CFR.org - Backgrounders Tue, 16 May 2017 04:57:13 -0400 Tue, 16 May 2017 04:57:13 -0400 CFR.org en-us webmaster@cfr.org webmaster@cfr.org Copyright 2017 by the Council on Foreign Relations. All Rights Reserved. Council on Foreign Relations <![CDATA[China’s Big Bet on Soft Power]]> backgrounder China is believed to spend billions of dollars to boost its international image, but it has yet to see a marked return on its investment in soft power.

]]> Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[The Group of Seven (G7)]]> Thu, 11 May 2017 10:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The G7 serves as a forum for highly industrialized democracies to coordinate economic, security, and energy policy, but critics say that its membership is outdated, undermining its relevance to global governance.

]]> 2017-05-11 10:00:00 Zachary Laub and James McBride <![CDATA[U.S.-Saudi Relations]]> Thu, 11 May 2017 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S.-Saudi relationship, long bound by common interests in oil and security, has shown strains over what some analysts see as waning U.S. involvement in the Middle East and a more assertive Saudi foreign policy.

]]> 2017-05-11 00:00:00 CFR.org Staff <![CDATA[Who’s Who in Syria’s Civil War]]> Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:11:00 -0400 backgrounder Syria's civil war is being fought on multiple fronts by an array of combatants whose alliances, capabilities, and in some cases motives have been in flux. This Backgrounder profiles more than a dozen of the main warring sides.

]]> 2017-04-28 11:11:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[The China–North Korea Relationship]]> Wed, 26 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder China is North Korea’s biggest trade partner and arguably has the most leverage on Kim Jong-un’s regime. But while Beijing appears willing to condemn its neighbor’s nuclear developments, analysts say its cautious policies remain focused on stability.

]]> 2017-04-26 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[How Powerful Is France’s President?]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The winner of the presidential election this spring will heavily influence how France approaches foreign and domestic issues, including its future with the European Union.

]]> 2017-04-25 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)]]> Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Russian aggression in Ukraine has breathed new life into the Cold War-era security alliance, prompting allies to reinforce defenses in Eastern Europe and expand cooperation with nonmembers.

]]> 2017-04-24 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Venezuela in Crisis]]> Tue, 18 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The sharp decline in oil prices in recent years has crippled Venezuela’s economy and left the Maduro government teetering on the brink, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2017-04-18 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick and Brianna Lee <![CDATA[China in Africa]]> Mon, 17 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder China has become Africa’s largest trade partner and has greatly expanded its economic ties to the continent but its growing activities there have raised questions about its noninterference policy. 

]]> 2017-04-17 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[How Does the U.S. Spend Its Foreign Aid?]]> backgrounder With President Donald J. Trump advocating for deep cuts to U.S. foreign aid, debate has renewed over the role of foreign assistance funds in boosting growth, promoting democracy, and saving lives.

]]> James McBride <![CDATA[The Impact of the Iran Nuclear Agreement]]> backgrounder Iran has restricted its nuclear program and given international inspectors unprecedented access, but it has not seen the economy recovery expected in the aftermath of the agreement with international powers.

]]> Zachary Laub <![CDATA[Africa’s ‘Leaders for Life’ Syndrome]]> backgrounder Sub-Saharan Africa is home to many of the world’s longest-ruling heads of state, but civil society and regional blocs may be reversing the trend of extending presidential terms in some areas.

]]> Claire Felter <![CDATA[What Brexit Means]]> Wed, 29 Mar 2017 11:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With the UK having voted to leave the European Union, uncertainty over the future of the bloc has intensified. Brexit supporters argue that the EU threatens sovereignty and stifles growth, while opponents counter that EU membership strengthens trade, investment, and the UK's standing in the world.

]]> 2017-03-29 11:00:00 James McBride <![CDATA[The U.S. Immigration Debate]]> Tue, 28 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Comprehensive immigration reform has eluded Congress for years, moving controversial policy decisions into the executive and judicial branches of government, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2017-03-28 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick and Brianna Lee <![CDATA[Democracy in Hong Kong]]> Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Hong Kong has certain political and economic freedoms based on China’s “one country, two systems” principle, but the city’s political evolution is challenging its relationship with the mainland.

]]> 2017-03-21 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[The Role of the U.S. Federal Reserve]]> Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The role of the Federal Reserve has transformed in the past decade, as it has deployed trillions of dollars to boost the U.S. economy while expanding its regulatory oversight of the nation’s financial system.

]]> 2017-03-15 11:00:00 James McBride and Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[Can Trump Carry Out His Foreign Policy Promises?]]> Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder President Donald J. Trump has wide latitude to enact the sweeping changes to U.S. foreign policy that he has promised, but his executive authority is constrained by congressional legislation, treaty obligations, and bureaucratic processes.

]]> 2017-03-08 00:00:00 Claire Felter, Zachary Laub, and James McBride <![CDATA[U.S. Foreign Policy Powers: Congress and the President]]> backgrounder The separation of powers has spawned a great deal of debate over the roles of the president and Congress in foreign affairs, as well as over the limits on their respective authorities, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[How Trump Could Affect the National Debt]]> backgrounder The U.S. national debt now exceeds $14 trillion, prompting calls for tax and spending reforms as President Donald J. Trump prepares his administration’s first budget proposal. 

]]> James McBride <![CDATA[The Role of the UN Secretary-General]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The UN’s top leadership position has broad authority to steer the organization’s agenda but its impact has varied widely among office holders since 1946.

]]> 2017-02-24 00:00:00 Ankit Panda and Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Media Censorship in China]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder China’s central government has cracked down on press freedom as the country expands its international influence, but in the internet age, many of its citizens hunger for a free flow of information.

]]> 2017-02-17 00:00:00 Beina Xu and Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Abenomics and the Japanese Economy]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2017 11:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has introduced an audacious set of economic policies designed to spur the country out of its decades-long deflationary slump. The results have so far been mixed.

]]> 2017-02-10 11:00:00 James McBride and Beina Xu <![CDATA[What Are Economic Sanctions?]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder For many foreign policymakers, economic sanctions have become the tool of choice to respond to major geopolitical challenges, from counterterrorism to conflict resolution.

]]> 2017-02-08 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[How Does the U.S. Refugee System Work?]]> backgrounder The United States has long accepted refugees from around the world, but President Donald J. Trump’s executive order on immigration has sparked debate over the national security implications of the U.S. refugee program.

]]> Claire Felter and James McBride <![CDATA[U.S.-Cuba Relations]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2017 12:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Relations between the two Cold War foes have warmed dramatically over the last several years, but some fear the détente may stall during the Trump administration, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2017-02-03 12:00:00 Claire Felter, Brianna Lee, James McBride, and Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[The Trans-Pacific Partnership and U.S. Trade Policy]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2017 10:57:00 -0500 backgrounder President Donald Trump’s rejection of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has upended U.S. trade policy, intensifying debate over the effects of trade on employment, inequality, national sovereignty, and safety standards.

]]> 2017-01-31 10:57:00 James McBride <![CDATA[U.S. Corporate Tax Reform]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:00:00 -0500 backgrounder President Donald J. Trump has vowed corporate tax reform in 2017, but Congress is deeply divided over the details, including how to reduce rates and subsidies, and whether to tax profits made abroad. 

]]> 2017-01-30 11:00:00 Jonathan Masters and James McBride <![CDATA[NAFTA's Economic Impact]]> Tue, 24 Jan 2017 11:00:00 -0500 backgrounder More than twenty years after its implementation, the North American Free Trade Agreement continues to spur debate over its impact on economic growth and jobs. 

]]> 2017-01-24 11:00:00 James McBride and Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[The Rohingya Migrant Crisis]]> Thu, 12 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Tens of thousands of Rohingya are fleeing persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. This Backgrounder explores the plight of the Muslim ethnic minority group and the deepening migration crisis in Southeast Asia.

]]> 2017-01-12 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Colombia's Civil Conflict]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Colombian government and FARC rebels have signed a historic peace agreement. This Backgrounder traces the origins of the country's civil conflict and the path to sustainable peace.

]]> 2017-01-11 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick and Claire Felter <![CDATA[Foreign Investment and U.S. National Security]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2016 11:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As a top destination for foreign investment, the United States seeks to strike a balance between national security and its commitment to open markets.

]]> 2016-12-14 11:00:00 Jonathan Masters and James McBride <![CDATA[China-Taiwan Relations]]> Wed, 07 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Differences over Taiwan’s status fuel tensions between the island and mainland, yet economic ties continue to deepen. This Backgrounder explores the cross-strait relationship.

]]> 2016-12-07 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[The U.S.-Philippines Defense Alliance]]> Fri, 21 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Philippines is one of the United States' oldest allies in Asia-Pacific. This Backgrounder explores the long-lasting defense ties between Manila and Washington.

]]> 2016-10-21 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Understanding the Libor Scandal]]> Wed, 12 Oct 2016 11:00:00 -0400 backgrounder

The manipulation of interbank lending rates by a host of global financial institutions could have significant repercussions for financial markets, consumer loans, and regulatory policy.

]]> 2016-10-12 11:00:00 James McBride <![CDATA[Can Malaria Be Eradicated?]]> Wed, 05 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A leading killer among diseases is now targeted for eradication by the middle of this century. This Backgrounder examines the costly, challenging efforts to combat malaria.

]]> 2016-10-05 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[Mercosur: South America's Fractious Trade Bloc]]> Wed, 05 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Political shifts and economic challenges in Latin America could either boost Latin America's largest trade bloc or lead to its obsolescence.

]]> 2016-10-05 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[The U.S. Vice President and Foreign Policy]]> Thu, 22 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Modern vice presidents can trace much of their political influence to the broad reforms that Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale made to the second-highest elected office in the late 1970s, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2016-09-22 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Authoritarianism in Eritrea and the Migrant Crisis]]> Fri, 16 Sep 2016 11:11:00 -0400 backgrounder One of the leading sources of refugees in Europe is the impoverished east African nation of Eritrea. Many fleeing describe chronic human rights abuses in the country, as this Backgrounder explains.

]]> 2016-09-16 11:11:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[The World Trade Organization (WTO)]]> Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The World Trade Organization's relevance as a forum for global trade talks faces growing doubts as countries increasingly turn to regional free trade agreements to advance their interests. This Backgrounder explains the origins of the WTO and the debate over its future.

]]> 2016-09-12 11:00:00 James McBride <![CDATA[The Role of the UN General Assembly]]> Tue, 06 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The seventy-first session of the UN General Assembly will be dominated by debates over the movements of refugees and migrants, antimicrobial resistance, and nuclear weapons.

]]> 2016-09-06 00:00:00 CFR.org Staff <![CDATA[ASEAN: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations]]> Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Association of Southeast Asian Nations brings disparate neighbors together to address economic, security, political, and social issues. This Backgrounder looks at how the group has evolved over nearly fifty years.

]]> 2016-09-01 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[The Zika Virus]]> Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Zika virus, which has been found to cause severe birth defects, has spread across the Americas, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency.

]]> 2016-08-11 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[The Islamic State]]> Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:59:00 -0400 backgrounder With Iraq weakened and a civil war raging in Syria, it’s unclear whether local forces and a U.S.-led international coalition can roll back the self-proclaimed Islamic State, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2016-08-10 11:59:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[The Presidential Candidates: In Their Own Words]]> Mon, 25 Jul 2016 13:01:00 -0400 backgrounder This regularly updated guide features transcripts from the Republican and Democratic presidential debates as well as select foreign policy speeches, op-eds, and interviews of the candidates.

]]> 2016-07-25 13:01:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Foreign Policy at the Conventions]]> Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Foreign policy issues regularly come to the fore at the national political conventions, especially during periods of global instability. Sometimes the events are marked by bitter disagreements within the parties, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2016-07-22 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters and Gopal Ratnam <![CDATA[The Economics of Hosting the Olympic Games]]> backgrounder The costs of hosting the Olympics have skyrocketed in recent decades, while the economic benefits are far from clear. This has caused a shrinking of states interested in playing host and a search for options to lighten the burdens of staging the big event.

]]> James McBride <![CDATA[The U.S. Supreme Court and Obama’s Immigration Actions]]> Thu, 23 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. Supreme Court is set to determine the fate of millions of undocumented immigrants and could influence how future presidents wield power, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2016-06-23 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Competition in the Indian Ocean]]> Thu, 19 May 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder China and India increasingly vie for strategic advantage in the Indian Ocean, while also cooperating on some transnational security issues.  

]]> 2016-05-19 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Water Clouds on the Tibetan Plateau]]> backgrounder Asia’s major rivers depend on water flows from the Himalayas, and regional demand continues to grow. This Backgrounder explores a looming water crisis.

]]> Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Yemen in Crisis]]> Tue, 19 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Yemen’s mounting internal divisions and a Saudi military intervention have spawned an escalating political, military, and humanitarian crisis. The upheaval has intensified already high tensions in the Middle East.

]]> 2016-04-19 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[Understanding Myanmar]]> Fri, 25 Mar 2016 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Myanmar is undergoing significant political changes, but it still faces considerable economic and human rights hurdles.

]]> 2016-03-25 00:00:00 Beina Xu and Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[The U.S. Presidential Nominating Process]]> Tue, 09 Feb 2016 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Every four years, U.S. presidential candidates compete in a series of state contests to gain their party’s nomination. The political process is one of the most complex and expensive in the world.

]]> 2016-02-09 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters and Gopal Ratnam <![CDATA[Modernizing the U.S. Energy Grid]]> Tue, 26 Jan 2016 10:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The growth of renewable energy and distributed generation is placing the aging U.S. energy grid under increasing pressure at a time when concerns over its reliability are on the rise. 

]]> 2016-01-26 10:00:00 James McBride <![CDATA[Central America’s Violent Northern Triangle]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Violence and rampant crime have triggered the flow of asylum seekers from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States, which is seeking to help address the root causes, as this Backgrounder explains.

]]> 2016-01-19 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[China's Environmental Crisis]]> Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder China’s mounting environmental crisis is endangering the pace of its economic growth and threatening the legitimacy of the ruling party, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2016-01-18 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert and Beina Xu <![CDATA[Ebola Virus]]> Fri, 15 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed thousands and spurred efforts to improve responses to pandemics, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2016-01-15 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[U.S. Gun Policy: Global Comparisons]]> Tue, 12 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Why do mass shootings occur more frequently in the United States than other major democracies? This Backgrounder examines select countries.

]]> 2016-01-12 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Southern Asia's Nuclear Powers]]> Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder China, India, and Pakistan have relatively small but growing nuclear arms programs. This nuclear competition is raising concern because of long-simmering tensions and a lack of efforts at minimizing the risk posed by these weapons.

]]> 2015-11-09 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Currency Crises in Emerging Markets]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Projected capital outflows are placing pressure on the currencies of some of the world most dynamic emerging markets. This primer explains what to expect from a new currency crisis.

]]> 2015-10-28 00:00:00 CFR.org Editors <![CDATA[The Shanghai Cooperation Organization]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Eurasia's Shanghai Cooperation Organization has expanded its agenda to include wide-reaching security and economic initiatives, but it remains to be seen if the bloc's members can develop and implement unified policy.

]]> 2015-10-14 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Sustainable Development Goals]]> backgrounder The UN’s sweeping new development agenda aims to “provide the overarching narrative” of sustainable growth for the next fifteen years, yet critics say the Sustainable Development goals are broad, unfocused, and unrealistic. 

]]> Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[The Russian Military]]> Mon, 28 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Military power has reemerged as an important component of Russian foreign policy, which some believe aims to reestablish Russian hegemony in the region.

]]> 2015-09-28 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Europe's Migration Crisis]]> Wed, 23 Sep 2015 12:00:00 -0400 backgrounder An escalating migration crisis is testing the European Union's commitment to human rights and open borders.

]]> 2015-09-23 12:00:00 Jeanne Park <![CDATA[The UN Security Council (UNSC)]]> Wed, 02 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The UN Security Council is the premier global body for maintaining international peace and security, but faces steady calls for reform to better meet twenty-first–century challenges.

]]> 2015-09-02 00:00:00 Newsteam Staff <![CDATA[Same-Sex Marriage: Global Comparisons]]> Mon, 31 Aug 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A growing number of countries are legalizing same-sex marriage amid a steady advance in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights, but opposition remains strong in many countries, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2015-08-31 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[The Chinese Communist Party]]> Thu, 27 Aug 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Chinese Communist Party faces a host of pressing domestic and international policy issues as it transitions to a new generation of leaders.

]]> 2015-08-27 00:00:00 Beina Xu and Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Global Efforts to Eradicate Polio]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:14:11 -0400 backgrounder Though polio had nearly been eradicated, the virus is on the rise amid an increase in violence against vaccine workers in conflict zones. This Backgrounder examines the challenges to eradicating the disease.

