Archive
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Argument
What the Hell Should We Do About Syria?
FP asked five smart observers to offer their solutions for the quagmire in Damascus.
May 30
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Christian Caryl
The Dictators Are Smarter Than You Think
Don't count the tyrants out. They've still got plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
May 30
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Argument
Iran's Growing Stockpile
Tehran is amassing enough nuclear material to build half a dozen weapons. The hour is getting late.
May 30
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Reality Check
The Curious Case of Benjamin Netanyahu
Will Israel’s prime minister turn out to be a great man, or just a great maneuverer?
May 30
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Kremlinology 2012
The Undiplomat
Obama's ambassador to Moscow has gotten a rude welcome in Putin's Russia. But he's not going to take it anymore.
May 30
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The List
China's Game of Thrones
Four Chinese leaders who show just how corrupt the system has become.
May 30
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Argument
A Family Affair
China's princelings are running amok. And Bo Xilai is just the tip of the iceberg.
May 30
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The List
The Five Worst Atrocities of the Syrian Uprising
Time and again, the Syrian regime has shocked the world. But those hoping the international community would be spurred into action have been just as frequently disappointed.
May 29
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Argument
Flame Thrower
Stuxnet was a monster computer virus. Flame is 20 times larger -- and it's been out there, listening, for years.
May 29
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Slide Show
Diamonds Are a Queen's Best Friend
The sun may have set on the British Empire, but the royals still throw a hell of a party.
May 29
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Micah Zenko
Where the Drones Are
Mapping the launch pads for Obama's secret wars.
May 29
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Dispatch
A Man With No Country
The vulgar political afterlife of Prime Minister Tony Blair.
May 29
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FP Explainer
So, How Do You Expel an Ambassador, Anyway?
Just tell 'em to get packing.
May 29
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Feature
The FP Summer Reading List
Twelve books that are shaping the conversation this season.
May 28
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Slide Show
G.I. Joe
A year in the life of the American soldier.
May 28
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Argument
The Conservative Defense Revolution
Or, how the Tea Party learned to love the Pentagon.
May 28
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The List
The Name Is Bond. Eurobond.
Europe's debt crisis gets a new potential hero, with Germany once again cast in the role of villain.
May 25
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Argument
White Whale
Why the black helicopter crowd goes crazy over the Law of the Sea Treaty.
May 25
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The List
Romney: Year One
What would happen if you took Mitt Romney's foreign-policy promises extremely literally?
May 25
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Feature
Longform's Picks of the Week
The best stories from around the world.
May 25
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Terms of Engagement
Enough Talking, Kofi
It’s time for the world to stop hiding behind Kofi Annan's skirts. We gave diplomacy a chance in Syria; now we must accept that diplomacy has failed.
May 25
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Slide Show
The World in Photos This Week
Egypt's first free election begins, NASA gets some commercial help, and Chen Guangcheng lands in New York.
May 25
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Small Wars
This Week at War: Does the U.S. Need More Aircraft Carriers?
The Pentagon sure wants more $15 billion boats, but it may have to look for other options.
May 25
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Argument
The Godfathers of Tunis
Tunisia’s new government has declared war on sleaze -- but that’s much easier said than done.
May 25
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Argument
Me Against the World
In a Foreign Policy exclusive, American jihadist (and rapper) Omar Hammami sends word about al Shabaab's bloody leadership wars and how he became a target.
May 25
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Feature
Dreams of Kurdistan
In a new shift, Kurds in Turkey are gradually giving up on independence. So why is the Turkish government so worried?
May 25
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The List
The 7 Worst Songs of Eurovision 2012
The lowlights of Europe's annual tribute to trashy Europop.
May 24
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The List
5 World Events That Could Swing the U.S. Election
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are slugging it out over the economy, but the world may have a trick or two up its sleeve.
May 24
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Dispatch
Power Ballad
What happens when you mix a trashy Europop spectacle with an oil-soaked Caspian dictator?
May 24
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Dispatch
Sleepless in Jerusalem
Egypt's presidential elections are keeping Israeli officials awake at night. Will their most important Arab friend soon be an enemy?
