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.

The Military-Political Complex

Why is Barack Obama standing to the right of conservatives when it comes to cutting the defense budget?

BY JAMES TRAUB | JANUARY 20, 2012

Threats and Promises

Do Obama’s red lines with Iran and others really mean “or else”?

BY JAMES TRAUB | JANUARY 13, 2012

The Dog That Didn't Bark

Algeria looked ripe for revolution. What happened?

BY JAMES TRAUB | JANUARY 6, 2012

Occupy Everywhere

In this year of protests, is it really fair to compare the grievances of the Occupy movement to the courage of the Arab Spring?

BY JAMES TRAUB | DECEMBER 30, 2011

A Little Humility

If Iraq has taught us anything, let it be this.

BY JAMES TRAUB | DECEMBER 23, 2011

The Botched Ballot

Why even failed elections are good for democracy.

BY JAMES TRAUB | DECEMBER 16, 2011

Quid Pro Go

Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai wants billions of Western dollars in aid for decades to come. Fine, but not with him in charge.

BY JAMES TRAUB | DECEMBER 9, 2011

Ready for Their Close-Up

The votes are in, and Islamist parties are ascendant throughout the Arab world. But can they rule?

BY JAMES TRAUB | DECEMBER 2, 2011

Continental Divide

Do Europeans believe in the European Union enough to save it?

BY JAMES TRAUB | NOVEMBER 25, 2011

With Us or (Mostly) Against Us

The Republican presidential hopefuls have a pretty clear idea of who they think America's enemies are. But what about its friends?

BY JAMES TRAUB | NOVEMBER 18, 2011

The Nuclear Options

Barack Obama's Iran policy is frustrating, slow-moving, and fraught with uncertainty. But have you taken a look at the alternatives?

BY JAMES TRAUB | NOVEMBER 11, 2011

The Hawks' New Flight Pattern

Neocons blew off concerns about Iranian influence in Iraq in 2003. Why are they so obsessed with it now?

BY JAMES TRAUB | NOVEMBER 4, 2011

No Apology Necessary

Barack Obama shouldn't have to make excuses for sending troops to Uganda.

BY JAMES TRAUB | OCTOBER 28, 2011

Exodus

Is there a place for Christians in the new Middle East?

BY JAMES TRAUB | OCTOBER 21, 2011

That Seventies Show

France's newly dominant Socialists have absorbed the lessons of American politics -- but are they planning to take the republic back to the future?

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Is There Light At The End of Egypt's Tunnel?

Egypt is a mess right now, but if its Army can figure out how to give up power and set elections on course, there's still hope for a happy ending.

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Punitive Measures

The coming Palestinian statehood push at the United Nations is a train wreck. But with the U.S. Congress promising punishment for this effrontery, it's not just Palestinians who will come away grievously injured.

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

Twilight in Manhattan, Dawn in Tripoli

America did nearly everything wrong in the post-9/11 world. The post-Arab Spring world is our chance to finally get it right.

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Over the Horizon

Is worrying about war with China a self-fulfilling prophecy?

BY JAMES TRAUB | SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

Ready for Day One

Meet the Libyan postwar planners who put the Bush administration's Iraq team to shame.

BY JAMES TRAUB | AUGUST 26, 2011

A Revolution, with Qualifications

What the naysayers got right about the Arab Spring.

BY JAMES TRAUB | AUGUST 19, 2011

Can Obama Be Just Like Ike?

If you want to cut the defense budget, ask a Republican (just not these Republicans).

BY JAMES TRAUB | AUGUST 12, 2011

All Guns, No Butter

What the debt ceiling deal tells us about the Tea Party's grim vision of American power.

BY JAMES TRAUB | AUGUST 5, 2011

Less Is More

Cutting U.S. military aid to Pakistan might be just what the world's most frustrating alliance needs.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JULY 22, 2011

A Just War, and an Unfinished One

Recognizing Libya's rebels was the right move by the United States and its allies -- but it's not the only one they have to make.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JULY 15, 2011

Bashir's Choice

The brutal means that the Sudanese president has used to keep his country together have instead blown it apart in the most chaotic way possible.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JULY 8, 2011

Lift One from the Gipper

Tim Pawlenty has the Reaganite foreign policy talking points down, but do they add up to anything?

BY JAMES TRAUB | JULY 1, 2011

Let's Make a Deal

The United States and the Taliban should be able to work out a compromise on Afghanistan. But will the Afghans be able to live with it?

BY JAMES TRAUB | JUNE 24, 2011

Country First

After a turbulent decade abroad, the Republican Party turns inward.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JUNE 17, 2011

Game of Thrones

Morocco is the Arab world's last chance to prove that monarchs can reform their countries without getting thrown out of them.

BY JAMES TRAUB | JUNE 10, 2011