]]> 2015-08-12 14:14:11 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[International Sanctions on Iran]]> Wed, 15 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder U.S. and international sanctions have battered the Iranian economy and brought Tehran to negotiate over its nuclear program. Lifting them is central to a deal but will be a complex process.

]]> 2015-07-15 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[The Role of the European Central Bank]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As Europe continues to weather economic stagnation and a succession of debt crises, the European Central Bank has responded with an aggressive set of monetary policies that have redefined the bank's original mandate.

]]> 2015-07-09 11:00:00 James McBride and Christopher Alessi <![CDATA[Avian Influenza]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A recent avian flu outbreak in the United States has forced agriculture officials to destroy tens of millions of birds and has cost hundreds of millions of dollars. This Backgrounder looks at public health and food safety concerns.

]]> 2015-06-30 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2015 11:55:00 -0400 backgrounder Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has emerged as one of the most dangerous al-Qaeda affiliates, strengthening amid political unrest in Yemen. This Backgrounder examines the group and U.S. counterterrorism operations.

]]> 2015-06-19 11:55:00 CFR.org Staff <![CDATA[Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2015 11:30:00 -0400 backgrounder Hydraulic fracturing has unlocked huge reserves of shale gas and oil, transforming the energy outlook in the United States and the world, even as local opposition and falling world prices threaten the industry.

]]> 2015-06-10 11:30:00 James McBride and Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[Religion in China]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As religious observance in China grows, the Chinese Communist Party continues to use religious policy to assert its authority and increasingly to coopt state-sanctioned religious organizations to promote a stable society.

]]> 2015-06-10 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[U.S. Aviation Infrastructure]]> backgrounder The U.S. air travel system is the most heavily used in the world but it needs a much higher rate of investment to modernize and improve efficiency, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[Building the New Silk Road]]> backgrounder The United States and China have developed competing visions for reviving ancient trade routes connecting Asia and Europe. The U.S. diplomatic strategy focuses on Afghanistan, while China hopes to economically integrate Central and South Asia. India and Russia also have regional ambitions.

]]> James McBride <![CDATA[Peace Operations in Africa]]> Fri, 15 May 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder More multinational peacekeeping forces are deployed in Africa than ever before. To be effective, operations must address questions about division of labor, funding, and capacity constraints, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2015-05-15 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[Christianity in China]]> Thu, 07 May 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Tens of millions of Chinese now identify as Christians and the number has grown rapidly, posing challenges for a government that is officially atheist and wary of threats to its power.

]]> 2015-05-07 00:00:00 Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[Nicaragua's Grand Canal]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2015 11:20:00 -0400 backgrounder Nicaragua’s proposed Grand Canal would be one of the world’s largest engineering projects. Its proponents say it could transform the country’s economy, while critics say it could be an environmental catastrophe.

]]> 2015-04-24 11:20:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[The Organization of American States]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the world's oldest regional body, the Organization of American States has served as a platform for cooperation, but ideological polarization among its members and criticisms of the organization's institutional weakness have raised doubts about its ability to remain relevant.

]]> 2015-04-09 00:00:00 Brianna Lee and Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Algerian and Western counterterrorism efforts, along with an African-led peacekeeping force in Mali, have shifted the North African al-Qaeda franchise's criminal and terrorist activities to remote areas of the Sahara and Sahel, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2015-03-27 00:00:00 Zachary Laub and Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Al-Shabab]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Some experts believe al-Shabab is at its weakest point in years following an African-led counterinsurgency campaign, but others warn of the group's resiliency in an unstable Somalia.

]]> 2015-03-13 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters and Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[Boko Haram]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Nigeria's Islamist group Boko Haram has evolved from a local insurgency to a brutal militant group that the United States has designated a terrorist organization.

]]> 2015-03-05 00:00:00 Mohammed Aly Sergie and Toni Johnson <![CDATA[The Credit Rating Controversy]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The three major credit rating agencies have been accused of contributing to the global financial crisis, drawing increased oversight from regulators in the United States and Europe. Nonetheless, investors continue to rely on the largely unchanged ratings services.

]]> 2015-02-19 12:00:00 CFR.org Staff <![CDATA[The Eurozone in Crisis]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2015 12:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The eurozone, once seen as a crowning achievement in the decades-long path toward European integration, continues to struggle with the effects of its sovereign debt crises and their implications for the future of the common currency.

]]> 2015-02-11 12:00:00 Christopher Alessi and James McBride <![CDATA[Space Exploration and U.S. Competitiveness]]> Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder U.S. space exploration inspired a generation of students and innovators, but NASA's role has diminished, and the number of global space competitors is growing. This Backgrounder explores U.S. competitiveness in space.

]]> 2014-12-05 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[The Arab League]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Founded as a loose confederation of states in 1945, the Arab League has struggled to overcome dysfunction and disunity among its members. The Arab revolts of 2011 offer the League a new opportunity to pursue necessary reforms, increase legitimacy, and prove its relevance.

]]> 2014-10-21 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters and Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[Transportation Infrastructure: Moving America]]> Tue, 14 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. transport system is badly in need of infrastructure investment, and the country could suffer competitively if the status quo persists.

]]> 2014-10-14 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[The World Health Organization (WHO)]]> Tue, 07 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The World Health Organization has to overcome serious budget and leadership challenges to face future public health crises, explains this CFR Backgrounder.

]]> 2014-10-07 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick and Toni Johnson <![CDATA[U.S. Energy Exports]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:28:22 -0400 backgrounder Calls for lifting U.S. controlling on energy exports are mounting as production nears a forty-five-year high.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[Governance in India: Infrastructure]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder After decades of underinvestment and mismanagement, India's infrastructure is posing a significant threat to its economic growth.

]]> 2014-10-01 00:00:00 Beina Xu and Eleanor Albert <![CDATA[The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)]]> Thu, 04 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Muslim separatist group, based in the Xinjiang province in northwest China, presents a heightening security challenge for Beijing.

]]> 2014-09-04 00:00:00 Beina Xu, Holly Fletcher, and Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Governance in India: Corruption]]> Thu, 04 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder It remains unclear whether mounting public anger and flagging growth can catalyze India to address widespread official corruption.

]]> 2014-09-04 00:00:00 Beina Xu <![CDATA[The U.S. Child Migrant Influx]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2014 11:29:45 -0400 backgrounder Tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors, mostly from Central America, are arriving in the United States illegally, adding severe stress to an immigration system already in need of major overhaul.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Danielle Renwick <![CDATA[Ukraine in Crisis]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The crisis has spiraled into conflict that has killed thousands and continues to feed tensions between Russia and Western powers over Moscow's support for separatists.

]]> 2014-08-25 12:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Ballistic Missile Defense]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder U.S. missile defense in the twenty-first century is focused on emerging threats from North Korea and Iran, but critics say these systems are too costly and largely unproven.

]]> 2014-08-15 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Hamas]]> Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Hamas is the main Palestinian armed resistance group, but the Islamist movement has struggled with governance since assuming control of Gaza.

]]> 2014-08-01 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK)]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, an exiled Iranian resistance group, continues to stir controversy despite its removal from a U.S. terrorist list in 2012, explains this backgrounder.

]]> 2014-07-28 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Islam: Governing Under Sharia]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Sharia, or Islamic law, is increasingly in the spotlight as its political and economic role expands in the Muslim world and even in the West.

]]> 2014-07-25 00:00:00 Toni Johnson and Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[The Taliban in Afghanistan]]> Fri, 04 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Though toppled from power in 2001, the Taliban regrouped to resist the U.S.-led occupation of Afghanistan. As international forces draw down, the insurgency remains resilient.

]]> 2014-07-04 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[The U.S.-Japan Security Alliance]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S.-Japan alliance has been the cornerstone of Washington's security policy in East Asia, but rising threats from China, North Korea, and economic recovery in both countries have raised questions about the future of the rapport.

]]> 2014-07-01 00:00:00 Beina Xu <![CDATA[South China Sea Tensions]]> Wed, 14 May 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the United States pivots to Asia, disputes over territories in the South China Sea have escalated tensions and threatened regional stability.

]]> 2014-05-14 00:00:00 Beina Xu <![CDATA[What Is Internet Governance?]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2014 12:22:08 -0400 backgrounder An intense international debate over who manages parts of the Internet's technical infrastructure is likely to feed a broader discussion of Internet-related public policy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Driverless Cars]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2014 15:40:41 -0400 backgrounder Tech and auto companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia are moving forward rapidly with efforts to develop driverless cars and street networks. The benefits appear tantalizing, but roadblocks loom.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[The European Union's Eastern Partnership]]> Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:46:48 -0400 backgrounder The most recent crisis in Ukraine has invited closer scrutiny of the European Union's approach to its Eastern neighbors.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jeanne Park <![CDATA[Sarin]]> Thu, 13 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Sarin, one of the world's most lethal chemical weapons, has long been stockpiled but is rarely used by states or terrorists. Allegations of attacks on civilians in Syria, if substantiated, would represent a departure from long-standing international practice.

]]> 2014-03-13 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[Mexico's Drug War]]> Wed, 05 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Since 2006, the Mexican government has been in embroiled in a bloody drug war, which has failed to significantly curb trafficking. The ongoing conflict poses mounting challenges for Mexico, which is trying to polish its image as an investment hotspot, as well as the United States, its most important regional partner.

]]> 2014-03-05 00:00:00 Brianna Lee <![CDATA[The Group of Eight (G8) Industrialized Nations]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder After more than three decades of existence, the Group of Eight (G8) is struggling to defend its relevance amid criticism of its limited membership and lack of a compliance mechanism.

]]> 2014-03-03 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[U.S. Antitrust Policy]]> Thu, 06 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Antitrust law, which has evolved primarily through landmark Supreme Court cases, plays an essential role in the maintenance of efficient markets and promotion of long-term U.S. economic prosperity.

]]> 2014-02-06 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[Instability in Russia’s North Caucasus Region]]> Thu, 06 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Russia's troubled North Caucasus region continues to struggle with a low-level Islamic insurgency, but a heavy-handed approach to counterinsurgency has not addressed the root causes of separatism in the region.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[The Northern Ireland Peace Process]]> Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Good Friday Agreement has brought considerable progress and relative calm to Northern Ireland since 1998, but much work remains to dampen sectarian tensions that could lead to renewed violence and threaten progress toward greater cohesion.

]]> 2014-02-03 00:00:00 Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[The Income Inequality Debate]]> Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Income inequality is generating high-level attention and debate in the United States, but the causes are complex and the policy remedies so far are modest, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2014-02-03 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[The Rise of Islamic Finance]]> Thu, 30 Jan 2014 10:19:42 -0500 backgrounder After growing to a $1 trillion asset class in Muslim countries, Islamic finance is poised for an era of globalization.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mohammed Aly Sergie <![CDATA[Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood]]> Wed, 15 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The future of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition movement and a standard bearer for Islamist groups around the world, remains uncertain following Mohammed Morsi's fall, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2014-01-15 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[Hezbollah (a.k.a. Hizbollah, Hizbu'llah)]]> Fri, 03 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Hezbollah's long-standing resistance to Israel gained this Lebanon-based Shiite political party and militant group broad support, but its involvement in Syria's civil war may jeopardize its domestic standing.

]]> 2014-01-03 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters and Zachary Laub <![CDATA[U.S. Domestic Surveillance]]> Wed, 18 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Successive U.S. administrations have sought to justify controversial domestic surveillance programs amid criticism from Congress and rights activists, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2013-12-18 00:00:00 Newsteam Staff <![CDATA[The Thawing Arctic: Risks and Opportunities]]> Mon, 16 Dec 2013 12:27:53 -0500 backgrounder Nations are reexamining their interests and capabilities in the Arctic, as climate change in the region presents new economic opportunities and security challenges.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and Security]]> Thu, 12 Dec 2013 15:03:46 -0500 backgrounder The Sinai Peninsula has in recent years become a haven for transnational crime and Islamist militancy, posing new security challenges to Egypt and Israel.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[The Dodd-Frank Act]]> Tue, 10 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank"), signed into law in July 2010, is one of the most significant regulatory reform measures since the Great Depression.

]]> 2013-12-10 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[Pakistan's New Generation of Terrorists]]> Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Pakistan has emerged as a sanctuary for some of the world's most violent groups, including al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and homegrown militants, that threaten the stability of Pakistan as well as the region.

]]> 2013-11-18 00:00:00 Zachary Laub <![CDATA[Student Loans and U.S. Prosperity]]> Thu, 17 Oct 2013 10:59:34 -0400 backgrounder Postsecondary education has significant public and private benefits, but debate continues over the extent of federal student lending.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[The International Monetary Fund]]> Wed, 09 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The International Monetary Fund, both criticized and lauded for its efforts to promote financial stability, finds itself again in the forefront of global economic crisis management.

]]> 2013-10-09 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[The World Bank Group]]> Tue, 08 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Since its founding in 1944, the World Bank has evolved from a lender focused on European reconstruction into the preeminent international institution for economic development and poverty reduction.

]]> 2013-10-08 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[U.S. Debt Ceiling: Costs and Consequences]]> Fri, 04 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the U.S. approaches the deadline to raise its debt limit, economists warn of a fiscal crisis and steeply higher borrowing costs for U.S. businesses and homeowners, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2013-10-04 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[The Six Party Talks on North Korea's Nuclear Program]]> Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder China's recent push to renew the Six Party Talks, stalled since 2008, has raised hopes for progress on the peninsula despite worries that Pyongyang may have restarted its old nuclear reactor.

]]> 2013-09-30 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Beina Xu <![CDATA[Syria's Crisis and the Global Response]]> Wed, 11 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder An end to Syria's conflict seems unlikely in the near term, as a number of obstacles on and off the battlefield have stymied international diplomatic efforts, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2013-09-11 00:00:00 Zachary Laub and Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Iran's Revolutionary Guards]]> Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Conceived as principal defenders of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has evolved into a vast institution with political, economic, and military power.

]]> 2013-06-14 00:00:00 Greg Bruno, Jayshree Bajoria, and Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[The Dilemma of Humanitarian Intervention]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Global support for the "responsibility to protect" doctrine weakened after the UN-endorsed no-fly zone that helped topple Libya's regime, and debate continues over the threshold for mounting armed humanitarian interventions, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2013-06-12 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Governance in India: Women's Rights]]> Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Several high-profile sexual assault cases in India have sparked a national debate over women's rights and the need for social reform in a rapidly modernizing country.


]]> 2013-06-10 00:00:00 Beina Xu <![CDATA[Human Rights in Iran]]> Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Global monitors say Iran's human rights situation is poor and unlikely to improve amid a climate of political uncertainty and growing external pressures. But activists urge continued international scrutiny of Iran's violations.

]]> 2013-06-04 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Targeted Killings]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Targeted killings have become a central component of U.S. counterterrorism operations around the globe. Despite pointed criticism over transparency and accountability issues, analysts say the controversial practice seems likely to expand in the future.

]]> 2013-05-23 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[South Africa's Economic Fault Lines]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 11:48:59 -0400 backgrounder South Africa in the post-apartheid period has registered steady growth, but mounting problems over inequality threaten the continent's economic engine.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Christopher Alessi <![CDATA[U.S. Broadband Policy and Competitiveness]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 13:29:00 -0400 backgrounder With the economic benefits of broadband access rising, experts continue to debate how U.S. digital infrastructure compares to its international peers.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[Papal Succession in the Catholic Church]]> Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:25:51 -0500 backgrounder The election of pope to lead the world's one billion Catholics stirs debate over the spiritual authority of the pontiff and the church's role in the world.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Debt, Deficits, and the Defense Budget]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As the Pentagon attempts to refocus the U.S. military strategy toward Asia, the department is facing major budget constraints. Experts disagree on how to balance the fiscal challenge with the country's national security priorities.

]]> 2013-02-22 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Germany's Central Bank and the Eurozone]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:47:23 -0500 backgrounder Germany's Bundesbank remains an influential actor in eurozone policymaking, and its recent disagreements with the ECB raise concerns about managing the zone's debt crisis. This Backgrounder explains.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Christopher Alessi <![CDATA[Congress and U.S. Foreign Policy]]> Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:34:39 -0500 backgrounder U.S. foreign policy is largely directed by presidents, but Congress does have considerable influence, as this CFR Backgrounder explains.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Food Price Volatility and Insecurity]]> Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Global food prices are being driven up by a number of factors including bad weather, low stocks, and unstable commodities markets. Combating price volatility and protecting food security will take increased agriculture production and better food distribution, experts say.

]]> 2013-01-16 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[U.S. Patents and Innovation]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:02:28 -0500 backgrounder The U.S. patent system has generated growing debate over whether it helps foster innovation or stifles it through unnecessary protections, as this Backgrounder explains.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[What Is the Fiscal Cliff?]]> Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder While congressional action lags, a series of year-end fiscal measures could derail the U.S. recovery.