May 24
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Briefing Book
Are We Focusing on the Wrong Nuclear Threat?
Americans are wringing their hands about the grave threat that a nuclear Iran would pose to the United States. But the numbers tell a different story.
May 24
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Behind the Numbers
The Cairo Consensus
Will Egyptian voters cast their ballot against the United States and Israel?
May 24
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The List
Jobs for Billionaires
A few problems back here on Earth in need of some serious capital.
May 24
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Argument
Don't Fear the Grexit
Greece is not Lehman Brothers, and the global economy will be just fine if it drops out of the eurozone.
May 23
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Argument
Amateur Hour in Chicago
Obama knows that he can't succeed in Afghanistan without coming to terms with Pakistan. So why is his diplomacy so lousy?
May 23
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Argument
Two Worlds, One Climate
Forget Kyoto. There’s a much better way to persuade the developing world to fight climate change.
May 23
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The List
5 Things the Pentagon Isn't Telling Us About the Chinese Military
Here's what you won't find in the Defense Department’s latest report on China's military rise.
May 23
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Dispatch
Ask Me No Questions…
How come Egyptian polls are so useless?
May 23
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Argument
Damned if You Do
Obama hasn't made a peep about cutting U.S. support to NATO -- though everyone agrees it's necessary to get Europeans to pay their fair share. And yet, Romney attacks him for it.
May 23
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Argument
Command and Control
Don’t read too much into the pronouncements of former Israeli security officials on Iran: Israel’s civilian leadership overrules the generals all the time.
May 23
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Reality Check
Barack O'Romney
Ignore what the candidates say they'll do differently on foreign policy. They're basically the same man.
May 23
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Profile
The Good Felool
If Amr Moussa wins Egypt's presidential election, is the revolution over?
May 22
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Slide Show
The Candidates
Exclusive, behind-the-scenes photos of the men who want to rule Egypt.
May 22
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Argument
Red Flag and the Silver Screen
Why is China buying America's movie theaters?
May 22
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Argument
Bear in a China Shop
It's not the booming economy that's about to burst -- it's bigger than that. Social discontent and, yes, income inequality could rip China apart at the seams.
May 22
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Christian Caryl
In the Crosshairs
Why controlling the international arms trade can help to build stable societies.
May 22
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Argument
Dereliction of Duty
Despite the rhetoric, the NATO summit offers no concrete plan to protect Afghan rights.
May 22
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Argument
Why Libya Matters
If the international community doesn't help Libya build a democratic society now, it'll have no one but itself to blame for the consequences of failure.
May 22
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Argument
Taking Maybe for An Answer
The hardest part of solving the nuclear crisis with Iran? Defining success.
May 22
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Slide Show
Once Upon a Time in Bangkok
A look back at a time when rickshaws and Buddhist temples dominated the city.
May 22
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Argument
Bangkok Blues
How did the one functional democracy in Southeast Asia get so screwed up?
May 22
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Argument
Syria's New Jihadis
Meet the terrorist group that's ruining the revolution.
May 22
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Argument
Mr. Normal's Odd Government
François Hollande's trip to America was a quiet success. But did he just appoint an unruly team of rivals as his ministers back home?
May 21
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Argument
Russia's Surprisingly Liberal New Cabinet
Vladimir Putin may have reclaimed the presidency, but his sidekick Dmitry Medvedev is winning the appointments game. Are liberal reforms finally possible?
May 21
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Slide Show
NATO and the Clown Show
The summit in Chicago draws a colorful cast of causes to the Windy City.
May 21
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Argument
Europe's Big Fat Greek Heart Attack
A diet can't save them now. Time to get that defibrillator ready.
May 21
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Argument
Status Update
With the stroke of a pen, a new bill in Congress could slash the number of Palestinian refugees -- and open a world of controversy.
May 21
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Dispatch
Syria's War Comes to Beirut
Sunday's spasm of violence bodes ill for Lebanese stability. But the real problem is that there's nobody in charge.
May 21
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David Rothkopf
Obama's Debacle
The president has protected his right flank for now, but history won’t be so kind.
