Few international challenges pose as many complicated questions as the issue of piracy off the Somali coast. NATO's capture and subsequent release of pirates for legal reasons demonstrated the difficulties for responses by an international force. Citing sharia law, the Somali government recently called for the death penalty for pirates, yet the government lacks territorial control and the ability to bring pirates to justice. While the United States has called for an end to piracy and for the seizure of assets, questions about enforcement and the role of U.S. foreign policy towards Somalia add to the quandary of what exactly the international community can do to protect civilians and important maritime routes. Why has piracy flourished off the Somali coast and what are future trends? How, if at all, can the Somali government be engaged in solutions? What has been the impact of U.S. foreign policy on the situation? What role, if any, can or should the private sector play in addressing piracy? Join Bronwyn Bruton and Jeroen Meijer in discussing the causes of piracy in the region and examining the options before the Obama administration and the international community going forward.

The "Window on Washington" Conference Call series will examine current international issues in the nation's capital and what they mean for business. The calls will cover Congress, the administration, and other major players in Washington, drawing speakers from not only these groups, but also journalists and others who know the issues and Washington better than anyone else. Please join us in this series of calls to look at issues from Washington's perspective.

As the U.S. economy officially slips into recession in the final weeks of the Bush administration and debate over how to stabilize the economy continues, the Treasury Department continues to develop policies to stabilize the financial system and support the flow of credit to businesses and consumers. Join Assistant Secretary Neel Kashkari in discussing the implementation of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the Troubled Asset Recovery Program (TARP).

Please join Clay Lowery, assistant secretary for international affairs, in discussing the U.S. and foreign approaches to the global financial crisis and expectations for Saturday's G20 Summit.

With the U.S. financial system in crisis and a slowing economy, trade has risen in importance in America's long term economic position in the world. However, public anxieties about globalization and trade, the introduction of new industries requiring fresh skills, and the continued rise of China and India all present challenges to America's status as the global economic leader and its ability to compete in the changing global environment. Recently, Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky and other former U.S. Trade Representatives offered their perspectives on the future of U.S. trade policy and competitiveness to the Senate Finance Committee in response to these challenges. Join Ambassador Barshefsky in discussing a re-focused U.S. trade policy and corresponding mechanisms, and emphasis on national competitiveness, as well as Congressional reactions.

While a major substantive agreement on climate change is not expected at the G8 Summit, the outcomes of it and the concurrent Major Economies Meeting will shed light on the direction of future global negotiations, and will influence policy discussions in the U.S. Despite the demise of the Boxer-Lieberman-Warner bill, progress on U.S. climate change policy is far from over; discussion and movement will continue throughout the Conventions and November elections. What are the different domestic U.S. proposals and how might they be affected by more global discussions? Where do the players on the Hill and from the Administration stand? How might the agenda change with any major shifts in the Congressional makeup? Join Robert Dillon and Michael Levi in discussing next steps in the climate change debate and the impact of domestic politics.

An Independent Task Force "Confronting Climate Change: A Strategy for U.S. Foreign Policy" can be viewed and downloaded here.

The "Window on Washington" Conference Call series will examine current international issues in the nation's capital and what they mean for business. The calls will cover Congress, the administration, and other major players in Washington, drawing speakers from not only these groups, but also journalists and others who know the issues and Washington better than anyone else. Please join us in this series of calls to look at issues from Washington's perspective.