]]> 2012-12-12 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Gasoline Prices]]> Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder With the Middle East unrest ongoing and the global economy recovering, gasoline prices are rising considerably. But policies to ease U.S. consumer impact take time and policymakers are divided over the course of action.

]]> 2012-12-06 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Palestinian Statehood at the UN]]> Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The quest by Palestinian officials for statehood recognition could have major repercussions for the Mideast peace process. This Backgrounder outlines the potential impact of the UN vote.

]]> 2012-11-30 00:00:00 Robert McMahon and Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[European Foreign Policy and the Euro Crisis]]> Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:35:24 -0500 backgrounder The eurozone crisis has consequences far beyond the continent's economic performance, such as the EU's ability to forge coherent defense and foreign policy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jeanne Park <![CDATA[Poland's Economic Model]]> Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:28:51 -0500 backgrounder Poland has maintained economic growth despite the global financial crisis and eurozone woes, while asserting itself as a leading advocate for greater European integration.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Christopher Alessi <![CDATA[Promoting Innovation Through R&D]]> Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:39:32 -0500 backgrounder Spending on research and development is cited as important to a globally competitive economy. But a crucial U.S. advantage appears to be eroding.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[The Candidates on Homeland and National Security]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Both Republican candidate Mitt Romney and President Obama have had to make tough and at times controversial decisions with regard to homeland security and counterterrorism.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on U.S.-Iran Policy]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Deterring Iran's nuclear weapons program is a foreign policy priority for the United States. Candidates for the 2012 presidential elections debate the best options, including a military strike.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on U.S. Policy Toward China]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney accuse China of currency manipulation and unfair trade practices and support an expanded U.S. presence in Asia, but Romney dismisses the president's efforts as inadequate.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on North Korea]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder President Obama has expanded sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear ambitions while making attempts to engage with it, but Mitt Romney has criticized the engagement policy as weak.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on Defense Policy]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With the strategic focus of the U.S. military in flux and the Pentagon's budget under significant scrutiny, this CFR Issue Tracker looks at the 2012 presidential candidates' positions on defense.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on Nuclear Proliferation]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Iran's nuclear ambitions have tended to dominate discussions in the U.S. presidential campaigns over nuclear nonproliferation.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on Democracy Promotion in the Arab World]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The presidential candidates generally agree on support for democracy and human rights in Arab states, but have differed on several policy particulars, such as military intervention in Libya and Syria.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Both presidential candidates vow strong support for Israeli security, with Mitt Romney criticizing the Obama administration for distancing the United States from Israel.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on Energy Policy]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Both presidential candidates have called for expanding U.S. energy production to create jobs, even as they disagree over the role of government subsidies and environmental regulation.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on U.S.-Russia Relations]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder This CFR Issue Tracker looks at the United States' relationship with Russia and presidential candidates' stances on the issue.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates and the Economy]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Amid sluggish growth and high unemployment, the economy has emerged as the central issue of the 2012 presidential campaign, as the candidates debate the role of government in jumpstarting the economy and creating jobs.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on Afghanistan]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the United States winds down its decade-long war in Afghanistan, the two presidential candidates disagree on the pace of the U.S. withdrawal.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on the United Nations]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder President Obama is generally supportive of the UN mission while raising questions about its effectiveness, but GOP candidate Mitt Romney is harshly critical of the organization.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on U.S.-Pakistan Relations]]> Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder This CFR Issue Tracker looks at the United States' relationship with Pakistan and presidential candidates' stances on the issue.

]]> 2012-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Candidates on Immigration]]> Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The economic climate and border security concerns have thrust the question of immigration reform into the spotlight in the 2012 presidential campaign.

]]> 2012-10-18 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Venezuela's Chávez Wins Fourth Term]]> Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Longtime Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez's fourth term as president allows for the continuation of his "socialist revolution," but questions over his health remain a wildcard in assessing Venezuela's future.

]]> 2012-10-17 00:00:00 Brianna Lee <![CDATA[Why the Fiscal Health of States and Cities Matters]]> Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:29:31 -0400 backgrounder Many states and cities face significant fiscal stress that could impede the U.S. economic recovery and undermine long-term growth, including cuts to education and infrastructure, explains this CFR Backgrounder.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[National Conventions and U.S. Foreign Policy]]> Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:39:31 -0400 backgrounder U.S. presidential nominating conventions often touch on national security and foreign policy, but don't always signal the direction of a winning candidate's policy, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Iran's Ballistic Missile Program]]> Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Despite concerns over Iran's nuclear program, the Obama administration has assessed that Tehran is years from a developing a long-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. But past Iranian secrecy and testing bombast have led some experts to remain skeptical of Tehran's capabilities and ambitions.

]]> 2012-07-23 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Frequently Asked Questions about the International Criminal Court]]> Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 2012-07-23 00:00:00 Claire Calzonetti <![CDATA[The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:54:46 -0400 backgrounder Controversies over too-big-to-fail financial institutions continue to mount. The Basel Accords represent the latest effort to ease risk and restore confidence, as this Backgrounder explains.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Christopher Alessi <![CDATA[Brazil on the International Stage]]> Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Brazil's economic dynamism has given it a stronger voice on global trade and energy issues. Experts say Washington can advance its regional interests more effectively through a more sophisticated relationship with Brazil.

]]> 2012-07-02 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Syria's Leaders]]> Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As international attention focuses on the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad, cfr.org profiles some of the nation's top leaders.

]]> 2012-07-02 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Aum Shinrikyo]]> Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the Japanese religious cult that carried out the 1995 subway sarin attack.

]]> 2012-06-19 00:00:00 Holly Fletcher <![CDATA[Greek Elections and the Eurozone's Future]]> Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:32:16 -0400 backgrounder Greek elections this weekend could render a verdict on the country's eurozone future, with analysts fearing serious consequences for the global economy, says this CFR Backgrounder.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Christopher Alessi <![CDATA[al-Qaeda (a.k.a. al-Qaida, al-Qa'ida)]]> Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the international terrorist network that the United States has singled out as the most serious threat to U.S. security.

]]> 2012-06-06 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Greg Bruno <![CDATA[U.S. Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital]]> Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:26:02 -0400 backgrounder In the face of persistently high unemployment, policymakers and workers look to innovation and entrepreneurship to create new jobs. This Backgrounder discusses how entrepreneurs create and finance the startups that power U.S. job growth, and the ramifications of policies such as the JOBS Act.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Steven J. Markovich <![CDATA[Uighurs and China's Xinjiang Region]]> Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As China continues to transform its economy, rising tensions and spates of violence within its primarily Muslim Uighur community is causing regional instability both internally and with Pakistan.

]]> 2012-05-29 00:00:00 Preeti Bhattacharji <![CDATA[Healthcare Costs and U.S. Competitiveness]]> Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Some analysts say healthcare costs hinder U.S. industry competitiveness in the global marketplace, but it's unclear whether proposed health reforms will offer any cost relief.

]]> 2012-03-26 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Combating Maritime Piracy]]> Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A surge in pirate attacks off the Somali coast in recent years has prompted the deployment of an international coalition of navies. But experts say that military force alone cannot address the underlying issue of failed Somali governance.

]]> 2012-03-23 00:00:00 Christopher Alessi and Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[U.S. Trade Policy]]> Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Trade accounts for an increasing portion of the U.S. economy, and the Obama administration has embraced a ramped up export strategy. But debate persists over the merits of a vigorous free trade agenda.

]]> 2012-03-14 00:00:00 Christopher Alessi and Robert McMahon <![CDATA[U.S. Rail Infrastructure]]> Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:45:19 -0500 backgrounder Rail infrastructure is a critical component of a transportation network capable of helping the United States compete in global markets. Efforts to expand and modernize U.S. rail, particularly to include high-speed trains, are under debate as lawmakers weigh costs and benefits.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Elizabeth Dovell <![CDATA[U.S. Deficits and the National Debt]]> Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Obama administration's 2013 budget plan has revived debate over the sustainability of U.S. spending. As the United States emerges from a deep recession, it must maintain a tricky policy balance.

]]> 2012-03-02 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Oil's Trouble Spots]]> Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder With oil supplies tight, regions most vulnerable to oil supply disruptions present a significant economic concern, particularly threats to the Strait of Hormuz and unrest in Nigeria, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2012-01-20 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[North Korea After Kim]]> Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Kim Jong-il's death has prompted discussion about the future of the isolated country and its nuclear weapons program. Experts cited in this CFR Backgrounder believe a post-Kim regime in North Korea would remain a tough nuclear negotiator.

]]> 2011-12-19 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Closing Guantanamo?]]> Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder President Obama vowed in January 2009 to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. Two years later, the White House continues to face challenges to that promise, leaving critics to suggest the facility will remain open for the foreseeable future.

]]> 2011-11-09 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Defense Spending and the Deficit Debate]]> Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:30:07 -0500 backgrounder Lawmakers are considering sharp cuts to defense spending as part of mandated deficit-reduction efforts. This Backgrounder discusses the effects of such major cuts and implications for U.S. military strategy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[The Debate over Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade]]> Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Greenhouse gas trading is now a multibillion-dollar international business and is expected to continue to grow, despite uncertainty about a post-2012 international climate regime.

]]> 2011-11-03 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Confronting U.S.-China Economic Imbalances]]> Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder An undervalued Chinese yuan remains a contributing factor to the U.S.-China trade imbalance, but experts warn that labeling China a "currency manipulator" will not rein in mounting U.S. deficits.

]]> 2011-11-02 00:00:00 Roya Wolverson and Christopher Alessi <![CDATA[State Sponsors: Iran]]> Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. government designates Iran as the "most active state sponsor of terrorism," which feeds concerns about Iran's growing nuclear program.

]]> 2011-10-13 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[The U.S.-South Korea Alliance]]> Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The longstanding U.S.-South Korea alliance, created as a bulwark against a communist North Korea, has expanded to include tighter trade ties and cooperation on global issues from climate change to international development.

]]> 2011-10-13 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Youkyung Lee <![CDATA[Threat of Homegrown Islamist Terrorism]]> Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder An increase in terror incidents involving Islamic radicals who are U.S. citizens is vexing law enforcement officials and posing new questions about the roots of their radicalization.

]]> 2011-09-30 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Nuclear Power Safety Concerns]]> Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Damage to Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has reignited debate over the safety of nuclear power and highlighted questions over aging power plants, safety procedures, and waste disposal.

]]> 2011-09-23 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[UN Resolutions on the Mideast and North Africa]]> Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Summaries and links to the seminal United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions for the post-colonial period, focusing on those related to the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East.

]]> 2011-09-21 00:00:00 Christopher W. Tatlock <![CDATA[Global Action on Non-Communicable Diseases]]> Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder NCDs such as cancer and heart disease are becoming leading causes of death in the developing world and will be the focus of a September UN meeting. But health experts and others are divided about how much funding should go into a global campaign aimed at preventing NCDs and whether infectious disease programs will suffer as a result.

]]> 2011-09-20 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Muslims in the United States]]> Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:34:47 -0400 backgrounder A decade after 9/11, U.S. Muslims grapple with their place in American society in the face of concerns about homegrown terrorism and questions by non-Muslims over the threat they might pose.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Global Natural Gas Potential]]> Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Interest in natural gas is growing for political, environmental, and economic reasons. But the industry faces challenges to adding pipelines, increasing international LNG trade, and exploiting newly found shale gas reserves.

]]> 2011-08-24 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[The Debate Over Generic-Drug Trade]]> Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The global drug industry has fought to prevent developing nations from making low-cost, generic versions of drugs under patent, but the demand for such alternatives is could rise with increasing healthcare costs and growing incidence of chronic disease.

]]> 2011-08-03 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Europe: Integrating Islam]]> Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Western Europe's burgeoning Islamic population continues to spark concerns about Muslim assimilation and a cultural divide.

]]> 2011-07-25 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Profile: Ayman al-Zawahiri]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Ayman al-Zawahiri, now America's most wanted terrorist, took over as the head of al-Qaeda in June 2011 after the killing of erstwhile head Osama bin Laden.

]]> 2011-07-14 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Balance of War Powers: The U.S. President and Congress]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:48:33 -0400 backgrounder President Obama's decision to seek congressional authorization for punitive strikes on Syria stirs new debate over the role of Congress and the president in waging military action, as this Backgrounder explains.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[The G8 Agenda: Mideast Push]]> Wed, 25 May 2011 15:02:06 -0400 backgrounder Mideast upheaval was a top issue at the G8, which is winding down today in France, along with nuclear safety, leadership of the IMF, and aid to Africa. This Backgrounder profiles the eight participants and their priorities.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Confronting the Cyber Threat]]> Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Foreign governments, non-state actors, and criminal networks are targeting the digital networks of the United States with increasing frequency and sophistication. U.S. cybersecurity has made progress, but relies heavily on the private sector to secure infrastructure critical to national security.

]]> 2011-05-23 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[Oil Market Volatility]]> Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Though shifts in demand and reduced production by some major producers have influenced oil prices, investor behavior is also increasing market volatility.

]]> 2011-05-06 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Islam and Politics in Pakistan]]> Thu, 05 May 2011 13:28:36 -0400 backgrounder Pakistan is bracing for more turbulence in the wake of Osama bin Laden's killing. This Backgrounder looks at how state support for Islamist militants has led to growing religious intolerance in society.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[The ISI and Terrorism: Behind the Accusations]]> Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, faces persistent accusations of links to terrorism, despite repeated denials.

]]> 2011-05-04 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Nuclear Power Expansion Challenges]]> Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The scramble for energy alternatives has brought new focus on nuclear power in the United States, but its revival faces political and practical obstacles.

]]> 2011-03-18 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[U.S. Internet Providers and the 'Great Firewall of China']]> Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder U.S. Internet companies have long been accused of helping Beijing censor content. But aided by a U.S. government push for Internet freedom, some private-sector-led groups are working toward ensuring greater respect for privacy and free speech.

]]> 2011-02-23 00:00:00 Robert McMahon and Isabella Bennett <![CDATA[Outsourcing Jobs and Taxes]]> Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Outsourcing remains a contentious political issue as lawmakers, analysts, and business leaders debate its effect on U.S. job creation and the role of corporate tax policy in shipping jobs overseas, explains this Backgrounder.

]]> 2011-02-11 00:00:00 Roya Wolverson <![CDATA[Militant Extremists in the United States]]> Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Violent acts by homegrown militant extremists in the U.S. have declined, but "lone wolf" attacks are on the rise. The post-9/11 legal and political landscape poses new challenges to law enforcement authorities seeking to prevent such attacks.

]]> 2011-02-07 00:00:00 Jonathan Masters <![CDATA[U.S. Deepwater Drilling's Future]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Gulf of Mexico oil spill spotlights the growth of deepwater drilling and the challenges of balancing strong environmental regulation with efforts to expand U.S. domestic oil production.

]]> 2011-01-11 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[The Debate Over Airport Security]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:15:11 -0500 backgrounder New screening measures at U.S. airports are being called overly intrusive by some passengers and civil rights groups. National security experts advise using a system that relies more on intelligence, behavioral profiling, and empowering passengers.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Sharia and Militancy]]> Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Experts say Islamic law, or sharia, holds wide appeal for Muslim populations in many countries and is beginning to spread via democratic means, but it is also being used as a tool of Islamic militancy and extremism.

]]> 2010-11-30 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Foreign Policy and the 2010 Midterms: New START and Arms Control]]> Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A new arms control agreement with Russia has met political opposition in the U.S. Senate, and some analysts believe its fate is tied to the outcome of the 2010 midterm elections. This Backgrounder examines the Senate debate.

]]> 2010-11-10 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[The U.S.-India Nuclear Deal]]> Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A proposed groundbreaking nuclear deal between the United States and India is raising questions and concern in both countries.

]]> 2010-11-05 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Esther Pan <![CDATA[2010 Midterms and Foreign Policy]]> Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder This series of Backgrounders examines foreign policy issues in light of the 2010 midterm elections.

]]> 2010-11-03 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Foreign Policy and the 2010 Midterms: War in Afghanistan]]> Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:17:09 -0400 backgrounder The war in Afghanistan hasn't been a major campaign issue even as public support for it has waned. This Backgrounder examines political backing for the war.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Immigration and the Midterm Elections]]> Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The economic climate and border security concerns have fueled the immigration debate in the U.S. congressional elections. This Backgrounder examines races where immigration is playing a role and the potential for reform legislation in the next Congress.

]]> 2010-10-27 00:00:00 Aimee Rawlins <![CDATA[Midterm Elections 2010: Spending Wars]]> Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:06:50 -0400 backgrounder With U.S. unemployment and high debt threatening Americans at home and U.S. power abroad, this Backgrounder looks at congressional candidates' difficulty in articulating policies that balance job creation and debt reduction.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Roya Wolverson <![CDATA[Foreign Policy and the 2010 Midterms: Energy and Climate Policy]]> Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A possible transfer of political power in the congressional midterm elections could doom short-term chances for a comprehensive climate bill. But experts say climate issues could still be addressed through bills focused on clean energy.