May 21
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Argument
The Government We Deserve
Americans are sick and tired of Washington's dysfunctional politics. But it's not Congress they should be angry at -- Americans got exactly the system of government they asked for.
May 21
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Argument
How to Avoid a War With Iran
It won’t be easy -- but it sure beats the alternative.
May 21
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Argument
Unmanned and Dangerous
Why NATO's expanding use of drones is a disturbing trend.
May 18
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Argument
Down, but Not Out
Just because Brazil’s growth rates are slowing, doesn’t mean the doomsayers are right.
May 18
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Feature
Longform's Picks of the Week
The best stories from around the world.
May 18
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Slide Show
The Return of Los Indignados
The movement that birthed the global Occupy Movement returns to the streets of Spain.
May 18
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Terms of Engagement
Nation-Building in the Yemen
Drones alone won't be enough to stop Yemen from falling into the failed state abyss.
May 18
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Slide Show
The World in Photos This Week
France fetes a new president, Spanish activists take to the streets, and Ratko Mladic finally goes to trial.
May 18
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Briefing Book
How Obama Missed an Opportunity for Middle East Peace
Why did the president ignore the only part of the "peace process" that was working?
May 18
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The List
Sonnets for the Mujahideen
The militant movement has a little-examined sensitive side.
May 18
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Small Wars
The Persian Gulf Needs Its Own NATO
And America needs to lead it.
May 18
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Argument
Did You Hear the One about U.S. Internment Camps?
A leaked Army document on mass detentions has extremists boiling over on both the right and the left.
May 17
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Argument
5 Easy Ways to Solve the Greek Crisis
If, that is, the economists were in charge.
May 17
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Argument
Stop Ignoring Taiwan
With China on the rise, now is the time to renew Washington's relationship with Taipei.
May 17
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Feature
The 10 TED Talks They Should Have Censored
Some ideas aren't worth spreading.
May 17
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Review
Is The Dictator Racist?
Yes. And it's not that funny either.
May 17
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Argument
The Goldilocks Arsenal
How many nukes is the "just right" amount?
May 17
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Argument
Promise Keepers
It's time for the leaders of the G-8 nations to live up to their commitment to help the world's poor help themselves.
May 17
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Argument
Meet the GUTS
The West isn't declining. Here are four world powers enjoying an astonishing renaissance.
May 17
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Argument
The Other Chens
There are other brave prisoners of conscience besides Chen Guangcheng worth fighting for and protecting in China.
May 16
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Argument
Blame Canada
Why did Canada and the EU abandon Chen Guangcheng? (Hint: Pandas ain't free.)
May 16
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Slide Show
Guarding Route Jeep
Haunting photos of the young Afghan recruits charged with guarding one of the country's -- and the Taliban's -- crucial supply routes.
May 16
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David Rothkopf
Accounts and Accountability and Sea Monsters
How The Avengers explains the world.
May 16
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Reality Check
Israel's Image Revisited
What's driving Israel's very bad PR?
May 16
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Argument
The Rise of Europe's Private Internet Police
Activists are fighting to rein them in.
May 16
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Argument
Portrait of The Hague as a Young Court
As Ratko Mladic goes on trial for war crimes at The Hague today, graphic artist Joe Sacco takes us back to the international tribunal's early days.
May 16
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Argument
The Global Middle Class Is Bigger Than We Thought
A new way of measuring prosperity has enormous implications for geopolitics and economics.
May 16
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Argument
Lost at Sea
Can the Obama administration succeed where its predecessors failed on the Law of the Sea treaty?
May 16
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Argument
Mr. Omnishambles
Is David Cameron about to get laughed out of office?
May 15
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Argument
Lebanon's Little Syria
Bashar al-Assad's enemies and allies are battling it out in the flashpoint city of Tripoli.
May 15
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Slide Show
Anatomy of a Massacre
Investigating the worst war crime in modern Europe.
May 15
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Christian Caryl
The Miracle of Midland
How a West Texas oil town became an unlikely champion of human rights.
