In The News

Pakistan and the Afghanistan End Game – Part I

Ahmed Rashid March 12, 2010
As the US and NATO forces prepare for their gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan, a struggle for influence by Afghanistan’s neighbors has been intensifying and its impact may be felt in an increased terrorist threat from Pakistan-backed groups. In the first of a two-part series on the Afghanistan end game, author Ahmed Rashid discusses Pakistan’s two-pronged approach towards its neighbors on the...

Can Iran’s Accelerating Nuclear Program Be Stopped?

Leonard S. Spector March 10, 2010
Iran appears to have stepped up its efforts to produce a nuclear weapon amid new information about its level of technological expertise and its dealings with North Korea, according to nonproliferation expert Leonard S. Spector. Iran has been able to enrich uranium to the 19.75 percent level, a significant step toward producing weapons-grade uranium. That Iran wants to enrich all of its uranium...

With New Challenges, Should NATO Go Global?

Richard Weitz February 26, 2010
NATO’s top civilian leader, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen envisions an expanded, global role for NATO. Today, threats to NATO’s founding members, let alone the world, tend to be global in nature and frequently from non-state actors. Hence, overcoming such threats requires a globally connected security Alliance. Though Rasmussen’s vision is less ambitious than a 2006 Global NATO proposal...

Stop Slapping the Allies, Secretary Gates

Fred Kaplan February 26, 2010
NATO was formed as a defensive alliance: to protect Western Europe from the Soviet Union. Now, with the war in Afghanistan testing NATO’s ability to shift gears and become an offensive union, the organization seems to be failing. Participation has been lackluster, and efforts to coordinate NATO actions have consistently undermined efforts to fight the Taliban and insurgents. The threadbare state...

Google’s Lesson: Innovation Has to Be Accompanied by Reliability

Rob Knake and Adam Segal February 22, 2010
The most important lesson of the Google vs. China may not be about Internet censorship, but rather the importance of security and the reliability of products. As Council of Foreign Relations fellows Rob Knake and Adam Segal write, two tensions highlight the main obstacles in maintaining security and reliability amid the globalized model of innovation spanning geography and time. Shifting research...

Northeast India: Boiling Pot of International Rivalry – Part II

Bertil Lintner February 19, 2010
In Northeastern India, an icy and barren Tawang valley serves as the epicenter of a half a century old rivalry between India and China, writes journalist Bertil Lintner. The valley lies within the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh, or “Land of the Dawn”, which is claimed by China as part of Southern Tibet. Both India and China dispute the territorial boundaries in this area and fought a war in the...

Northeast India: Boiling Pot of International Rivalry – Part I

Bertil Lintner February 17, 2010
Northeast India, a melting pot of ethnic groups, with three international borders and territorial disputes, has emerged as a pit of rivalry and intrigues. China claims part of Indian state Arunachal Pradesh, while Pakistan uses neighboring Bangladesh as a conduit to direct terrorist movements against India. After an extensive tour of the region, journalist Bertil Lintner explores the evolution of...