The abolition of nuclear weapons is rising on the international agenda, made clear in statements by U.S. presidential candidates, British and Indian leaders, and a campaign led by former U.S. officials. George Perkovich and Sir Michael Quinlan explore whether and how the elimination of all nuclear arsenals could be verified and enforced.
The rise of China as a major economic, cultural, and military force in has fundamentally altered the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. Doug Paal from the Carnegie Endowment, and Geoffry Barret from the European Commission, discussed how the U.S. and the EU should respond to this new dynamic.
The next president of the United States will inherit the challenge of persuading the Pakistani leadership that it needs to continue prosecuting an unpopular, but necessary, war. Two fundamental changes need to be made by the next administration - it will have to strengthen the civilian government in Islamabad, while still maintaining a cooperative relationship with the Pakistani military.
President Bush’s announcement that 8,000 troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by February 2009 reflects the extreme fragility of the current situation, and a recognition that the gains made to date could quickly unravel. Jessica Mathews discusses the reasons for and consequences of the withdrawal timetable.
The process of political evolution towards democracy needs to be supported regardless of the leaders it produces. The next U.S. president must pursue a balanced strategy toward Pakistan that simultaneously strengthens the civilian government—the best hope for Pakistan’s long-term stability—without alienating the Pakistani army.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), an integral part of the bilateral nuclear relationship between Russia and the United States, will expire in December 2009. To discuss what should replace the treaty, the Carnegie Moscow Center hosted Ambassador Linton Brooks, the United States’ chief negotiator during the 1991 START talks.
The Army is the most powerful political party in Pakistan. With an acceptance rate similar to Ivy League institutions (one out of ten applicants), the army remains the most prestigious institution in Pakistan. Pakistan spends 3.4% of its GDP on the military, compared to 1.2% for the social sector; a stark reminder of its economic footprint in a country still struggling with poverty.
The Olympic Games boosted the Chinese Communist Party's popularity among its citizen, the vast majority of whom are proud of their country and the spectacular performance of their athletes. However, the Games won't lead to dramatic change in China's political future; they strengthened the party's rule, leaving it under less pressure to reform.
China used the Beijing Olympics as a showcase for its new found economic clout and ascendancy as a leading member of the international community. Although the resounding success of the Games has bolstered China's authoritarian regime and shielded it from the scrutiny it deserves on human rights issues, China deserves praise for embracing the world.
In the midst of the Russia-Georgia conflict, Poland has agreed to host part of a U.S. missile defense system. For Russia, this move indicated that the missiles were aimed against Russia rather than Iran as the U.S. has been alleging. This agreement may lead to further deterioration of U.S.-Russia relations, as well as, cause challenges for the Poland-Russia relationship.





























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