]]> 2010-10-14 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Sudan's Fractured Internal Politics]]> Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Experts say instability in south Sudan should be looked at in tandem with the crisis in Darfur, and some call for addressing Sudan's problems in a more unified way to help forestall an escalation of violence.

]]> 2010-10-07 00:00:00 Toni Johnson and Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Foreign Policy and the 2010 Midterm Elections: Trade]]> Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:52:34 -0400 backgrounder With U.S. economic recovery still slow, trade policy looms as a factor in the congressional midterm races. This Backgrounder explores the consequences for trade based on the outcome of the Democratic-Republican electoral struggle.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Roya Wolverson <![CDATA[Afghanistan's National Security Forces]]> Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The growth and strengthening of Afghanistan's domestic security forces is seen as key to an eventual U.S. exit, but some analysts caution that progress will remain slow.

]]> 2010-08-19 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Profile: Hassan Nasrallah]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah.

]]> 2010-08-11 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[The Road to Financial Regulatory Reform]]> Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The global financial crisis prompted Congress to press for stronger U.S. financial regulations. But experts debate what level of government involvement will help the economy long term.

]]> 2010-07-22 00:00:00 Roya Wolverson <![CDATA[U.S. Drone Activities in Pakistan]]> Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:49:53 -0400 backgrounder The reliance on unmanned drones to target terror suspects in Pakistan has been quietly lauded by U.S. officials. But the covert program, which has so far gotten little public scrutiny, is facing mounting legal and ethical concerns.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[China-Pakistan Relations]]> Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the United States and India move toward cementing their warmest relationship ever, India's rival, Pakistan, is broadening its ties with its own powerful ally: China.

]]> 2010-07-06 00:00:00 Jamal Afridi and Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[The Organization of the Islamic Conference]]> Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:03:32 -0400 backgrounder The Obama administration sees the Organization of the Islamic Conference as a venue through which to court Muslims globally, but the group's controversial positions on some issues could pose problems.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[The G20's Twenty Agendas]]> Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:31:16 -0400 backgrounder The G20 meetings in Toronto will be marked by competing agendas on global growth and financial regulations. This Backgrounder looks at the range of policy concerns.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Roya Wolverson <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Somalia]]> Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 2010-06-01 00:00:00 Julie Cohn <![CDATA[Fifteen Nuclear Agendas to Watch]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty gets underway amid new concerns about Iran and North Korea and disputes between nuclear haves and have-nots. Fifteen countries will play a special role in the debate.

]]> 2010-05-27 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[The Four Nuclear Outlier States]]> Thu, 20 May 2010 16:12:44 -0400 backgrounder The countries outside of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty--North Korea, Pakistan, India, and Israel--present a significant challenge for U.S. diplomacy and efforts to restrain the spread of nuclear weapons, experts say.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Pakistan's Constitution]]> Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Pakistan's constitution continues to be the focus of political struggle, with the nation's prime minister, president, regional governments, and army vying for advantage.

]]> 2010-04-21 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Chechen Terrorism (Russia, Chechnya, Separatist)]]> Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Chechnya has been plagued by two wars and an ongoing insurgency since the fall of the Soviet Union. In recent years, Chechen militants have escalated attacks in the North Caucasus and revived bombings in Moscow.

]]> 2010-04-08 00:00:00 Preeti Bhattacharji <![CDATA[State Sponsors: Cuba]]> Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. State Department continues to list Cuba as a state sponsor of terror, though most experts say the country no longer poses a threat to U.S. national security.

]]> 2010-03-23 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) (aka, PIRA, "the provos," Óglaigh na hÉireann) (UK separatists)]]> Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The provisional Irish Republican Army, or IRA, is an outgrowth of an older group known as the Irish Republican Army, which fought an insurgency that successfully challenged British rule in the whole of Ireland in the early years of the twentieth century.

]]> 2010-03-16 00:00:00 Kathryn Gregory <![CDATA[Iran's Nuclear Program]]> Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Iran's nuclear program is believed to have steadily progressed, despite sharply increased concerns over its intentions and sanctions over its lack of transparency.

]]> 2010-03-10 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[IRAQ: Coalition Provisional Authority: The Iraqi Ministries]]> Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2010-03-10 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Stimulus Report Card]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Obama administration says its 2009 stimulus package saved jobs and boosted growth, but Republicans and some economists worry it dampened consumer and business spending and added to long-term debt.

]]> 2010-03-09 00:00:00 Roya Wolverson <![CDATA[Alternative Views on Climate Change]]> Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Debating global warming policy has moved to the top of agendas worldwide, but some skeptics still question whether action is necessary or possible.

]]> 2010-02-23 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Peru's Mineral Wealth and Woes]]> Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:45:34 -0500 backgrounder Peru has avoided the development problems seen in other extraction-dependent economies, but experts say the country faces governance hurdles, especially on the environment.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Russia's Energy Disputes]]> Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Buoyed by high oil prices, Russia finds itself embroiled in a number of disputes with foreign firms looking to tap its underdeveloped oil fields and with its neighbors that grew used to subsidized gas.

]]> 2010-02-03 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Al-Qaeda's Financial Pressures]]> Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:22:32 -0500 backgrounder Financial pressures have weakened al-Qaeda's tactical abilities, but analysts say affiliated networks are finding new ways to raise and spend money, complicating efforts to squeeze a savvy foe.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pure) (aka Lashkar e-Tayyiba, Lashkar e-Toiba; Lashkar-i-Taiba)]]> Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A profile of the Pakistani militant group India blames for some of the most severe terror attacks it has suffered in recent years, including the Mumbai assault of November 2008.

]]> 2010-01-14 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Global Uranium Supply and Demand]]> Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Interest in nuclear power is increasing, but securing adequate uranium supplies for nuclear fuel faces challenges ranging from a flagging mining sector to fears of nuclear weapons proliferation.

]]> 2010-01-14 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Deforestation and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions]]> Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Loss of forests is a major contributor to greenhouse-gas emissions. Plans to devise a policy tool for using trees for carbon dioxide sequestration are now under way.

]]> 2009-12-21 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Copenhagen's Many Agendas]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:59:25 -0500 backgrounder The UN conference on climate change that begins December 7 in Copenhagen is supposed to produce new targets for emissions reductions, but experts say major countries are at odds on the ultimate goal of a new framework. This backgrounder looks at some of their positions.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on Human Rights]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:52:42 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on Development and Humanitarian Aid]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:51:29 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on the Global Economy]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:50:15 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on Energy Security]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:48:46 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on the Environment]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:47:16 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:54 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on Terrorism]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:43:34 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on Violent Conflict]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:42:07 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on International Institutions]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:41:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[U.S. Opinion on General Principles of World Order]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:30:54 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on the Environment]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:18:26 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on Human Rights]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:10:31 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on Development and Humanitarian Aid]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:45:17 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on the Global Economy]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:39:27 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on Terrorism]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:04:44 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on Violent Conflict]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:50:16 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on International Institutions]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:12:12 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on General Principles of World Order]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:58:21 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on Energy Security]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:48:30 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[World Opinion on Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:44:36 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Pakistan's Education System and Links to Extremism]]> Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:28:07 -0400 backgrounder Pakistan's poor public education system has been exploited by extremist groups and slowed the country's development. Analysts say education reform is an essential element in stabilizing the country.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Twenty Agendas at G-20, Part II]]> Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:10:02 -0400 backgrounder Leaders attending the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh will seek to forge agreements to buoy a global economic recovery and repair financial imbalances that contributed to the recession.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jamal Afridi <![CDATA[National Missile Defense: A Status Report]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The United States has pursued missile defense technologies for six decades, with mixed results. Changes under the Obama administration, including adjustments to planned defenses in Europe, could portend a new direction.

]]> 2009-09-17 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Missile Defense Technology]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:40:02 -0400 backgrounder U.S. missile defense in the twenty-first century is focused on emerging threats from North Korea and Iran, but critics say these systems are too costly and largely unproven.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[The African Union]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The African Union succeeded the old Organization for African Unity (OAU) in 2002. Since then, the new institution has struggled to reform governing bodies inherited from the OAU while shouldering challenging new peacekeeping missions.

]]> 2009-09-01 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[The Rise of Political Opposition in Japan]]> Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Opposition victory in Japan's 2009 parliamentary election served as a watershed moment in the country's electoral politics. Analysts say political change in Tokyo could result in a possible shift in its close relationship with the United States, especially in security matters.

]]> 2009-08-31 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Shining Path, Tupac Amaru (Peru, leftists)]]> Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder An overview of Peruvian terrorist groups, Shining Path and Tupac Amaru.

]]> 2009-08-27 00:00:00 Kathryn Gregory <![CDATA[India-Afghanistan Relations]]> Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder India's growing economic and political influence in Afghanistan has angered Pakistan, the traditional power there, and has experts worried that Afghanistan could become another battleground in the long-standing rivalry between South Asia's two giants.

 

]]> 2009-07-22 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:36:08 -0400 backgrounder Countries in sub-Saharan Africa lose billions of dollars each year through corruption, say analysts. Local and international efforts to reform governance have been inconsistent.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[The Media Landscape in Iran]]> Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:18:18 -0400 backgrounder The crisis following Iran's presidential vote cast a new light on the country's hotly contested media space. A crackdown has limited independent reporting but other sources remain as channels for dissent.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Lessons in Universal Health Insurance Models]]> Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:10:38 -0400 backgrounder As the United States looks to reform its health care system and expand access to the uninsured, countries that have moved toward universal health care may offer lessons.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[U.S.-Vatican Relations]]> Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder U.S.-Vatican relations remain uneven following Joseph Ratzinger's accession as Pope Benedict XVI, particularly as the Obama administration pursues a more liberal social agenda.

]]> 2009-07-14 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik and Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Kashmir Militant Extremists]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of militant extremist groups in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

]]> 2009-07-09 00:00:00 Jamal Afridi <![CDATA[Economic Challenges for Climate Change Policy]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder President Barack Obama says he will seek vigorous climate-change policy. Efforts to curb greenhouse gases pose considerable economic pitfalls, as well as opportunities.

]]> 2009-07-07 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Reassessing the Jackson-Vanik Amendment]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:33:01 -0400 backgrounder Experts say graduating Russia from Cold War-era legislation linked to emigration and trade would be a step toward warming relations with Moscow.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Julie Ginsberg <![CDATA[Jemaah Islamiyah (a.k.a. Jemaah Islamiah)]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, the group allegedly responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings.

]]> 2009-06-19 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Realigning Pakistan's Security Forces]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:30:05 -0400 backgrounder Washington is focusing new military aid to Pakistan on strengthening counterinsurgency capabilities. But distrust between the two countries and Islamabad's continued focus on an Indian threat pose challenges, say experts.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Presidential Power in Iran]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Iran's Supreme Leader remains the regime's ultimate authority but controversy surrounding the country's June 12 presidential election has raised new questions about the role and power of the head of state.

]]> 2009-06-17 00:00:00 Greg Bruno and Jamal Afridi <![CDATA[Lebanon's Parliamentary Elections (June 7, 2009)]]> Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:41:17 -0400 backgrounder Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary elections, pitting pro-Western political elements against a coalition led by Hezbollah, will test the country's ability to manage political change among many factions.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Ayten Tartici and Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Philippines]]> Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of terrorism in the Philippines.

]]> 2009-06-01 00:00:00 Preeti Bhattacharji <![CDATA[Armed Islamic Group (Algeria, Islamists)]]> Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the Algerian terrorist organization, Armed Islamic Group (GIA).

]]> 2009-05-27 00:00:00 Lauren Vriens <![CDATA[Abu Sayyaf Group (Philippines, Islamist separatists)]]> Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the terrorist organization based in the southern Philippines.

]]> 2009-05-27 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Abu Nidal Organization (ANO), aka Fatah Revolutionary Council, the Arab Revolutionary Brigades, or the Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims]]> Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of Abu Nidal, a terrorist organization opposed to the state of Israel.

]]> 2009-05-27 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Nourishing Afghanistan's Agricultural Sector]]> Tue, 26 May 2009 12:10:20 -0400 backgrounder International actors are redoubling efforts to restore Afghanistan's agriculture sector and weaken the massive opium trade that helps fund the Taliban. But competing strategies and corruption could stall reforms.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (aka Tamil Tigers) (Sri Lanka, separatists)]]> Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist terrorist group that seeks an independent state in areas in Sri Lanka inhabited by ethnic Tamils.

]]> 2009-05-20 00:00:00 Preeti Bhattacharji <![CDATA[The Sri Lankan Conflict]]> Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Sri Lanka's government has scored a string of wins in its long-standing civil war with Tamil militants. But it faces the challenge of integrating its Tamil minority.

]]> 2009-05-18 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[China’s Internal Migrants]]> Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder China's rapid economic development has been fueled in large part by a massive migration of rural workers to cities and industrial zones. Young, poorly educated, and highly mobile, these workers continue to face discrimination due to their rural origins and transitory status.

]]> 2009-05-14 00:00:00 Andrew Scheineson <![CDATA[Troubles Plague UN Human Rights Council]]> Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The United Nations was responsible for establishing universal human rights standards, but its image in recent years has been tarnished by the record of its main body charged with safeguarding rights.

]]> 2009-05-13 00:00:00 Lauren Vriens <![CDATA[Vatican-Israel Relations]]> Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Relations between the Vatican and Israel are a complex combination of diplomacy mixed with interfaith discussion.

]]> 2009-05-12 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Winning the Information War in Afghanistan and Pakistan]]> Mon, 11 May 2009 08:19:42 -0400 backgrounder President Obama has made "strategic communications" an essential part of his move to boost the military and nation-building effort in Afghanistan. But experts say countering Taliban messaging will take technology, speed, and demonstrated success in providing security.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Stabilizing Pakistan: Boosting its Private Sector]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:09:09 -0400 backgrounder Amid a growing insurgency and escalating economic troubles in Pakistan, U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States must "help Pakistan help Pakistanis." Experts say strengthening the country's private sector and boosting trade opportunities could underpin security.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Leading Africa]]> Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya all hobbled by varying degrees of instability and infighting, experts fear Africa lacks leadership for continent-wide security and economic initiatives.

]]> 2009-04-22 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[India's Electoral Politics]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:11:04 -0400 backgrounder As the world's largest democracy goes to the polls, this Backgrounder looks at the laws, major players, and issues, including economic reform, caste, and religion, that have shaped India's politics.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Human Rights Reporting and U.S. Foreign Policy]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:00:23 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. State Department's annual global rating of human rights performance antagonizes friend and foe alike. Many rights activists embrace the reports while some express doubts about their influence on U.S. policy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[The Fine Print on Defense Spending]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the Obama administration finalizes its first defense budget, analysts say near-term growth will be followed by lean spending amid the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

]]> 2009-04-08 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Twenty Agendas at G-20]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A short summary of each of the G-20 member's objectives for the April summit in London.

]]> 2009-04-01 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[The Group of 20]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the Group of 20 major and emerging world economies.

]]> 2009-03-30 00:00:00 Stephanie Lee <![CDATA[Iran and the Future of Afghanistan]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder U.S. and Western military officials are calling on Iran to help stabilize Afghanistan, but historic tensions and allegations of arming militants raise doubts about Tehran's intent.

]]> 2009-03-30 00:00:00 Greg Bruno and Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Primer: The Financial Stability Plan]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:00:32 -0400 backgrounder A brief look at how the U.S. government plans to use taxpayer funds and other incentives to cleanse the balance sheets of banks and revitalize credit markets.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[The Troubled Afghan-Pakistani Border]]> Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The contentious border between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains a site of major conflict, and houses some of the world’s most dangerous militants.

]]> 2009-03-20 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Debating a 'Clean Coal' Future]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:45:16 -0400 backgrounder As U.S. lawmakers debate a cap-and-trade policy to combat climate change, experts say coal will continue to be a major part of the world's energy mix, which will likely complicate efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

 

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[G-20 Policy Priorities]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:51:23 -0400 backgrounder April's G-20 summit has been billed as a forum for producing a "global New Deal." Experts say policymakers should focus on stopping financial turmoil before tackling long-term regulatory reforms.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Pakistan's Fragile Foundations]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:40:10 -0400 backgrounder Beset by increased terror attacks and political infighting, Pakistan's viability as a state is a matter of increasing concern. Experts call for reforming weak civil institutions, resolving ethnic disputes, and checking the power of the military.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[French Military Strategy and NATO Reintegration]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder France's move to rejoin NATO's integrated military command structure reflects a shift in French strategic thinking about new reliance on allies and diminished projection of unilateral power abroad.

