With envoy George Mitchell's departure, U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict changes, from the quest for an end of the conflict to the search for a strategy to manage the current crisis, says CFR's Robert Danin.

In the next round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, underway now, the two sides face difficult diplomatic issues but also a chance to jumpstart engagement on military and cybersecurity matters, writes CFR's Elizabeth Economy.

The Obama administration will argue its operation against Osama bin Laden in Pakistan observed both U.S. and international law, and it appears any challenges will be mute, writes CFR's John Bellinger.

Americans and Pakistanis have good reasons for mutual mistrust, and the killing of bin Laden by U.S. troops on Pakistani soil is likely to exacerbate that rather than lead to increased cooperation, says CFR's Daniel Markey.

Most Arabs are eager to embrace open political systems, but in the aftermath of bin Laden's death, his sympathizers could try to fill a vacuum of weak leadership in places like Yemen, and even Syria and Libya, says CFR's Steven A. Cook.

Osama bin Laden's death strikes a blow at al-Qaeda but could undermine U.S. effort in Afghanistan, which would be a mistake, says CFR's Max Boot.

The mixed reactions in the Mideast to Osama bin Laden's killing by U.S. forces highlights a region in flux and a terror movement symbolically, but not overwhelmingly, weakened, writes CFR's Robert Danin.

Bin Laden's death dealt a blow to al-Qaeda, but the events of this year have shown the Arab masses have emphatically rejected the terror group's ideology as they seek democratic reforms, writes CFR's Ray Takeyh.

The U.S.-engineered killing of Osama bin Laden sends encouraging signals, but the threat of terrorism, enabled by Pakistan, persists, writes CFR's Richard N. Haass.

President Obama's decision to make Leon Panetta head of the Pentagon and Gen. David Petraeus head of the CIA shows the growing influence of the intelligence agency and its integration with the military, says CFR's Micah Zenko.

A shaky deal to transfer power from Yemen's President Saleh brokered by the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council signals the emergence of the group as an active player in the region, says CFR's Thomas Lippman, even if the deal ultimately fails.

President Obama's round of speeches on reducing the deficit should put more emphasis on restoring U.S. competitiveness and less on the sacrifices rich Americans must make to pay down the country's debts, says CFR's Amity Shlaes.

On the anniversary of the largest oil spill in U.S. history, CFR's Michael Levi says the most surprising thing is how marginal its impact on the energy debate has been.

The apparent victory of incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria's presidential elections brings charges of fraud and ballot stuffing, similar to past flawed polls, writes CFR's John Campbell. It also deepens concerns about heightened rifts between Christians and Muslims.

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 deal to avert a government shutdown may provide some desperately needed momentum for U.S. political leaders to take on the country's debt and deficit crisis and restore its global fiscal reputation, writes CFR's Sebastian Mallaby.

Gbagbo's arrest in Ivory Coast vindicates the results of the Ivorian elections and sets a positive precedent for other African states, says CFR's John Campbell. However, Alassane Ouattara must deal with hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and determine how to govern a severely divided country.

The mounting budget battle in Washington and looming federal debt limit raises concerns about the ability of U.S. lawmakers to tackle the country's enormous deficit and debt, writes CFR's James Lindsay.

President Obama's new tack on boosting oil and gas production marks a welcome strategy shift but he still must flesh out details while facing obstacles from the left and right, says CFR's Michael A. Levi.

President Obama has staked a proper middle course on military intervention in Libya, boosted enormously by burden sharing with coalition allies, says CFR's Stewart Patrick.