Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
In contrast to Kyoto—which tries to construct a comprehensive global architecture all at once—the United States should proceed step by step, starting with domestic action and then moving outward, beginning with like-minded states. It should initially address fewer greenhouse gases and use relatively simple procedures.
U.S.-Russia relations lack substance, which has a negative effect on Russia’s political ego, amplifying nostalgia for the past and fears of irrelevance and neglect. The key to more substantial relations is to achieve one high-profile example of cooperative success to catalyze faith in the rewards of cooperation.
A major reason why the United States was so unprepared for the terrorist attacks of September 11 is that national threat assessments produced over the past few years have consistently pointed policy-makers in the wrong direction. Partisan political agendas distorted these assessments, and fundamentally misled and misdirected national security resources.
As the birthplace of the Internet, the United States has grown accustomed to its role as the world's leading information aggregator and disseminator. Many have extolled America's ability to wield not only hard military power but soft power, the less easily quantifiable ability to influence, persuade and shape opinion through culture, diplomacy, and diffuse information flows.
In almost all realms of international politics, the United States faces a new, more complex set of political, economic, and security, challenges after September 11th. U.S.-Russian relations offer one bright counter to this otherwise gloomier international picture.
Michael Swaine, Senior Associate and Co-Director of the Carnegie Endowment's China Program presents a special briefing examining domestic change inside Taiwan.
The roots of Argentina's recent crisis go well beyond the current debate about the failings of a particular economic policy or multilateral institution. The principal fault for Argentina's woes lies squarely with the country's political and economic elite.
What next in the war on terrorism? The mission in Afghanistan is not over and al Qaeda is not finished. But this does not preclude dealing with Iraq. How we act will decisively affect our future security and will shape the emerging world order. Either it will be conducive to our liberal democratic principles or will be one where tyrants can hold democracy and international security hostage.
Marina Ottaway was joined by Shibley Telhami, Nawaf Obaid, and Mamoun Fandy to discuss challenges in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Terrorism's deep roots in the Middle East, and the nationalities of those involved in the recent attacks, have drawn even greater attention to the region.