]]> 2009-03-12 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[The U.S. Economic Stimulus Plan]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder President Obama has signed one of the largest rescue packages since the Great Depression to revive the U.S. economy. Economists warn of the need to keep spending targeted, timely, and temporary.

]]> 2009-02-18 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Israel's Political System]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A brief overview of the Israeli political system.

]]> 2009-02-11 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan and Caroline Friedman <![CDATA[Venezuela's Oil-Based Economy]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Venezuela is trying to develop new markets for its oil at a time of increasing friction with its main customer, the United States. But a significant short-term shift in oil relations between Venezuela and the United States is unlikely.

]]> 2009-02-09 00:00:00 Cesar J. Alvarez and Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Dennis C. Blair, Director of National Intelligence]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Retired Adm. Dennis C. Blair, President Obama's director of national intelligence, is a former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command with long military experience.

]]> 2009-02-09 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Iraq's Political Landscape]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Iraq's provincial elections provide signals about the maturity of the country's political system, as well as highlight new power brokers in the provinces.

]]> 2009-02-05 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[China's Military Power]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:07:30 -0500 backgrounder China's growing military capabilities pose a concern for U.S. security interests. Experts say the United States must push for greater engagement with China's military to reduce the potential for misunderstandings.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Countering China's Military Modernization]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder China's military modernization agenda has led most other countries in the region to respond with defense plans of their own to balance China's growing military capabilities.

 

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Janet Napolitano, experienced in federal law enforcement and immigration issues, has been selected for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

]]> 2009-02-03 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Eric H. Holder Jr., Attorney General]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder President Barack Obama's attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., has criticized some of the Bush administration's counter-terrorism moves, calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention center and bans on torture.

]]> 2009-02-03 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Sovereign Wealth Funds]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A primer on government funds charged with investing currency reserves for profit.

]]> 2009-01-28 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Timothy Geithner, U.S. Treasury Secretary]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner brings experience in global financial crisis management for the Fed, expertise on Asia, and perspective from work with the International Monetary Fund.

]]> 2009-01-28 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a senator and former First Lady, has offered a tough pragmatism on national security matters and called for reviving U.S. credibility in the world.

]]> 2009-01-22 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Judging Guantanamo: The Court, Congress, and the White House]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Bush administration's approach to the detention and prosecution of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. But the battle continues.

]]> 2009-01-21 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Finding a Place for the ‘Sons of Iraq’]]> Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:30:22 -0500 backgrounder The Sunni awakening movement and the Sons of Iraq security forces it inspired helped restore peace. Iraq's long-term stability could hinge on keeping the movement satiated, experts say.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Terrorists and the Internet]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Terrorists increasingly turn to the Internet as a means of communication with one another and with the rest of the world. This article describes how terrorists have cultivated the web to suit their needs.

]]> 2009-01-08 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[U.S. Security Agreements and Iraq]]> Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Iraqi lawmakers approved new ground rules for the U.S. troop presence, including a U.S. withdrawal by 2011. But questions about the accords' legal longevity remain.

]]> 2008-12-23 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Saudi Arabia and the Future of Afghanistan]]> Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:08:25 -0500 backgrounder U.S. experts say any new approach to bringing stability to Afghanistan must be regional in scope. Saudi Arabia, with historic ties to the Taliban and Afghan Pashtuns, could hold a principle seat at the table.

 

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Vietnam's Economic Hiccups]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:36:07 -0500 backgrounder Vietnam's stock market has plunged and its economic growth has dwindled since 2006, when it was seen as a model for emerging country growth. The country's experience highlights the problems confronting emerging markets in the 2008 financial crisis.

 

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Julie Ginsberg <![CDATA[The African Growth and Opportunity Act]]> Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:42:02 -0500 backgrounder The African Growth and Opportunity Act has boosted U.S.-Africa trade and is viewed favorably by economists. But experts say African states must build trade capacity to benefit fully.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[The Question of Tibet]]> Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A primer on the dispute over Tibet’s sovereignty, which has risen to public attention following recent protests in Lhasa and demonstrations surrounding the 2008 Olympic Games.

]]> 2008-12-05 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Defense Spending During Economic Crisis]]> Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder President-elect Barack Obama made many promises on defense spending and strategy during his two-year run for the White House. But analysts say economic constraints and political pressure could make implementation difficult.

]]> 2008-12-04 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[James L. Jones, National Security Adviser]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:01:23 -0500 backgrounder James L. Jones, a retired Marine commandant, brings extensive military and diplomatic experience to his new post as national security adviser for President Barack Obama.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Robert M. Gates, Defense Secretary]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:21:35 -0500 backgrounder Robert M. Gates, a Cold War veteran selected to remain as defense secretary, has won bipartisan praise for his pragmatism and handling of the Pentagon amid two wars.

 

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Terror Groups in India]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder India not only faces evolving threats from Kashmiri militants, but also an increasingly violent Maoist insurgency.

]]> 2008-11-27 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Counterterrorism in India]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder India has been battling terrorism for as long as it has been a sovereign nation. This backgrounder examines the country's counterterrorism efforts.

]]> 2008-11-27 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan and Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Financial Crisis May Worsen Poverty in China, India]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:59:49 -0500 backgrounder The global financial crisis threatens to hamper poverty alleviation efforts in India and China, responsible for lifting the largest numbers of the world's poor out of extreme poverty.  Political or social instability are concerns.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Turkey at an Energy Crossroads]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:46:37 -0500 backgrounder Terrorist attacks and an emergent Russia are posing new challenges to Turkey's energy strategy, but some analysts warn it could be Western Europe that gets squeezed.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) (Spain, separatists, Euskadi ta Askatasuna)]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A profile of ETA, a terrorist separatist group operating in the Basque regions of Spain and France.

]]> 2008-11-17 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Foreign Policy Brain Trusts: Obama's Advisers]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Sen. Barack Obama's foreign policy team includes former State Department veterans and newcomers from academia who seek to reinvigorate U.S. diplomacy.

]]> 2008-11-11 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Non-OPEC Oil Production]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Non-OPEC oil producers, which turn out most of the world’s oil, are operating near capacity.

]]> 2008-11-10 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[A Tribal Strategy for Afghanistan]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:00:41 -0500 backgrounder As military leaders in Washington revise their war strategy for Afghanistan, analysts say enlisting Afghan tribesmen could aid in security. Others warn that what helped stabilize Iraq may play very differently in the more complex tribal culture of Afghanistan.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[RAW: India's External Intelligence Agency]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:59:24 -0500 backgrounder India's primary espionage agency and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have long been at odds in a long-standing battle for influence.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Ansar al-Islam (Iraq, Islamists/Kurdish Separatists), Ansar al-Sunnah]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A profile of a militant Islamist Kurdish separatist movement seeking to transform Iraq into an Islamic state.

]]> 2008-11-05 00:00:00 Kathryn Gregory <![CDATA[Presidential Transitions and Foreign Policy]]> Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:03:14 -0500 backgrounder The handoff of foreign policy responsibility from one U.S. presidential administration to another has proven risky in many cases. The next transition occurs at a time of extraordinary global challenges.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[China's Troubled Food and Drug Trade]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:21:37 -0400 backgrounder China has grown into a trading giant, but recent concerns over the safety of Chinese food and drugs have increased worries that China's production may have outpaced the country's policing capacity.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Foreign Policy Brain Trusts: McCain Advisers]]> Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Sen. John McCain's Republican presidential campaign has a group of foreign policy advisers reflecting both realist and neoconservative views of the world.

]]> 2008-10-03 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[The U.S. Financial Regulatory System]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:15:23 -0400 backgrounder A look at the current U.S. financial regulatory framework, delineating the different agencies tasked with monitoring U.S. financial institutions and their respective roles.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Timeline: UN Secretary-Generals]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A biographical timeline of past UN secretary-generals and their accomplishments.

]]> 2008-09-18 00:00:00 Christopher W. Tatlock <![CDATA[Foreign Policy and Political Nominating Conventions]]> Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder U.S. political conventions offer the parties a place to unite around presidential candidates and a vision for foreign and domestic policy.

]]> 2008-09-16 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[The Muslim Insurgency in Southern Thailand]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Amid political uncertainty in Bangkok, a violent insurgency continues in the country's majority Malay Muslim provinces in the south, with no possible settlement in sight.

]]> 2008-09-10 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Pakistan's Institutions and Civil Society]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A look into Pakistan's institutions, civil society, and the various players less known.

]]> 2008-08-25 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[The Pitfalls of UN Nation-building]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The United Nations has frequently cited East Timor as a model nation-building project. But new unrest in the tiny Asian state indicates that the international community has again failed to show the stamina to guide a nation toward genuine stability.

]]> 2008-07-24 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Africa and the International Criminal Court]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The International Criminal Court has sparked controversy with its case selection and pursuit of justice in Uganda and Sudan.

]]> 2008-07-24 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Angola’s Political and Economic Development]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:00:59 -0400 backgrounder Angola, Africa's top oil producer, is flush with money. Yet wealth remains concentrated in the hands of a very few, leaving the bulk of the population in poverty.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[State Sponsors: North Korea]]> Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder North Korea's recent nuclear program and recent nuclear test have resulted in on-going negotiations aimed at North Korea's cooperation with the international community.

]]> 2008-06-28 00:00:00 Vikaas Sharma <![CDATA[U.S-Pakistan Military Cooperation]]> Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:43:47 -0400 backgrounder Pakistan is key to success in U.S.-led  counterterrorism efforts, with its tribal areas serving as terrorist havens. But covert U.S. military actions inside Pakistan put the future of the U.S.-Pakistan military alliance in jeopardy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno and Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Foreign Policy Brain Trusts: Clinton Advisers]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Sen. Hillary Clinton's foreign policy team included veteran Clinton administration officials seeking to revive U.S. leadership through a balance of soft and hard power.

]]> 2008-06-20 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Religion and Politics in Iran]]> Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:30:33 -0400 backgrounder Religion's place in the Iranian political system has long been debated among scholars, but a president who blurs the line has refocused attention on the topic

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Olympic Pressure on China]]> Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the Olympics draw near, critics are attacking Beijing for its policies on the environment, the press, Sudan, and Tibet.

]]> 2008-06-17 00:00:00 Preeti Bhattacharji and Carin Zissis <![CDATA[The Role of Delegates in the U.S. Presidential Nominating Process]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Close Republican and Democratic presidential nominating contests are focusing attention on the role of delegates, who ultimately will be choosing their party’s nominees.

]]> 2008-06-10 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Zimbabwe’s Security Sector]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As Zimbabwe's economic crisis has deepened, President Robert Mugabe has ceded significant power to the country's security forces.

]]> 2008-06-09 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[China-Gulf Economic Relations]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:00:31 -0400 backgrounder Trade between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council has spiked in recent years, with potentially broad economic and geopolitical consequences.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Negotiating with Hostile States]]> Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:09:58 -0400 backgrounder Whether to engage heads of rogue states, a perennial foreign policy dilemma, has emerged in the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Egyptian Islamic Jihad]]> Fri, 30 May 2008 14:38:37 -0400 backgrounder A profile of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a militant Islamist group that is fully merged with al-Qaeda.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Holly Fletcher <![CDATA[Jamaat al-Islamiyya]]> Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of Jamaat al-Islamiyya.

]]> 2008-05-30 00:00:00 Holly Fletcher <![CDATA[African Agriculture]]> Wed, 28 May 2008 16:38:58 -0400 backgrounder In a time of rising global food prices, Africa produces a fraction of the world's crops. What can be done to foster a Green Revolution in Africa?

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Mustard Gas]]> Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the chemical agent mustard gas.

]]> 2008-05-28 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRA Splinter Groups (U.K., separatists)]]> Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of three IRA splinter groups that remain active in Northern Ireland.

]]> 2008-05-21 00:00:00 Holly Fletcher <![CDATA[Muqtada al-Sadr]]> Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, virtually unknown before the collapse of Saddam Hussein's government, has leveraged his family name to become one of the most influential Shiite leaders in modern-day Iraq.

]]> 2008-05-16 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[National Intelligence Estimates]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The history, rationale, and limitations of the National Intelligence Estimate, the U.S. intelligence community’s most authoritative and coordinated written assessment of national security issues.

]]> 2008-05-14 00:00:00 Greg Bruno and Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[Somalia's Transitional Government]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Though international observers had hoped Somalia's transitional federal government would bring stability to the war-torn nation after sixteen years of “failed state” status, by mid-2008 experts said it was fraught by internal divisions.

]]> 2008-05-12 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson and Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Foreign Policy and the 2008 Presidential Nominating Campaigns]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Through the U.S. presidential nominating process, voters have offered a muddled view on foreign policy issues but they continue to generate heat on the campaign trail.

]]> 2008-05-12 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Nationalism in China]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:03:55 -0400 backgrounder Nationalism in China, surging amid protests over Beijing's rule in Tibet, increasingly fills the role Maoism played before China embraced capitalism.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Energy Bottlenecks in South America]]> Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:43:51 -0400 backgrounder South America faces energy shortfalls at the same time that several countries have nationalized energy resources. Experts say a lack of cooperation on energy policy could hinder regional economic growth.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Access to Justice in China]]> Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:28:36 -0400 backgrounder China has a range of options for its citizens to access justice, but experts say none of them are particularly effective.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]]> Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:40:05 -0400 backgrounder The Palestinian Islamic Jihad is an Iranian-inspired Islamic militant group that aims to derail the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and eliminate Israel from the region.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Holly Fletcher <![CDATA[Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade]]> Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is a secular network of Palestinian militias aligned with Fatah that engages in sporadic violence against Israel.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Holly Fletcher <![CDATA[State Sponsors: Sudan]]> Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Despite its recent willingness to combat terrorism, Sudan is still considered a state sponsor because of its ties to Hamas, the Iraqi insurgency, and violence in Darfur.

]]> 2008-04-02 00:00:00 Preeti Bhattacharji <![CDATA[The Preparedness of Iraqi Security Forces]]> Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi security personnel have received U.S.-led counterinsurgency training. But big questions remain over their readiness to replace U.S. forces.

]]> 2008-03-27 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Kach, Kahane Chai (Israel, extremists)]]> Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 2008-03-20 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Strained Ties between China and Japan]]> Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Despite their deep economic ties, animosity between China and Japan periodically resurfaces over territorial, historical, and economic disputes.

]]> 2008-03-14 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner and Preeti Bhattacharji <![CDATA[What are Iraq's Benchmarks?]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. government has set a number of benchmarks on security, economic performance, and governance for the Iraqi government to determine progress.

]]> 2008-03-11 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner and Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Iraq, Afghanistan, and the U.S. Economy]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Estimates of the total long-term economic costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars vary wildly and remain hotly disputed among experts.

]]> 2008-03-11 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[China’s Slow Road to Democracy]]> Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder China is dealing with growing signs of social unrest and a budding civil society, but the central government’s power grip leaves little room for democracy.

]]> 2008-03-07 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[The Caucus System in the U.S. Presidential Nominating Process]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:31:55 -0500 backgrounder Party caucuses, which date to the 1800s, have declined in importance but they could be decisive in choosing the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Joanna Klonsky, Associate Editor <![CDATA[Iran's Involvement in Iraq]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Iran's influence in Iraq is the subject of enormous speculation. The United States is taking steps to counter that influence.

]]> 2008-03-03 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner and Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Why Iraqis Cannot Agree on an Oil Law]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The division of Iraq’s oil wealth is an important obstacle to a power-sharing deal. At issue is whether revenues should be regionally or centrally controlled.

]]> 2008-02-22 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner and Greg Bruno <![CDATA[The Doha Trade Talks]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A profile of the Doha round of World Trade Organization multilateral trade talks.

]]> 2008-02-22 00:00:00 Robert McMahon and Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Controls on Pakistan’s Nuclear Technology]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons continue to be a concern due to political instability and rising militancy in the country.

]]> 2008-02-20 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria and Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[President Bush Travels to Africa]]> Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:21:41 -0500 backgrounder President Bush’s five-country trip to Africa is organized to showcase his policy successes on the continent.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Profile: Imad Mugniyah]]> Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Examining the life and tactics of Imad Fayez Mugniyah, the Hezbollah military mastermind killed in Damascus on February 13, 2008. Before 9/11, Mugniyah was said to be responsible for the deaths of more Americans than any other terrorist.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Elisabeth Smick <![CDATA[The French Military in Africa]]> Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder France has been reviewing its military doctrine in Africa, with a new emphasis on multilateralism. But events in Chad suggest unilateral action remains on the table.

]]> 2008-02-08 00:00:00 Andrew Hansen <![CDATA[State Sponsor: Syria]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Syria has a history of aiding terrorist organizations, and is one of five nations on the U.S. State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism. Along with Iran, Syria has given substantial backing to Hezbollah.

