Daniel Erikson, director of Caribbean programs at the Inter-American Dialogue, says that expectations of change in U.S.-Cuba policy under Barack Obama's administration might be overly optimistic.

On paper Iraq's justice system appears sound, but Michael Wahid Hanna of The Century Foundation says "major systemic and structural problems" plague Iraq's legal framework.

From the January/February 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs: the next national security advisor.

From the January/February 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs: A geopolitical setback for the West.

A tribal reconciliation strategy could help counter Taliban influence in Afghanistan in the short term, a U.S. expert says. But if the process is not handled carefully, he says, it could seed deeper unrest down the road.

Chong-Pin Lin, Taiwan's former deputy defense minister, says Beijing has softened its approach toward Taiwan in recent times, and it is economic cooperation that dictates China-Taiwan relations today.

Anthony Gambino, an expert on the Democratic Republic of Congo, discusses the recent escalation in conflict in eastern Congo and the necessity of training a professional Congolese army.

From the November/December 2008 issue of Foreign Affairs: How illusion and greed fan the food crisis.

Rebecca Feeley, a researcher for the ENOUGH Project based in eastern Congo, discusses continuing conflict in the country and the motives of its most powerful rebel group.

Africa expert Princeton Lyman discusses current political upheaval in South Africa and the outlook for the country's economy.

Al Breach, an analyst focusing on Russian markets, discusses factors contributing to steep recent losses for Russian equities.

Bridget Welsh, an expert on Malaysia, says the country's prime minister has alienated minorities and failed to implement reforms and the country's position in the world has declined under his leadership.

Bing West, a correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly and a former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, says fighting in Iraq is largely over and the war is nearly won.

CFR's Benn Steil analyzes the financial rescue plan under debate on Capitol Hill and suggests adjustments that he says would make it more effective and less risky for the federal government.

CFR's Edward Alden says a flawed U.S. approach to tightening its borders after the 9/11 terrorist attacks has harmed the country's once-admired immigration image.

Georgian Vice Prime Minister Georgi Baramidze says Western support is vital for sustaining his country's economy and democracy after the loss of two separatist areas in a war with Russia.

Jamie Ekern of CFR's Center for Preventive Action discusses her observations of the Angolan parliamentary elections from Luanda.

The Democratic congresswoman from New Hampshire and member of the House Armed Services Committee speaks from the Democratic National Convention about foreign policy challenges facing the United States.

Gene Sperling, director of CFR's Center for Universal Education, discusses how Kenya's new government is approaching education policy.

Michael Clemens of the Center for Global Development says that the migration of skilled workers is not to blame for Africa's weak health systems.