The brutality of the Qaddafi regime and the subsequent debate over a no-fly zone has again spotlighted the UN's "Responsibility to Protect" doctrine. Using it for military intervention remains highly contended, but even humanitarian intervention is resisted by countries who see it as a threat to sovereignty.

The scramble for energy alternatives has brought new focus on nuclear power in the United States, but its revival faces political and practical obstacles.

Violent acts by homegrown militant extremists in the U.S. have declined, but "lone wolf" attacks are on the rise. The post-9/11 legal and political landscape poses new challenges to law enforcement authorities seeking to prevent such attacks.

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill spotlights the growth of deepwater drilling and the challenges of balancing strong environmental regulation with efforts to expand U.S. domestic oil production.

New screening measures at U.S. airports are being called overly intrusive by some passengers and civil rights groups. National security experts advise using a system that relies more on intelligence, behavioral profiling, and empowering passengers.

Experts say Islamic law, or sharia, holds wide appeal for Muslim populations in many countries and is beginning to spread via democratic means, but it is also being used as a tool of Islamic militancy and extremism.

A new arms control agreement with Russia has met political opposition in the U.S. Senate, and some analysts believe its fate is tied to the outcome of the 2010 midterm elections. This Backgrounder examines the Senate debate.

A proposed groundbreaking nuclear deal between the United States and India is raising questions and concern in both countries.

This series of Backgrounders examines foreign policy issues in light of the 2010 midterm elections.

The war in Afghanistan hasn't been a major campaign issue even as public support for it has waned. This Backgrounder examines political backing for the war.

The economic climate and border security concerns have fueled the immigration debate in the U.S. congressional elections. This Backgrounder examines races where immigration is playing a role and the potential for reform legislation in the next Congress.

With U.S. unemployment and high debt threatening Americans at home and U.S. power abroad, this Backgrounder looks at congressional candidates' difficulty in articulating policies that balance job creation and debt reduction.

A possible transfer of political power in the congressional midterm elections could doom short-term chances for a comprehensive climate bill. But experts say climate issues could still be addressed through bills focused on clean energy.

Experts say instability in south Sudan should be looked at in tandem with the crisis in Darfur, and some call for addressing Sudan's problems in a more unified way to help forestall an escalation of violence.

An increase in terror incidents involving Islamic radicals who are U.S. citizens is vexing law enforcement officials and posing new questions about the roots of their radicalization.

With U.S. economic recovery still slow, trade policy looms as a factor in the congressional midterm races. This Backgrounder explores the consequences for trade based on the outcome of the Democratic-Republican electoral struggle.

Summaries and links to the seminal United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions for the post-colonial period, focusing on those related to the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East.

A profile of the UN's senior leadership position--the organization's secretary-general. What tasks are incumbent on the official, and how have past secretary-generals interpreted the role?

Gross domestic product has been the dominant measure of economic strength for decades, but some experts question whether the metric alone is a sufficient tool for measuring overall societal wellbeing.

The growth and strengthening of Afghanistan's domestic security forces is seen as key to an eventual U.S. exit, but some analysts caution that progress will remain slow.