May 15
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Slide Show
A Tale of Two Inaugurations
Whose inauguration had more bling -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's or French President François Hollande's?
May 15
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Argument
How to Outsmart China
In its naval clash with Beijing, Manila seems to be taking its cues from a third-century Roman dictator.
May 15
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Argument
Kick Russia Out of the G-8
If Putin doesn't want to come to Camp David, fine. He doesn't belong there anyway.
May 15
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Argument
Jesus Loves China, Too
Why I'm working to save my homeland, one soul at a time.
May 14
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The List
Never Say Never
Remember when breaking up the eurozone was unthinkable? That was then.
May 14
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Argument
The Brothel Next Door
Turkey is cracking down on the sex trade. What's next?
May 14
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Argument
The Value Proposition
Candidates like to preach the preeminence of American values on the campaign trail, but it's interests that dominate inside the White House.
May 14
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The List
Comrade Locke
Why is China so obsessed with America's backpack-wearing, coupon-clipping ambassador?
May 14
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Feature
The FP Survey: The Future of NATO
Does the 63-year-old alliance still matter today? We asked politicians, scholars, and other observers from both sides of the Atlantic to weigh in.
May 14
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Argument
Burma Can Bring It
It’s true: Burma faces an uphill climb in its transition to democracy. But the odds may be better than you think.
May 14
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Argument
Welcome to the New World Disorder
The G-8 is not about to save the world. It's time the United States started planning for the G-Zero.
May 14
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Feature
Mad Libs: NATO
FP and the Atlantic Council asked a panel of experts to fill in the blanks on one of the world's most enduring alliances.
May 14
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The List
Dictators With Mommy Issues
Some of the world's most ruthless leaders have had surprisingly close -- if deeply troubled -- relationships with their mothers.
May 11
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The List
Say It Ain't So, Joe
Ten things Joe Biden really should apologize for.
May 11
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Terms of Engagement
Terrorist Fishing in the Yemen
The Obama administration has doubled down on the use of drones to go after bad guys. How long until the blowback comes?
May 11
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Argument
Labor Pains
In the midst of a civil war, becoming a mother was its own battle.
May 11
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Argument
Getting Ready for Life after Castro
Managing the transition to a democratic Cuba: A user’s guide.
May 11
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Argument
The No-Show
What's really behind Vladimir Putin's surprising decision to skip the G-8 summit?
May 11
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Feature
Longform's Picks of the Week
The best stories from around the world.
May 11
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Slide Show
The World in Photos This Week
France gets a new president, neo-Nazis make gains in Greece, and Putin hits the ice.
May 11
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The List
Countries That Love Their Moms More Than America Does
A global guilt trip in honor of Mother's Day.
May 11
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Small Wars
Baseless
How will the U.S. military cope without its facilities in Afghanistan?
May 11
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Argument
Shanghaied
Why you shouldn't believe everything you read about China. Hint: not even the journalists really know what’s going on.
May 10
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Argument
Israel's Spy Revolt
The war of words over an Israeli attack on Iran is splitting the political leadership from military and intelligence chiefs. And that dangerous divide in Jerusalem might well lead to real war.
May 10
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Argument
Uh-Oh. Pakistan Can't Pay Its Electric Bills.
How an energy crisis became an economic and political crisis too.
May 10
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Slide Show
Terror in Damascus
The Syrian uprising enters a new phase as a deadly blast kills dozens.
May 10
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Dispatch
The Syrian Exodus
Today's gruesome car bomb attack in Damascus only adds to the worries of Syrians agonizing over whether to stay or flee.
May 10
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The List
Where in the World Is Same-Sex Marriage Legal?
It's not just those liberal Northern Europeans who have embraced homosexual unions.
May 9
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Argument
A Man for All Seasons
Egypt's presidential front-runner is a fascinating political chameleon. But does he have enough real support to win the upcoming election?
May 9
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Dispatch
A Land Without a Rudder
Greeks are clearly relieved to have crushed a corroded old political system, but now there's nothing workable to replace it.