]]> 2008-02-01 00:00:00 Holly Fletcher <![CDATA[G8’s Gradual Move toward Post-Kyoto Climate Change Policy]]> Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder G8 members offer a mixed picture on meeting Kyoto Protocol targets. The United States continues to refuse ratification.

]]> 2008-01-25 00:00:00 Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Understanding Kenya’s Politics]]> Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:09:03 -0500 backgrounder While some reports attribute Kenya’s postelection crisis to tribalism, most analysts see weak political institutions at the root of problems.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Rebuilding Iraq]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Western efforts to rebuild Iraq have focused on military and political progress but revival of civilian infrastructure lags badly.

]]> 2008-01-17 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Colombia’s Right-Wing Paramilitaries and Splinter Groups]]> Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:19:38 -0500 backgrounder Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was hailed for his plan to demobilize the country’s paramilitaries, but observers warn the groups are reforming under a different guise.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Botswana: An African Success Story Shows Strains]]> Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:23:57 -0500 backgrounder Considered an African success story, Botswana still struggles to end its dependence on diamond mining and develop a diversified economy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[The Impact of the 110th Congress on U.S. Foreign Policy]]> Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Democrats in the 110th Congress failed to alter Bush administration policy on Iraq, but made an impact on trade and energy legislation.

]]> 2007-12-21 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Vehicle Fuel Economy]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Congress has approved the first increase in corporate average fuel economy in thirty years, propelled by worries over rising oil prices.

]]> 2007-12-19 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Intelligence on Iran Still Lacking]]> Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Iran’s alleged meddling in Iraq and Afghanistan and its defiance of orders to halt uranium enrichment have drawn sharp criticism from the west. Amid the rhetoric some analysts and policy makers continue to question the quality and credibility of Washington’s intelligence on Tehran, while a new National Intelligence Estimate adds to the uncertainty.

]]> 2007-12-04 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner and Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Homeland Security Technologies]]> Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:45:40 -0500 backgrounder Technology plays an increasing role in Homeland Security efforts, spawning a growing U.S.industry for everything from biometrics to cargo screening at ports.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Nation Branding Explained]]> Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:47 -0500 backgrounder Countries increasingly employ public relations firms and the techniques of brand marketing to build cohesive images for their nation.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[The Future of the U.S. Military]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:00:54 -0500 backgrounder While the American public focuses on bringing U.S. forces home from Iraq and Afghanistan, defense planners in Washington consider what to do with them when they get back.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Inequalities in Asia's Giants]]> Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:34:49 -0500 backgrounder While spiraling economic growth in India and China has lifted millions out of poverty, it has also fueled inequalities within their societies.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)]]> Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a separatist group operating in eastern Ethiopia.

]]> 2007-11-01 00:00:00 Rebecca Bloom and Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Pakistan's Tribal Areas]]> Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Experts warn there is slim hope to control this area given its long history of resisting intervention.

]]> 2007-10-26 00:00:00 Carin Zissis and Jayshree Bajoria <![CDATA[U.S. Army Force Restructuring, “Modularity,” and Iraq]]> Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. Army is reorganizing to create smaller, more mobile units without sacrificing firepower. Some experts, however, wonder whether that aim addresses the lessons of Iraq.

]]> 2007-10-26 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[India's Energy Crunch]]> Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder India’s burgeoning economy is placing strains on its inefficient power sector and raising questions about the country’s ability to meet its energy demands.

]]> 2007-10-23 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Plans for Iraq’s Future: Federalism, Separatism, and Partition]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:16:09 -0400 backgrounder A Senate proposal calling for the restructuring of Iraq’s government has drawn fire from Iraqis who liken it to partition. Amid the criticism have emerged other controversial options.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Inside the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)]]> Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:08:40 -0400 backgrounder Advocating for greater Kurdish autonomy through violent resistance, the Kurdistan Workers Party remains a vibrant militant presence on the border of northern Iraq and southern Turkey.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Oil Prices]]> Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder While some experts fault demand increases for record-high oil prices, others say production and market issues reflect price hikes are more complicated.

]]> 2007-10-18 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan and Toni Johnson <![CDATA[Global Oil Trends]]> Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Political volatility among the world's leading oil producers suggests deeper causes for recent price spikes.

]]> 2007-10-18 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner and Toni Johnson <![CDATA[How Libya Got Off the List]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Libya, for years a thorn in the side of U.S. policymakers, has boosted its profile in recent years, renouncing terrorism and abandoning its WMD. In response, the U.S. State Department has removed Libya from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and plans to resume normal diplomatic relations.

]]> 2007-10-16 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Structuring A Peace Process for Darfur]]> Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:42:03 -0400 backgrounder An increasingly chaotic political situation in Darfur may require a more inclusive round of negotiations than currently envisioned.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[China’s Motor Vehicle and Aerospace Industries]]> Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:39:07 -0400 backgrounder Chinese entry into the manufacturing of commercial vehicles and aircraft has the potential to reshape the competitive landscape in two industries still dominated by G8 nations.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa]]> Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:30:14 -0400 backgrounder Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing the largest urban growth in the world, but most development efforts continue to target rural communities.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[The Iraq Data Debate: Civilian Casualties from 2006 to 2007]]> Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Gen. David Petraeus’ assertions about falling casualties in Iraq are supported by a range of objective sources. But his testimony to Congress does not establish whether the decline is attributable to the surge or to sectarian cleansing.

]]> 2007-09-28 00:00:00 Stephen D. Biddle and Jeffrey Friedman <![CDATA[Iraq Security Statistics]]> Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:11:57 -0400 backgrounder

The U.S. military’s methodology for measuring violence in Iraq draws criticism from some quarters. The Pentagon concedes some kinds of violence don’t get included, but insists its consistent application of these methods results in an accurate plotting of trends.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Profile: Osama bin Laden]]> Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of Osama bin Laden, founder and leader of al-Qaeda.

]]> 2007-09-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Pakistan’s Political Future]]> Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf faces growing opposition at home and abroad, but what form of government might replace his military rule remains unclear.

]]> 2007-08-16 00:00:00 Carin Zissis and Greg Bruno <![CDATA[Is the United States Ready to Approve the Law of the Sea Treaty?]]> Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:25:40 -0400 backgrounder The White House is pressing for Senate ratification of the Law of the Sea treaty. Some worry it will endanger national security and harm U.S. industry.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Maggie Goodlander <![CDATA[The Rise of al-Qaedaism]]> Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Since 9/11, much of al-Qaeda's operational capacity has been dismantled but experts say the group's strength now lies in its ability to inspire others to carry out terrorist attacks.

]]> 2007-07-18 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Russia’s Beef with Regional Arms Control]]> Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Russia has suspended its participation in a treaty on conventional arms and voiced opposition to a missile shield in its backyard. Is a new era of mutual hostility in the making?

]]> 2007-07-16 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Iranian Civil Society and the Role of U.S. Foreign Policy]]> Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The arrests of four Iranian-Americans have created a chill among those in Iran working to open up civil society and led to disagreements over U.S. support for those efforts.

]]> 2007-07-16 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Al-Qaeda in Iraq: Resurging or Splintering?]]> Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With suicide attacks up and the growing use of chlorine bombs, al-Qaeda in Iraq looks increasingly emboldened. But reports are surfacing of rifts among its factions.

]]> 2007-07-16 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Shifting Capital of Capital]]> Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:48:47 -0400 backgrounder New York remains a global heavyweight in financial services, but markets in London and East Asia are gaining strength and posing a serious challenge to the Big Apple.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[What Model Should Iraq Follow after U.S. Forces Withdraw?]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Experts point to a number of postwar models, from Bosnia to Vietnam to South Korea, for Iraq to follow once U.S. forces leave.

]]> 2007-07-11 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[African Migration to Europe]]> Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:20:22 -0400 backgrounder Without a common policy on migration, Europe is struggling to accommodate rising levels of immigrants from Africa.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Julia Choe <![CDATA[Russia’s Soviet Past Still Haunts Relations with West]]> Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:36:52 -0400 backgrounder President Vladimir Putin continues to downplay atrocities by Stalin. Some see Russia’s refusal to come to grips with its Soviet past haunting relations with the West.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Fast-Track Trade Promotion Authority and Its Impact on U.S. Trade Policy]]> Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:05:32 -0400 backgrounder The looming expiration of U.S. fast-track trade promotion authority could trip up momentum toward trade liberalization, but experts say it won’t necessarily be a step backwards.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[India’s Muslim Population]]> Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:50:38 -0400 backgrounder India’s Muslim population, by most measures the world’s second largest after that of Indonesia, has suffered physically and economically at the hands of extremists in the country’s majority.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Economic Doldrums in Iraq]]> Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:22:57 -0400 backgrounder Iraq’s failing economy helps feed the cycle of violence there. Beyond restoring security, however, experts disagree over how to resuscitate it.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Darfur’s Peace Process]]> Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:10:43 -0400 backgrounder While attention is focused on deploying UN peacekeepers to Darfur, most experts say a negotiated peace agreement remains the only way to settle the crisis.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Is U.S. Troop Morale Slipping?]]> Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:58:29 -0400 backgrounder Despite eroding public support for the Iraq war, troop morale remains high. Experts warn that could change as U.S. forces get further bogged down in Iraq.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Religious Conversion and Sharia Law]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:45:39 -0400 backgrounder A Malaysian court’s ruling against a Muslim convert to Christianity highlights the difficulties of blending sharia law with modern legal frameworks.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Fatah al-Islam]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder An overview of the Fatah al-Islam terrorist group.

]]> 2007-06-08 00:00:00 Rebecca Bloom <![CDATA[Can States Invoke ‘Hot Pursuit’ to Hunt Rebels?]]> Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Some analysts want U.S. forces to raid suspected terrorist camps in Syria, but legal experts say such raids might not square with international law.

]]> 2007-06-07 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The World Bank and International Development Lenders]]> Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:33:36 -0400 backgrounder The World Bank, flagship of the world’s international development funds, faces questions about its relevance as a scandal topples its president and a series of smaller challengers sap its authority.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Andrew Hansen <![CDATA[A National ID Program for Iraq?]]> Tue, 29 May 2007 12:31:49 -0400 backgrounder Some U.S. analysts recommend a national ID database with biometric cards to identify insurgents in Iraq, but the proposal faces resistance from the U.S. military.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Democrats, Republicans, and Political Fault Lines on Iraq]]> Fri, 18 May 2007 10:04:17 -0400 backgrounder Public disapproval of the Iraq war is starting to create fissures among Republicans and posing challenges for Democrats seeking to balance national security and political gains .

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)]]> Thu, 03 May 2007 16:18:39 -0400 backgrounder The creation of a new U.S. military command for Africa signals the continent’s growing strategic importance and its many development challenges.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Should Members of Congress Conduct U.S. Foreign Policy Abroad?]]> Thu, 03 May 2007 15:28:25 -0400 backgrounder A recent trip to Syria by the Speaker of the House has set off a debate over the role of legislators in conducting foreign policy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Transforming U.S. Foreign Aid]]> Thu, 03 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder One year into the U.S. State Department’s effort to transform foreign assistance programs, funding is up but criticism remains over the scope of the reforms.

]]> 2007-05-03 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Lebanon]]> Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A number of terrorist organizations operate in Lebanon. Hezbollah, the most powerful of these groups, recently attacked Israel, stirring up regional tensions.

]]> 2007-05-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Effects of ‘Youth Bulge’ on Civil Conflicts]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:23:43 -0400 backgrounder The presence of idle and unemployed young people in the developing world, or so-called “youth bulge,” is emerging as a catalyst for internal violence.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[America’s Vulnerable Energy Grid]]> Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:19:33 -0400 backgrounder Rising demand stands to increase the strain on the already taxed U.S. power grid. Without intervention, the system could become even more susceptible to terrorist attacks and acts of nature.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[The Iraqi Kurdish Question]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:13:06 -0400 backgrounder Demands by Iraqi Kurds for greater autonomy have roiled their Turkish neighbors.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Nigeria’s Creaky Political System]]> Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:24:10 -0400 backgrounder Nigeria has made progress since its return to democracy in 1999. But a political system crippled by corruption and dogged by ethnic tensions threatens to derail the country from its path toward good governance.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[America’s Energy Sources]]> Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder President Bush, in his January 31, 2006, State of the Union address, proposed an Advanced Energy Initiative to reduce American dependency on foreign energy sources. The following is a summary of U.S. energy sources and their potential for reducing America’s need for imports.

]]> 2007-04-11 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Crafting a U.S. Policy on Asia]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:59:13 -0400 backgrounder Experts say the United States, overstretched militarily and diplomatically in the Middle East, needs to refocus its Asia-Pacific strategy to reverse a slide in its influence over the region.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Innovator and Pariah: The United States and Clean Air Legislation]]> Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Despite foot-dragging on climate change, the United States has a strong history of environmental legislation, which could provide models for future greenhouse gas reduction efforts.

]]> 2007-04-03 00:00:00 Andrew Hansen <![CDATA[The Changing Scope of U.S. International Broadcasts]]> Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:32:53 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. government has boosted spending on international broadcasting since 9/11, expanding its reach to the Internet and satellite TV. But critics say these outlets have lost their focus.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[MEND: The Niger Delta’s Umbrella Militant Group]]> Thu, 22 Mar 2007 09:39:45 -0400 backgrounder Backgrounder: MEND has gained global notoriety by disrupting oil supplies in the Niger Delta.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Security in Nigeria]]> Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Backgrounder: Ongoing sectarian troubles and corruption threaten Nigeria's future security.

]]> 2007-03-22 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[The Difficulties of Counting Iraq’s War Dead]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder No definitive estimate exists on the number of Iraqi civilians who have died from violence, largely because of the politically charged nature of the war.

]]> 2007-03-13 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Rail Security and the Terrorist Threat]]> Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:25:55 -0400 backgrounder Backgrounder: Experts say more should be done to reduce risk on both passenger and freight rail.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Timeline: U.S.-Iran Contacts]]> Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:49:13 -0500 backgrounder Since cutting ties in 1979, U.S.-Iran dialogue has been sparse and largely fruitless.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Global Auto Industry]]> Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:22:35 -0500 backgrounder Backgrounder: Detroit’s woes coincide with a blossoming of Asian automakers.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Fusion Centers]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:28:26 -0500 backgrounder Backgrounder: State and local governments are ramping up their own intelligence efforts, using fusion centers to funnel information.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[China’s Anti-Satellite Test]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2007 10:37:52 -0500 backgrounder China's anti-satellite test in January drew international condemnation but also piqued interest in some quarters about instituting a space weapons ban.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[The 'Coalition of the Willing']]> Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Backgrounder: The latest U.S. surge coincides with a drawdown of British forces. The dwindling coalition may hinder U.S. efforts to secure Iraq.

]]> 2007-02-22 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Tehran's Oil Dysfunction]]> Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:06:27 -0500 backgrounder Backgrounder: Economists say Iran's mismanaged energy sector and falling oil prices could have consequences for its economy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) in Africa]]> Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:10:26 -0500 backgrounder The process of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants features in most of Africa’s post-conflict reconstruction programs. Though DDR programs have improved, problems with reintegration persist.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[U.S.-Russia Interests on Collision Course]]> Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:19:54 -0500 backgrounder Backgrounder: Lingering resentment over NATO's expansion has strained U.S.-Russia relations.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The 110th Congress and Immigration Reform]]> Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:14:01 -0500 backgrounder Backgrounder: The new Congress shares President Bush's reform approach but new legislation is by no means assured.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Foreign Ownership of U.S. Infrastructure]]> Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder One year after the Dubai Ports World controversy, Congress is pushing legislation to reform the committee that reviews foreign investments in American companies. But some business groups think proposals for increased oversight go too far.

]]> 2007-02-13 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan and Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[U.S. Sanctions Biting Iran]]> Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:33:52 -0500 backgrounder Backgrounder: The financial levers Washington is applying to bring about a suspension of Iran’s nuclear program.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Bush’s Baghdad Plan]]> Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:48:13 -0500 backgrounder President Bush's new "surge" plan to clear and hold Baghdad's neighborhoods faces a tough challenge from high levels of sectarian violence.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The 110th Congress—Democrats and Energy Security]]> Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:06:50 -0500 backgrounder Democratic congressional leaders say improving energy security is a priority. But while there is broad interest in lessening U.S. dependence on foreign oil and in promoting renewable fuels, comprehensive energy legislation remains a distant prospect.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[November 17, Revolutionary People’s Struggle, Revolutionary Struggle (Greece, leftists)]]> Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A profile of Greek leftist terrorist groups.

]]> 2007-01-12 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Impediments to National Reconciliation in Iraq]]> Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A cessation to the violence in Iraq cannot come about without some kind of national reconciliation between the country’s warring factions. But previous reconciliation efforts by Shiite leaders have failed to entice Sunnis into the political fold. What are the prospects for success now?

