Afghanistan: Right War, Wrong Place
U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke visits Kabul this week in the wake of Taliban offensives in the Afghan capital that have left at least 19 dead and 50 wounded. Gilles Dorronsoro explains that instead of spreading U.S. troops thin to confront Taliban strongholds in southern and eastern regions, Washington should focus on securing Kabul.
Nobel Laureate Calls for Talks with Iran
Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, speaking at Carnegie in advance of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian revolution, called for dialogue between Iranian and American citizens even if the Obama administration’s anticipated overture to Iran fails. “There is no difference that cannot be resolved,” Ebadi said. She stressed that a single international standard of human rights should apply to all nations.
A New Direction for U.S.-Caspian Policy
Focusing U.S. policy in the Caspian on containing Russian and Chinese influence has done little to advance U.S. security interests in the region. Martha Brill Olcott writes in a new policy brief that the United States needs a new approach that provides opportunities for economic and political development in cooperation with local leaders.
Preventing Conflict Over Kurdistan
The invasion of Iraq has surfaced long-suppressed nationalist aspirations among the Kurds. If ignored or mishandled, Henri Barkey warns in a new report that Kurdish aspirations have the potential to ignite violence and instability in Iraq and the region at a particularly delicate time.
Is Russia Ready for Change?
Moscow confronts the prospect of serious economic, social, and political turmoil as Russia's economic crisis deepens and anti-government protests are staged throughout the country. Two of Carnegie's leading Russian scholars debate whether the impetus for changing Russia's economic and political system must come from within, or if the West can play a constructive role in that evolution.
Is China's Economy Tanking?
China's exports dropped 18% in January, raising fresh concerns that its economy is headed for a sustained downturn. At a recent Carnegie event, experts discussed the causes and remedies for China's rising unemployment rate, the consequences of its dependency on the U.S. economy, and how this economic data should be interpreted.
Talk Nuclear With Iran Now
In their first meeting since President Obama took office, officials from the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China gathered last week to discuss Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Thérèse Delpech, Ariel Levite, and George Perkovich explain that the U.S. should hold direct talks with Iran, but place a time limit on negotiations and establish procedures to induce Iran to proceed in good faith.
No Time To Cut Defense
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has reportedly ordered a 10 percent cut in defense spending for the coming fiscal year. Robert Kagan argues in the Washington Post that at a time of trillion-dollar stimulus packages, such a cut does not make fiscal sense, and will only serve to diminish the global standing of the United States.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036-2103
Phone: 202.483.7600 | Fax: 202.483.1840
Email: webmaster@carnegieendowment.org