President Obama's competing deficit-cutting plan stimulates a crucial debate with Republicans that will have major consequences for U.S. and global growth, but no compromise appears imminent, says CFR's James Lindsay.

The December 2010 Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review emphasized, among other things, the importance of smart and coordinated foreign assistance efforts, and a whole of government approach to achieving U.S. foreign policy goals. NGOs, private sector companies, and others have traditionally worked alongside government to support U.S. foreign policy efforts that align to their own interests; from immediate responses to humanitarian disasters, to translating large scale economic development initiatives into local level implementation, to solving regional and global issues from malaria and HIV prevention, to environmental sustainability. Where public sector and private sector interests and objectives intersect, leveraging resources and improving collaboration among stakeholders can lead to positive outcomes-as well as challenges. How have government, civil society organizations, and the private sector coordinated in areas of mutual interest? What can government do to encourage a "beyond whole of government" approach to U.S. foreign policy?

As President Barack Obama nears the halfway point in his four-year term, PolitiFact.com compiled a tally of campaign promises and found that he kept many more vows than he broke. Writing for Reuters, Alister Bull, highlights the larger promises.

Writing for the National Journal, four expert environmental bloggers outline what issues they expect President Obama to discuss, and what issues he should discuss.

In this New York Times Op-Ed, Paul Krugman argues that it is a misdiagnosis to say that America's economic problem is a lack of competitiveness

This National Public Radio article argues that the President's State of the Union Address will focus on job creation, while also extending an olive branch to the business community.

The Washington Post recently asked business leaders, policy experts and others to name an issue that President Obama should include in his Jan. 25 State of the Union address.

Mark Trumbull of the Christian Science Monitor believes that the speed of government spending cuts are likely to be major point of departure between Obama, who gives the State of the Union address on Tuesday, and congressional Republicans.

The New York Time's Michael Shear reports a number of policy suggestions from a variety of interest groups for President Obama's upcoming State of the Union Address.

Experts examine the effects of the current Congressional stalemate, minimal economic growth, and the increasing debt burden on U.S. foreign policy in the Obama administration.

On the occasion of its 90th anniversary, CFR will examine through a series of meetings and other projects how policies at home will directly influence the economic and military strength of the United States and its ability to act in the world.

Experts examine the effects of the current Congressional stalemate, minimal economic growth, and the increasing debt burden on U.S. foreign policy in the Obama administration.

On the occasion of its 90th anniversary, CFR will examine through a series of meetings and other projects how policies at home will directly influence the economic and military strength of the United States and its ability to act in the world.

The new Congress, featuring a GOP-controlled House and a Democratic-led Senate, is likely to be dominated by partisan squabbles over debts and deficits, sidelining foreign policy, says CFR's James Lindsay.

The Obama administration's compromise tax deal with Senate Republicans highlights ongoing debate about potential tradeoffs between tackling U.S. debt and bolstering the U.S. economic recovery.

In the Washington Post, Fareed Zakaria criticises the latest tax compromise for lacking a balanced, long-term solution to skyrocketing deficits, deriding the current trend towards 'mañana economics', and compares it to China's investment in sustainable growth.

Michael A. Levi discusses the New START treaty.

The bipartisan deficit reduction plan stresses the need to tighten U.S. foreign policy priorities, even if U.S. allies fail to pick up the slack, says expert Michael Mandelbaum.

John B. Bellinger III argues that the 112th Congress must update and clarify the legal authority for U.S. military and intelligence agencies to kill and detain terrorists who threaten the United States.

Kay King says, "The inability of the U.S. Congress to address tough problems, both domestic and international, has serious national security consequences."

Richard N. Haass says that while foreign policy did not materially affect the mid-term elections, the results will influence U.S. foreign policy in inconsistent and even surprising ways.

Dana H. Allin and Steven Simon argue that while the "tea party" agenda in the midterm election focused largely on domestic issues, Republican gains in Congress fueled by the movement will have profound foreign policy consequences.