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[110th Congress—Defense Spending Issue Looms]]> Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The debate over defense spending will be more contentious than usual as the annual budget process ramps up in Washington.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[The 110th Congress: Dems and Trade]]> Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Democrats now leading both houses of Congress will exercise strong influence on U.S. trade matters. Experts expect a slowdown in action on trade deals and a tough battle for renewal of the presidential trade promotion authority.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic]]> Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region increasingly threatens two neighboring countries—Chad and the Central African Republic. Here is a look at the major actors and how each country’s government has addressed—or exacerbated—the crisis.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[New York Spurs Counterterrorism Efforts]]> Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The “war on terrorism” is often portrayed as playing out on the streets of Baghdad or in the mountains of Afghanistan. But New York City is another important battleground and could provide lessons for how other U.S. localities deal with counterterrorism.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Assessing the Tsunami Warning System]]> Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Two years after a tsunami devastated several Indian Ocean countries, a rudimentary warning system is in place. But coordination and funding concerns have slowed plans for a permanent regional system.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Rebecca Bloom <![CDATA[Resetting U.S. Policy in the Middle East]]> Mon, 18 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder President Bush’s review of U.S. Iraq policy may involve adjustments to broader U.S. strategy in the Mideast. Bush is hearing proposals ranging from a boost in combat forces to engaging Iran and Syria to a linkage with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet few expect dramatic shifts in policy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Iraq’s Other Embeds: Advisers]]> Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Whatever emerges from the current review of U.S. Iraq policy, embedding more U.S. military advisers with Iraqi forces will be a vital component. But can this training effort help secure Iraq?

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Two Iranian Elections: One Local, One Lofty]]> Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A pair of important elections in Iran may indicate which direction the public mood is swinging ahead of parliamentary polls next year.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Targets for Terrorists: Chemical Facilities]]> Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Attacks on U.S. chemical facilities have the potential to affect thousands, possibly millions of people, yet many of them remain poorly secured. Legislation to improve security standards has been watered down.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Multiple Iraq Reports to Compete for President’s Attention]]> Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As he weighs options on Iraq, President Bush will consider not only the Iraq Study Group report but also pending in-house reports from the National Security Council and the Pentagon.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Baker-Hamilton Commission (aka Iraq Study Group)]]> Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As the much-discussed Iraq Study Group gears up to give its final report to Congress, there is a flurry of speculation over what its recommendations will include. Here is an inside look at the so-called Baker commission. 

]]> 2006-12-06 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Modernizing the People’s Liberation Army of China]]> Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder China is transforming its People’s Liberation Army into a leaner, modernized force, raising U.S. concerns over Beijing’s long-term military goals.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[The Implications of ‘Civil War’ in Iraq]]> Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder It is unclear if classifying the conflict in Iraq as a civil war will have serious ramifications for U.S. military strategy there or, for that matter, U.S. domestic politics.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Iran’s Ethnic Groups]]> Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Iran is a predominantly Shiite Muslim state but contains sizeable ethnic and religious minorities that influence Iran’s foreign and regional policy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Campaign to Ban Cluster Bombs]]> Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A global push is underway to ban cluster bombs after their use in the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, as well as in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo, has left hundreds of noncombatants maimed or dead.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[UN Sanctions: A Mixed Record]]> Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Despite a spotty record of effectiveness, Western states continue to promote UN sanctions in cases ranging from North Korea to Iran. But the UN Security Council is more divided than ever about implementing these coercive measures.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[The Growing Nuclear Club]]> Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Backgrounder: North Korea is the latest member of the world’s still-exclusive nuclear club. But other aspirants are waiting in the wings.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Kathleen Sutcliffe <![CDATA[Iraq's Post-Saddam Insurgency]]> Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder With Saddam sentenced to death, experts say Sunni insurgents will fight on in an effort to rid Iraq of U.S. forces and avoid Shiite political dominance.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Cost of the Iraq War]]> Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder With U.S. forces mired in Iraq, the cost of war has escalated. But some critics decry the manner in which the war is being funded more than the price tag itself.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Examining Counterterrorism Culture]]> Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Counterterrorism agencies in the United States proudly point to the lack of a “second 9/11 attack” in response to critics of their methods. Here’s a look at the continuing debate over the proper organization of U.S. counterterrorism agencies.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Congress, Foreign Policy, and the Democratic Party]]> Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Polls continue to show Democrats regaining control of at least one house of Congress in the November 7 elections. If this happens, they could exercise greater oversight of executive bodies and trade policy, but they are not expected to press for sharp changes on Iraq.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Nicaragua’s Presidential Elections]]> Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega leads the polls ahead of November 5 presidential elections and appears on the verge of an extraordinary political comeback. It remains unclear what an Ortega presidency would mean for the country.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Russia-Iran Arms Trade]]> Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The flow of Russian conventional weapons to Iran—notably sophisticated surface-to-air defense missiles—has increased markedly of late, complicating U.S.-led efforts to tamp Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[U.S. Political Parties and Foreign Policy]]> Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Foreign policy is dominating U.S. political discourse for the first time in years. This backgrounder looks at the leading schools of foreign-policy thought on both sides of the political aisle.

]]> 2006-10-31 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[The Surging Vietnamese Economy]]> Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Vietnam’s economy is booming as the World Trade Organization prepares to welcome the communist country as a full member after eleven years of accession negotiations.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Modern Military Force Structures]]> Thu, 26 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Classic military unit groupings differ greatly in their specialization and size, and from country to country. Here is a basic look at how modern ground, naval, and air units break down in terms of size and tasks.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[Iraq’s Militia Groups]]> Thu, 26 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The number of militias is reportedly multiplying in Iraq, while their loyalties grow more dispersed and their tactics more violent and sectarian-focused.    

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Flynn: Homeland Security 'Report Card']]> Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder To mark its fifth anniversary, Stephen E. Flynn, CFR’s leading national security expert, evaluates the general performance of the Office of Homeland Security.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Maliki and Sadr: An Alliance of Convenience]]> Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faces the unenviable task of refereeing Iraq’s many ethno-religious factions while subduing sectarian violence on the streets. His relationship to a powerful Shiite cleric only exacerbates his task. 

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA["Dirty Bombs"]]> Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 2006-10-19 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Proliferation Security Initiative]]> Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The United States launched the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) in 2003 to help curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Since then, PSI membership has expanded sevenfold, and the program has contributed to significant seizures of WMD shipments.

]]> 2006-10-19 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Japan’s New Leader Faces Old Problems with China and South Korea]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The new prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, faces the difficult task of mending frayed relations with China and South Korea. Experts say that Abe has made initial progress, but the North Korea nuclear test presents new challenges for northeast Asian relations.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[The Impact of North Korea’s Nuclear Test on Iran Crisis]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder North Korea’s nuclear test may further damage nonproliferation efforts, as well as complicate ongoing negotiations with Iran to suspend its nuclear program. Much will depend on the response from Moscowand Beijing.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Afghanistan, Five Years On]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Five years after the U.S.-led invasion, Afghanistan continues to face a number of problems aside from its battle with Taliban fighters and opium farmers.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Foreign Policy and the U.S. Midterm Elections]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The U.S. midterm elections for Congress, typically dominated by domestic concerns, may turn on how the public views the role of majority Republicans on a wide range of foreign-policy-related issues, including the war in Iraq, national security, and immigration.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Brazil's Powerful Prison Gang]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a Brazilian prison gang, staged a series of attacks in May that paralyzed the city of Sao Paulo. Subsequent waves of violence have raised concerns about the organization’s expanding influence.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[The United States and the Geneva Conventions]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Backgrounder: U.S. debate over treatment of detainees hinges on interpretation of the Geneva Conventions.

]]> 2006-09-20 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Syria: U.S. Policy Options]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The United States has long tried to compel Syria to adjust its behavior, but rarely with any result. This backgrounder examines the current U.S. policy options toward Syria.

]]> 2006-09-15 00:00:00 Esther Pan and Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Democratic Party Proposals on Iraq]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The war in Iraq is a divisive issue not only between Democrats and Republicans but also among Democrats themselves. Their ability to offer a viable alternate strategy on Iraq may decide whether they win control of Congress. 

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Afghanistan's Role in Iran's Drug Problem]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A rise in drug use in Iran is one overlooked consequence of the surge in opium production in the Taliban-run provinces of southern Afghanistan.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[U.S. Companies and Greenhouse Gas Regulations]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Although it seems clear the United States will not change its current position and sign onto the Kyoto treaty, some U.S. companies are starting to push for mandatory federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Elisabeth Smick <![CDATA[Musharraf’s Taliban Problem]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is under increasing pressure from NATO and the United States to clamp down on Taliban militants, but internal resistance from Pakistani Islamists is preventing him from acting more forcefully.

]]> 2006-09-11 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Targets for Terrorists: Post-9/11 Aviation Security]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The air travel system remains one of the most high-profile targets for terrorists. This backgrounder examines efforts to improve aviation security since the 9/11 attacks.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Iraq’s Meddlesome Neighbors]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As American influence in Iraq wanes, Arab, Turkish, and Iranian influence over Baghdad will invariably rise.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Phase Two in the Saddam Trial]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Saddam Hussein's trial has entered its second phase as he faces charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for a 1988 campaign against Iraqi Kurds. Experts hope the domestic court, despite difficult circumstances, may strengthen the rule of law and the fledgling legal system in Iraq.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Christian Evangelicals and U.S. Foreign Policy]]> Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Evangelical Christians have been a force in U.S. society dating back to the nineteenth century. But experts say in recent years their influence on U.S. foreign policy has grown, from humanitarian activity in Africa to human rights in Asia.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Multiethnic Armies and National Unity]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Multiethnic armies like the Lebanese, Iraqi, and Afghan national forces face enormous challenges as they attempt to become viable forces. Historically, successes in unifying a military force often have a huge impact on a nation's larger society.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[Postscript: Ukrainians Vote for Parliament]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Ukrainians go to the polls to show whether they endorse the pace of reforms since the 2004 Orange Revolution or seek to return to warmer ties with Russia. The party of former presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovich goes into the vote with the highest approval ratings of any political bloc.

]]> 2006-08-22 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA['Plan B' Scenarios in Iraq]]> Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With Iraq growing more violent by the month, experts say the status quo is unsustainable and are calling for a Plan B to avert an all-out civil war.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Postscript: Congo’s Elections]]> Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder On July 30, the Democratic Republic of the Congo will hold its first multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in four decades. Many hope this will be the country’s first fully democratic election, but a host of challenges—including infrastructure, security, and communication—have experts hoping the Congolese people will merely accept the election’s results.

]]> 2006-08-21 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[Hugo Chavez’s World Tour]]> Wed, 16 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder In a recent world tour—stops included Belarus, Russia, and Iran—Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez attempted to expand his influence beyond Latin America and capitalize on the leverage afforded by his oil riches.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Stephanie Hanson <![CDATA[The Al-Qaeda-Hezbollah Relationship]]> Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah are supposedly rival groups on opposite sides of sectarian lines. Yet recent statements from senior al-Qaeda leadership suggest a common enemy may be drawing them together, and experts believe such a liaison could pose grave new dangers for the United States.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Iran's Waning Human Rights]]> Wed, 09 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With international attention focused on Tehran’s nuclear activities, democracy advocates, journalists, and human rights campaigners in Iran face a worsening situation and daily harassment. 

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Water Stress in Sub-Saharan Africa]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from greater levels of water stress than many other regions in the world. Experts say wise economic development focused on infrastructure and improved treaties on water allocation are crucial to relieving this stress.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Christopher W. Tatlock <![CDATA[Somalia’s High Stakes Power Struggle]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A group of Islamist courts have seized power across much of Somalia. Many outside observers are anxiously watching—and interfering—as the power struggle plays out between the Islamists and the official government.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[NATO and the Afghan-Pakistani Border]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Taliban fighters have stepped up their attacks along the Afghan-Pakistani border as the United States hands over control of southern Afghanistan to NATO forces, freeing up American troops to try, once again, to stem the flow across the frontier.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Defining Victory: The Differing Goals of Israel and Hezbollah]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the fighting between Israel and Lebanon escalates into its third week, each side has its own definition of victory and its own plan for emerging from the crisis. Some experts say Hezbollah already has accomplished its goals, while Israel faces an uphill battle to reassert its military primacy in the region.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[NATO Looks to Expand Mission and Membership]]> Thu, 27 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With talk of deploying NATO peacekeepers to patrol the Lebanese border, the alliance is tackling new challenges outside of Europewhile looking to recruit new members. Not everyone, however, supports a larger NATO.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[NATO Takes On Afghan Security]]> Thu, 27 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As NATO prepares to take over military operations in southern Afghanistan from U.S. forces, the Taliban's increasingly bold attacks are straining the political and security framework of the country.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Multilateral Intervention in the Middle East: An Uninspiring Legacy]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Efforts to stabilize and pacify the Middle East conflict with UN and multinational peacekeeping forces have proven difficult—if not impossible. A look at the history of such efforts.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[Lebanon’s Weak Government]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As Israeli air strikes decimate Lebanon, the elected government in Beirut is weak, divided, and seems powerless to control Hezbollah, whose attack on an Israeli convoy July 12 started the conflict.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Syria, Iran, and the Mideast Conflict]]> Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The relationship between Syria and Iran is receiving new scrutiny as an Israeli offensive against Lebanon—sparked by an attack on Israeli soldiers by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is supported by both Damascus and Tehran—grinds on.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[The Chechen Separatist Movement]]> Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Chechen separatist Shamil Basayev is one of several rebel leaders to die violently in recent years. His death leaves the future of the movement in doubt.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Elisabeth Smick <![CDATA[Securing Baghdad]]> Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Despite a security clampdown in Baghdad, Iraq's capital remains a hotbed of sectarian violence. The new government has yet to find a solution—military, political, or otherwise—for securing the city.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The G8 Summit Agenda]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Russia's hosting of the G8 summit in St. Petersburg was meant to symbolize the country's integration into the club of the world's richest industrialized democracies. But with Russia moving in an increasingly illiberal direction, any agreements made on the issues topping the G8 agenda—energy security, Iran, and trade—may be more symbolic than tangible.

]]> 2006-07-13 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Profile of Khaled Meshal (aka Khalid Meshaal, Khaleed Mash’al)]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder From his exile in Syria, Khaled Meshal, the top ranked member of Hamas, exercises leadership and serves as the group's diplomatic envoy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Targets for Terrorism: Ground Transportation]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder An overview of ground transportation systems and their vulnerability to terrorist attacks.

]]> 2006-07-13 00:00:00 cfr.org editorial staff <![CDATA[Israel and the Doctrine of Proportionality]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Israel's counteroffensive into Lebanon and the Palestinian territories raises a question about what constitutes a legal and legitimate proportional response under international law.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Canada’s Immigration Policy]]> Thu, 06 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Canada has a comparatively open immigration policy designed to attract a group of diverse, educated professionals. But recent arrests linked to a terror cell have raised questions about integration of Muslims and lax policy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Elisabeth Smick <![CDATA[The Challenge in Iraq's Other Cities: Kirkuk]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Experts predict that if civil war erupts in Iraq, the spark may come from Kirkuk. Oil-rich and under de facto Kurdish control, the city has emerged as one of Iraq's most hotly contested flashpoints.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Global Health and the Gates Foundation]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder In a short time, the Gates Foundation has established a reputation as an innovative, effective donor to global health causes. A $30 billion gift from Warren Buffett is expected to dramatically expand the foundation's influence.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[The Challenge in Iraq’s Other Cities: Basra]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Violence in oil-rich Basra, Iraq's second largest city, is one of the most serious security challenges facing Iraq ’s new government.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Documenting Andijan]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A newly obtained video of a May 2005 massacre of civilians in the Uzbek city of Andijan casts new light on an event that led to a marked decrease in U.S. influence in the region.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Iraq's Faltering Infrastructure]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder While security remains the top concern, Iraq's new government must also confront the dearth of basic services, including water and electricity. Oil production, still below prewar levels, remains crucial to lifting the welfare of Iraqis.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Debate Over Granting Amnesty to Iraqi Insurgents]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A firestorm of criticism followed the recent proposal by the Iraqi government to grant amnesty to insurgents. But experts say conflicts like the one raging in Iraq rarely end in clear-cut military victories, and an amnesty offer makes political sense.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Australia's Security Role in the Pacific]]> Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Australia is assuming a more prominent role in Pacific Rim security affairs, increasingly deploying forces to troubled states in the region in an attempt to stabilize them. While its moves are welcomed by some of its neighbors, others are wary of Canberra's strong military and its close relationship with Washington.

]]> 2006-06-18 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Shia Muslims in the Mideast]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Backgrounder: Some experts say a "Shiite crescent" holds the potential to transform Islamic politics in the coming years.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Postscript: Belarusians Go To the Polls]]> Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka is expected to sweep polls March 19 in a presidential election few anticipate will be free or fair.