May 9
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Argument
The 140-Character Fatwa
Enormously popular, extremist Saudi clerics are promoting hatred, violence, and intolerance on Facebook and Twitter. Can they be stopped?
May 9
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Argument
Vox Pop: Egyptians Prepare to Choose a President
Everyone's talking about Egypt's presidential election. But what do the voters think?
May 9
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Argument
A Nation of Spies and Snitches
The United States is pretty darn good at infiltrating terrorist groups -- at home and abroad -- these days. But should we be worried about the social costs?
May 9
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Slide Show
The Queen's Speech
Britain's Parliament begins its new session like no other legislature.
May 9
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Reality Check
Let's Make a Deal
Six real-world lessons on how to be a successful peace negotiator. Or at least not a total flop.
May 9
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Interview
The Chessman Cometh
An interview with globe-trotting chess promoter, former president, and freelance diplomat Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
May 9
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Argument
The Last RINO
To the modern Republican Party, Richard Lugar was already a dead man walking. He just didn't realize it.
May 8
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Argument
The Rise of India's Soft Power
It's not just Bollywood and yoga anymore.
May 8
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Argument
Annan's Mission Impossible
Why is everyone pretending that the U.N. plan in Syria has a prayer of succeeding?
May 8
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Christian Caryl
Spring Is Over
Has the Russian protest movement fatally weakened Vladimir Putin? Don’t bet on it.
May 8
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Argument
Brothers in Arms
Syrian dissidents are getting out of Damascus, but they can't escape their memories of torture.
May 8
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Argument
The Asian Arms Race That Wasn't
India and Pakistan are firing off missiles left and right. So why aren't the Chinese nervous?
May 8
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Interview
Since When Does Brookings Make Video Games?
Military futurist Peter Singer -- and consultant for the forthcoming Call of Duty -- reveals what kind of dark assumptions are baked into the next blockbuster game.
May 8
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Review
The Ravenous Dragon and the Fruits of Adversity
Academic economists usually air their new ideas first in working papers. Here, before the work gets dusty, a quick look at transition policy research in progress.
May 7
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Argument
Mr. Nice Guy
France has chosen François Hollande, but can she fall in love with a man who lacks the passion of leaders past?
May 7
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Argument
The Silence in Sudan
Why did the United Nations stop reporting atrocities in Darfur?
May 7
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Argument
Auf Wiedersehen, Mon Ami
As her buddy, Nicolas Sarkozy, leaves office, Angela Merkel is now left all alone. Can she still steer the European ship without a first mate?
May 7
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Argument
Medvedev the Phony
Russia's outgoing president was never the liberal reformer he claimed to be. But don't just take our word for it -- he said so himself.
May 7
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Argument
The Earthquake in Greece
Suddenly, the fate of the global economy may rest on an obscure leftist party and its young, charismatic leader.
May 7
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David Rothkopf
The Debacle That Wasn't
What if the Chen episode was actually a U.S.-China breakthrough?
May 7
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Dispatch
Prison Island
Bahrain has badly botched its local version of the Arab Spring. And there seems to be no way out.
May 7
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Kremlinology 2012
Vladimir the Unstable
For Putin, third time might not be the charm.
May 6
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Argument
A Kremlin Made of Sand
Vladimir Putin may not be as secure as he thinks.
May 4
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Slide Show
Putin Forever
He's the president of Russia. He's a race-car driver. He's a blackbelt in judo. He's Vladimir Putin.
May 4
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Feature
Longform's Picks of the Week
The best stories from around the world.
May 4
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Terms of Engagement
The Accidental Peacemaker
China now finds itself on the side of peace in a brewing border conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. But is it really committed to stopping its old buddy, Bashir?
May 4
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Argument
Friends Like These
This week's tensions aside, China and the United States still need each other more than they admit.
May 4
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Small Wars
This Week at War: Powerless in Kabul?
Despite the recent partnership agreement, the United States has less power than it thinks over future events in Afghanistan.
May 4
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Slide Show
The World in Photos This Week
Chen Guangcheng became an icon, demonstrators rallied for May Day, and Newt Gingrich bowed out.
