States and Republic of Korea should build on their nascent cooperation in international development to advance a host of common interests.

As the United Nations faces increasing pressure to end violence in Syria and resolve tensions with Iran over its nuclear program, former senior U.S. official William H. Luers discusses challenges in UN diplomacy and prospects for intervention.