Terms of Engagement
James Traub is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and author of, most recently, The Freedom Agenda. "Terms of Engagement," his column for ForeignPolicy.com, runs weekly.

Will the Real Mitt Romney Please Stand Up?

The Republican candidate gave us a tantalizing hint this week of what his foreign policy might actually look like -- but does he have the guts to actually do what we think he thinks?

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Keep Calm and Carry On

The Arab world needs our help; it just doesn't know how to ask nicely.

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

The Tragic Optimism of an American Diplomat

Remembering Ambassador Chris Stevens and reflecting on the power of the United States to shape the new Middle East.

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Cancer at the Core

The key to ensuring America's long-term national security is something neither Democrats nor Republicans really seem to understand.

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 7, 2012

The Time for Action

The Obama administration has backed itself into a corner in Syria, a crisis with few good options. But the endgame is clear, at least, and the time to get involved has come.

BY JAMES TRAUB | AUGUST 31, 2012

Get on This Train

When will Americans realize we're losing the infrastructure race to China?

BY JAMES TRAUB | AUGUST 24, 2012

Zone of Insanity

Are Bibi Netanyahu and Ehud Barak really crazy enough to bomb Iran -- against the wishes of the United States and their own people?

BY JAMES TRAUB | AUGUST 17, 2012

The Reformer in Rabat

Is Morocco’s King Mohammed VI the savviest ruler in the Arab world?

BY JAMES TRAUB | AUGUST 10, 2012

Baby Steps

With the slow but steady consolidation of militias and the success of moderate democratic parties, despite all odds, it seems like Libya might be on the right path.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JULY 20, 2012

The Twisted Arc of History

In the land of no-good-options, is Barack Obama doing enough to push the cause of human rights in the Middle East? 

BY JAMES TRAUB | JUNE 22, 2012

The Most Important War You Probably Know Nothing About

Gather round, children, and let me tell you about the War of 1812.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JUNE 15, 2012

Sit this One Out

Why Obama shouldn't use drones to go after Mali's Islamic radical separatists.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JUNE 8, 2012

U.N. Human Rights Council Condemns Actual Human Rights Abusers!

Or, in praise of small victories.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JUNE 1, 2012

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.

BY JAMES TRAUB | MAY 25, 2012

Nation-Building in the Yemen

Drones alone won't be enough to stop Yemen from falling into the failed state abyss.

BY JAMES TRAUB | MAY 18, 2012

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?

BY JAMES TRAUB | MAY 11, 2012

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?

BY JAMES TRAUB | MAY 4, 2012

Our Man in Baghdad

Don't look now, but the greatest threat to Middle East stability might just be the "democracy" we created in Iraq.

BY JAMES TRAUB | APRIL 27, 2012

Latin Lovers' Quarrel

Obama may be well-liked by the people of Latin America, but smiling and waving won't clean up the mess the United States leaves on their table.

BY JAMES TRAUB | APRIL 20, 2012

Two Cheers for Malian Democracy

The West African country has a lot going for it, but sadly that's not enough.

BY JAMES TRAUB | APRIL 13, 2012

The Wages of 9/11

The war on terror may be over, but it's left behind a terrible human rights legacy -- and Barack Obama has done very little about it.

BY JAMES TRAUB | APRIL 6, 2012

The Least Bad Option

Let's face it, there are no good solutions to the mess in Syria.

BY JAMES TRAUB | MARCH 30, 2012

Pandering in Paris

With President Nicolas Sarkozy closing the gap in the run up to elections, challenger Francois Hollande is falling back on the tired, old Socialist battle cry.

BY JAMES TRAUB | MARCH 16, 2012

Will the Good BRICS Please Stand Up?

You can call them respectable democracies, but India, Brazil, and South Africa will be judged by how they act abroad. And on the Syria question, it's been shameful.

BY JAMES TRAUB | MARCH 9, 2012

The Egypt Backlash

Is it a fantasy to believe that the United States can still promote democracy in non-democratic states?

BY JAMES TRAUB | MARCH 2, 2012

What Would John Adams Do About Iran?

It’s time for No. 44 to channel No. 2.

BY JAMES TRAUB | FEBRUARY 24, 2012

Fumbling the Nuclear Football

President Obama finally has a chance to make good on his pledge to rid the world of nuclear weapons. So why is he so afraid of making history?

BY JAMES TRAUB | FEBRUARY 17, 2012

A Loss We Can Live With

The endgame in Afghanistan isn’t 2013 or 2014; it’s already happened. The only thing now is to make sure that the retreat is not a total disaster for those we leave behind.

BY JAMES TRAUB | FEBRUARY 10, 2012

The Cynics at the Gates

The world is more prepared to stop atrocities than ever before, but it is still unwilling -- or unable -- to actually bring those atrocities to an end.

BY JAMES TRAUB | FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Why Stop There?

The Obama administration's leaner, meaner military may be still too big.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JANUARY 26, 2012