May 4
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Interview
Really, Really Big Oil
Steve Coll's global tour of how ExxonMobil, the international "supermajor" and world's most profitable company, still rules.
May 3
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Argument
The bin Laden Files
What the al Qaeda leader's final correspondence tells us about his legacy.
May 3
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Interview
Interview: A Business-Like Approach to Foreign Aid
A conversation with USAID administrator Rajiv Shah on expanding public-private partnerships and integrating development and emergency intervention.
May 3
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Argument
Scion of Zion
The life of Benzion Netanyahu, Bibi's father, explains a lot about Israel's hawkish prime minister. But is he still fighting his dad's battles?
May 3
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Slide Show
Once Upon a Time in Dubai
Amazing photographs of a time before the boom.
May 3
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Argument
The Next War
Americans are fooling themselves if they think the era of adventures abroad is over. In fact, another big international intervention is just around the corner. And we're not nearly ready for it.
May 3
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Argument
President Paul
Ron Paul maybe a long shot in November, but he's America's best bet on foreign policy.
May 3
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Argument
China's iPad Generation
Meet the children left behind when mommy and daddy go to the factory.
May 3
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FP Explainer
Can Poor People Open a Swiss Bank Account?
Bad news: You need more than a passport, some pocket change, and a healthy disdain for the IRS.
May 2
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Argument
Citizen Chen
How a Chinese legal activist became an icon of freedom.
May 2
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Slide Show
9 Ways of Looking at Chen
A human rights hero becomes a meme.
May 2
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Behind the Numbers
The OBL Blowback
Is Obama's chest thumping a turnoff?
May 2
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Briefing Book
Japan Awakens
The Japanese military is emerging from decades of pacifism. But do the country's political leaders have the vision and the will to make the country strong again?
May 2
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Reality Check
The Dumb Idea Hall of Fame
There's much more where this came from, but here are five terrible ideas to get us started.
May 2
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Argument
Obama's Smart Diplomacy in China
The United States did the right thing in cutting a deal to save blind activist Chen Guangcheng. But his case highlights just how much progress China needs to make on human rights.
May 2
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Interview
"Captains Stay with Their Crew"
Most of the Americans charged by Egypt in the NGO affair have since left the country. But one, Robert Becker, decided to stay and face the music.
May 2
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Argument
Where Democracy Is America’s Second Choice
For Washington, democracy promotion in Yemen continues to take a back seat to the fight against Al-Qaeda.
May 2
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Argument
The Case of the Superman Underwear
As people across the Middle East struggle for freedom, Lebanon descends into farce.
May 2
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Argument
The Shawshank Prevention
As the blackout on news of Chen Guangcheng shows, Chinese censors are getting better at what they do. Can U.S. government-funded tools help China's netizens break free?
May 2
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Dispatch
Out of the Embassy and Into the Fire
U.S. officials cut a dramatic deal for the freedom of blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng, but the agreement appears to contain few hard assurances that China will keep its end of the bargain.
May 2
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Argument
President Sarkozy's Desperate Mayday
With friends and foes ganging up on him, Nicolas Sarkozy's run for a second term is looking bleak.
May 1
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Argument
Hi, I Killed Osama bin Laden and I Approve This Message
Can Barack Obama ride the OBL raid to victory in November?
May 1
-
Slide Show
May Day Madness
May 1
-
The List
Grumpy Old Tycoons
Rupert Murdoch isn't the only titan of industry who may have stayed on the job a bit too long.
May 1
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Argument
China's Left Behind Children
Breakneck growth has made China an economic miracle. But will the destruction of families prove to be too high a cost?
May 1
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Argument
What a Difference 11 Years Makes
The new U.S.-Afghan Strategic Partnership Agreement sends a powerful message to Afghans, al Qaeda and the Taliban, our neighbors, and the world.
May 1
-
Christian Caryl
Lying to Tell the Truth
Saving the world is no excuse for fudging the facts.
May 1
-
Argument
Tobacco's War on Women
The global tobacco industry is targeting women in emerging markets. Can public policy rise to the challenge?
May 1
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