Jonathan Tepperman says Thailand's political compromises provide a good example for divided countries like Egypt, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

"A president of the United States cannot say something crosses a red line and then go on conducting business as usual," writes Richard N. Haass.

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: Trade officials debate the Trans-Pacific Partnership; Afghan president Hamid Karzai visits Pakistan; the UN Security Council reviews several missions; and the U.S. Open tennis tournament begins.

Max Boot argues that suspending military assistance would likely have little effect on the Egyptian generals' actions, but it would give the U.S. more credibility on the subject of human rights.

"The illusory belief of America's ability" to effect foreign events leads to the assumption that "whenever or wherever things go wrong elsewhere on earth, it must be America's fault," according to Micah Zenko.

"World-weary exhaustion in Washington seems to be taking even energetic diplomatic engagement off the table," reports Gayle Tzemach-Lemmon.

Charles Kupchan explores the recent developments in U.S.-Russian relations, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin is motivated more by spite towards Washington than strategic interests.

Elliott Abrams examines the Obama presidency.

Growing splits between Islamists and secularists in Egypt augur a sustained period of confrontation and unrest, says expert Jon B. Alterman.

Since the 1953 death of Saudi Arabia's eponymous founder, King Abdul-Aziz bin Saud, the country has been ruled by his sons. There will eventually be a shift in power to the next generation, but despite—or perhaps because of—the turmoil spreading across the region, that shift does not appear imminent.

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"It seems now that [Egypt's] main relevance in regional and global affairs is as a potential source of trouble. Its combination of instability, corruption and ineptitude makes Egypt fertile soil for radicalism and Islamist militancy. And Washington should treat it as such. It should stop pretending Egypt is an important player in Arab affairs, and pay more attention to countries that are."

Les Gelb writes, "the Obama team, on a private basis, has to help the military and the moderates frame a viable plan and process for establishing democracy in Egypt, and start implementing it as soon as possible."

"The Islamic Republic may not be the radical actor it was in the 1980s, but neither is it a state ruled by modest men who happen to drape themselves in clerical garb," writes Ray Takeyh

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: Egypt remains in a state of emergency; Japan and Russia hold talks over territorial disputes; and Al Jazeera America makes its debut.

The promise of a democratic Egypt faces its starkest challenge yet as a military crackdown on Islamist protestors threatens to unhinge the transition process. This Issue Guide provides background and analysis.

Ed Husain calls for ousted Egyptian president Morsi's resignation.

Benn Steil takes a critical look at the longstanding efforts of former IMF historian James Boughton to disparage the evidence that the Fund's founding architect, FDR Treasury official Harry Dexter White, engaged in espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union.

President Barack Obama gave this statement on August 15, 2013, regarding the violent clashes in Egypt between protestors that support Mohammed Morsi and the security forces that replaced him.

Ed Husain answers the question "is this the end of the Arab Spring?"

Steven Cook presents a revisionist account of Egypt's uprising and argues that a robust regime change has actually never taken place, as solidified by the recent repression of Muslim Brotherhood opposition forces.