]]> 2006-06-15 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Profile: Abu Bakar Bashir (a.k.a. Ba’asyir)]]> Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of Abu Bakar Bashir, the Indonesian cleric whose fiery invectives have motivated terrorist attacks like the 2002 Bali bombings, and who some experts say is affiliated with al-Qaeda.

]]> 2006-06-14 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, Zarqawi's Mysterious Successor (aka Abu Ayub al-Masri)]]> Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Five days after U.S. forces killed al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the group announced his successor, the unknown Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. Speculation abounds about the man and the significance of his appointment.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[The Rise in Bilateral Free Trade Agreements]]> Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As the Doha world trade talks founder, the United States has continued to pursue a growing number of bilateral deals. Some economists praise the trend as contributing to trade liberalization and market reforms while others scorn the practice as skewing trade norms.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Iraq's Insurgency After Zarqawi]]> Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Iraq's most wanted man, is an important event but one unlikely to affect the insurgency greatly.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Profile: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]> Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A profile of the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the man responsible for coordinating suicide bombings in Amman and Madrid, multiple attacks on Iraqi Shiites and Shiite mosques, and the highly-publicized beheading of American Nicholas Berg.

]]> 2006-06-08 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[North Korea's Capitalist Experiment]]> Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The government of North Korean President Kim Jung-Il retains a virtual death grip on the nation's economy, directing all official economic activity through an authoritarian command system. But recent moves to liberalize some aspects of the economy pose a dilemma for Kim: the country needs to modernize to survive, but opening up the economy will threaten his hold on power.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Somalia's Terrorist Infestation]]> Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The United States lists Somalia as a haven for terrorists, and indeed, evidence suggests terrorists are using the fractured state as an operational hub. Yet Somalia's current links to terrorism are tiny in comparison to the potential problem the country poses.

]]> 2006-06-06 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[What Happens Now on Haditha Investigation]]> Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Allegations of a murderous rampage by U.S. Marines directed at civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha, as well as a possible cover-up by military officials, may further damage the U.S. image abroad. Here's a look at what happens next as the investigations move toward legal action.

]]> 2006-06-06 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Scope of China's Military Threat]]> Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Defense Department's most recent assessment of China's military power presents it as a potential military rival of the United States. But some experts say China has no intention of challenging U.S. military dominance in Asia or anywhere else, and accuse the Pentagon of hyping the China threat to justify its own military spending.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Iraq Security: Limping Forward]]> Fri, 26 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With a new government in place, security concerns will dominate the Iraqi leaders' agenda. Reforming the country's decrepit police force will be paramount if Iraq is to end its cycle of violence.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Beyond Security: Challenges for Iraq's New Government]]> Thu, 25 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Iraq's first permanent government faces a host of challenges in the months ahead, from fighting corruption to supplying water and electricity to amending Iraq's constitution.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[U.S. May Shift Strategy on North Korea]]> Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder News reports say the United States may be shifting its approach toward North Korea in an ongoing effort to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. But some experts say that with negotiations stalled and important U.S. elections approaching, North Korea is content to wait out the Bush administration.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Snags Remain in Forming Iraqi Government]]> Mon, 22 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The main hurdles to forming a permanent government in Iraq and improving its worsening security situation remain the ministries of defense and interior. Iraq's parliament approved the new government May 20.

]]> 2006-05-22 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Montenegro’s Referendum on Independence]]> Fri, 19 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A referendum on Montenegro's independence could redraw national boundaries in the Balkans. It could also strain tensions in an already volatile region.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Cyprus’ Elections]]> Fri, 19 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Cyprus' parliamentary elections are the first since the 2004 referendum on Kofi Annan's plan for reunification was voted down, and the first since the country's accession to the EU that same year. These elections differ further in that some Turkish Cypriots have registered to vote, and a Turkish Cypriot is running for office.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Alexandra Silver <![CDATA[China's Soft Power Initiative]]> Thu, 18 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder China is expanding its use of cultural, educational, and diplomatic tools to increase its appeal across the world. The move comes as U.S. cultural influence slips and some say the United States may be losing its "soft power," or ability to gain influence through non-coercive means.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Bolivia's Nationalization of Oil and Gas]]> Fri, 12 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder In a region seen as turning leftward, forging alliances would seem a natural course of events. But Bolivian President Evo Morales' decision to nationalize the oil and gas industry is exposing tensions, causing experts to say there is more diffusion than alliance-building in Latin America.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[The Impact of the UN Oil-for-Food Scandal]]> Thu, 11 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The largest humanitarian program in UN history was also victimized by the organization's worst corruption scandal. The oil-for-food case has triggered moves toward reform at the UN but the shockwaves have just begun to reach capitals of nation- states and corporate headquarters.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[What Sanctions Mean for Iran’s Economy]]> Fri, 05 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder As UN Security Council members mull sanctions against Tehran, experts say such a move, even with climbing oil prices, could deal a devastating blow to Iran's economy.

]]> 2006-05-05 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Pope Benedict’s First Twelve Months]]> Thu, 04 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Pope Benedict XVI's first year has been quiet and at times confusing to his critics. But experts caution against reading too much of a theological shift into the pope's tranquil beginnings.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Darfur: Crisis Continues]]> Thu, 04 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Whatever the outcome of the current round of peace negotiations between Sudan's government and rebel groups, the crisis in Darfur seems likely to drag on. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is planning a transition from AU peacekeepers to an expanded, UN-led force.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Iraq’s Press: A Status Report]]> Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Kidnappings and deaths among the corps of international journalists covering the Iraq war occur with grim regularity. Yet the conditions facing native Iraqi journalists—both those working for Iraqi media and as "stringers" for outside organizations—are even more harrowing.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Chad's Oil Troubles]]> Thu, 27 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The World Bank, a U.S.-led oil consortium, and Chad's government came together for a pipeline plan that was hailed as a new model to help developing nations escape poverty and avoid corruption. But unstable Chad's decision to modify the agreement to buy arms threatened to doom the arrangement.

]]> 2006-04-27 00:00:00 Carin Zissis <![CDATA[Syria: Has Assad Dodged a Bullet?]]> Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Bashar al-Assad, whose regime looked shaky under international pressure last year, is consolidating his power and cracking down on dissent. Despite a UN probe linking Syrian officials to the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Assad appears to have gained some breathing room.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Colombia’s Elections]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Incumbent President Alvaro Uribe is favored to win Colombia's May 28 elections, a result that would mark a departure from the trend that has seen left-leaning governments come to power around the region.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[The New Face of Iraq's Government]]> Sat, 22 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Iraq's Shiite leadership finally selects a candidate for prime minister to replace the embattled Ibrahim al-Jaafari. But experts are not impressed with the new candidate's credentials.

]]> 2006-04-22 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Hamas and the Shrinking PA Budget]]> Fri, 21 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Palestinian Authority is in a budget crunch after Hamas, a group listed as a terrorist organization by both the European Union and the United States, won January's elections, yet refused to renounce violence or recognize Israel. This prompted a suspension of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid payments. Iran and Arab countries vow to make up the difference, but experts question the reliability of such pledges.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[The World Bank and Corruption]]> Fri, 21 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A decade after the World Bank mounted its first anticorruption campaign, the impact appears to have been minimal. Paul Wolfowitz, the bank's new president, is seeking to reinvigorate the effort. But doubts remain about the bank's ability to confront corruption among its borrowers.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[Arab Views of a Nuclear Iran]]> Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The Arab world is watching nuclear developments in Iran closely. The outcome could disrupt the Middle East's balance of power or, worse, provoke a regional nuclear arms race.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Uneasy U.S.-Chinese Trade Relationship]]> Wed, 19 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Trade relations between the United States and China have provided enormous benefits to both countries. But a growing U.S. trade deficit, China's regulation of its currency, and concerns over intellectual property violations continue to stress the relationship.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Anti-terror Measures at U.S. Nuclear Plants]]> Fri, 14 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Nuclear power remains an important source of electricity in the United States, but many are concerned security at nuclear plants is inadequate to thwart terrorist attacks.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[The Promise and Pitfalls of China’s ‘Peaceful Rise’]]> Fri, 14 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Chinese leaders face the dilemma of continuing their country's staggering economic growth while spreading its benefits to the hundreds of millions of rural poor. Beijing hopes its "peaceful rise" policy will reassure neighboring countries that China is not a threat and help it accomplish these goals.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Japan and Its Military]]> Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Japan's constitution forbids a traditional military, allowing only a narrowly defined Self Defense Force, or SDF. Some experts now see acceleration in the longstanding movement to modernize and strengthen the country's national defense.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[U.S. Military Strategy in Iraq]]> Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder With all the talk of drawing down U.S. forces in Iraq, the U.S. military is quietly adopting a strategy that gets more U.S. soldiers onto the streets to interact with Iraqi locals and forces. Experts say this strategy will be successful at securing Iraq in the long run, even though it puts troops at greater risk in the short run.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Iran's Multifaceted Foreign Policy]]> Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Contrary to conventional wisdom, Iranian foreign policy is not the province of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but rather of a complex set of groups mostly run by clerics. This results in a foreign policy that often is muddled and occasionally contradictory.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Italy Election Preview]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Italians will head to the polls for parliamentary elections on April 9 and 10 to determine whether Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi or challenger Romano Prodi and his center-left coalition will win the tight race.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Alexandra Silver <![CDATA[The Forgotten Drug War]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Has the once ballyhooed U.S. "war on drugs" been put on the policy backburner? Many experts think it has, and also that this might be a good thing.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Sino-Russian Energy Ties]]> Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder Russia's vast supply of energy and China's insatiable demand are making the two countries natural partners. Their shared goal of checking U.S. regional influence has also drawn their foreign policies closer.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Tracking Down Terrorist Financing]]> Tue, 04 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder A lower-profile but still crucial aspect of global anti-terror efforts involves unraveling the networks that have funded attacks from New York to Bali. Terrorists have proven adept at maintaining financial links intact.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Iran, the United Nations, and Sanctions]]> Tue, 04 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder The UN Security Council is debating how to restrict Iran's nuclear program. Western states seek a firm statement and the threat of eventual sanctions if Iran does not suspend its uranium enrichment work. But Russia and China oppose sanctions, leading to talk about economic penalties outside the United Nations' authority.

]]> 2006-04-04 00:00:00 Robert McMahon <![CDATA[U.S. Intervention in Iraqi Politics]]> Thu, 30 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Washington's opposition to the Shiites' nomination for prime minister highlights the growing strain in U.S.-Shiite relations in Iraq. The reaction of some Shiite leaders suggests U.S. influence in Iraq may be on the wane.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Thailand Election Preview]]> Thu, 30 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As Thailand heads into snap elections April 2, embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tries to fend off protests from opposition groups who charge him with autocratic governance and corrupt business dealings.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Prosecuting Terrorists after September 11]]> Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The prosecution of alleged terrorists in U.S. civilian criminal courts and in new military tribunals has been fraught with controversy. U.S. federal courts have gradually asserted their role in the military tribunal process, and a case before the U.S. Supreme Court could make a major statement about the power of the U.S. presidency in prosecuting the war on terror.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Alexandra Silver <![CDATA[Israel Election Preview]]> Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Ariel Sharon's break from the Likud party and formation of a centrist party, Kadima, fundamentally changed the landscape of Israeli politics even before his debilitating stroke in early January. Now his successor, Ehud Olmert, who seeks a boost from March 28 parliamentary polls, will try to continue his legacy.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[The U.S. Immigration Debate]]> Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As the U.S. Senate takes up the controversial issue of immigration, competing Senate proposals offer measures from building walls and increasing border patrol to guest-worker programs and amnesty. But the acrimonious political mood around the issue will make the necessary compromises difficult to reach.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Soft Power: Democracy-Promotion and U.S. NGOs]]> Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The U.S. government has several channels for promoting democracy, but a plethora of independent U.S. organizations with that same mandate also exist, with varying degrees of financial dependency on the government.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Alexandra Silver <![CDATA[Terrorist Groups and Political Legitimacy]]> Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Terrorist groups can never change their stripes, or so politicians regularly remind their citizens. Yet history begs to differ.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[Taiwan Raises Its Voice Again]]> Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian is continuing to take steps toward Taiwan independence that are seen as provocative and unwelcome by Beijing and Washington. But experts say his actions are driven by domestic political concerns and have little chance of altering the cross-Strait relationship.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Saddam's Trial]]> Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-03-14 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Peru’s Elections]]> Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Peru's upcoming presidential election could be an important litmus test in a region leaning leftward.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Pakistan’s Security Situation]]> Thu, 02 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As President Bush heads to Pakistan, security in the Islamic nation is a primary issue. Under President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan has made strides to curb extremism and reform Islamic education. But critics say the Pakistani security services are not doing enough to prevent members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda from using bases in Pakistan to conduct armed attacks on neighboring India and Afghanistan.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Russia’s Nuclear Deal with Iran]]> Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As the world struggles to find a formula for dealing with suspicious nuclear developments in Iran , Russian diplomats have been holding bilateral talks with Iranian officials on a proposal they say could defuse the crisis.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Liquefied Natural Gas: A Potential Terrorist Target?]]> Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The transport of liquefied natural gas to the United States is expected to surge in the next two decades. The explosive power of such gas makes transport ships attractive terrorist targets. Security experts say it is time to improve safeguards.

]]> 2006-02-27 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[India, China, and the United States: A Delicate Balance]]> Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As India and China enjoy tremendous economic growth, each country is vying to increase its role on the world stage. The United States will play a critical part in the emergence of these two major powers in Asia. As President Bush heads to India, cfr.org provides a brief look at the relationships between the three countries.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Iran’s Goals in Iraq]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Iran continues to raise concerns in Washington that it is intent on destabilizing postwar Iraq. Most recently, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad accused Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs by financing and training militia groups that sow sectarian violence.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Kosovo Eyes Independence]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Recent talks in Vienna have revived speculation about the prospects for a near-term solution to the final status of Kosovo. Some experts believe an agreement on Kosovo's independence could be on the horizon, though there are still myriad factors that could influence efforts to resolve the province's status.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Governing Corporations in a Shrinking World]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Assessing the SEC's changing role in a world where corporations increasingly operate across-borders and globally.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[The UAE purchase of American port facilities]]> Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder A United Arab Emirates-owned company is set to take control of terminals in six major U.S. ports, raising questions about security.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Uganda's Presidential Elections]]> Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's decision to run for a third term in the February 23 presidential election—which he is expected to win—the imprisonment of his main political rival, and the festering conflict between government forces and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army in northern Uganda, have aroused international concern.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[U.S.-Mexico Border Woes]]> Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As U.S. public opinion increasingly favors stronger immigration controls, the Senate considers a bill that would impose harsh penalties on illegal immigrants. The U.S.-Mexican relationship has suffered as a result.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[U.S. Soft Diplomacy in Iran]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Afghanistan’s New Security Threat]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Suicide bombings, once unheard of in Afghanistan, are now on the rise. More than two dozen suicide attacks since parliamentary elections in September 2005 have raised fears that Afghan militants are adopting tactics from insurgencies in Iraq and elsewhere.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[A Preview of Iraq’s New Government]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Israel’s Nuclear Program and Middle East Peace]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As diplomatic pressure intensifies on Iran over its nuclear program, new attention is being focused on Israel's nuclear capabilities and the challenges its nuclear program poses for peace in the Middle East.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Hamas' Leaders]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder As Hamas prepares to take over the government of the Palestinian Authority, CFR.org profiles some of its most prominent leaders.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Alexandra Silver <![CDATA[South Korea's Ties with China, Japan, and the U.S.: Defining a New Role in a Dangerous Neighborhood]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder South Korea, long a stalwart ally of the United States, is now seeking to define a new role for itself in Asia.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Risk-Based Homeland Security Spending]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder The Department of Homeland Security has changed the way it awards funds to cities. The question now is whether the new program will make America's cities safer.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[New Focus On U.S.-Southeast Asia Military Ties]]> Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Two Deficits, Fed Turnover]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Two decades ago, the United States was the world's largest creditor; now it's the world's largest debtor. As Ben Bernanke assumes the post of Federal Reserve chairman, succeeding Alan Greenspan, opinion is split over how much America's profligacy actually matters.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lee Hudson Teslik <![CDATA[Implications of the Palestinian Elections]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[The Palestinian Authority's Government]]> Tue, 24 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder Palestinian voters will elect a new Legislative Council on January 25. cfr.org offers a brief primer on the workings of the Palestinian Authority government.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[The Role of Kurds in Iraqi Politics]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Responding to Biological Attacks]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Responding to Radiation Attacks]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Responding to Chemical Attacks]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Responding to Nuclear Attacks]]> Fri, 13 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Is There a Rift in Iraq's Insurgency?]]> Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[VX]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Anthrax]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[The Anthrax Letters]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Smallpox]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Loose Nukes]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Other Biological Agents: Botulism, Plague, Tularemia, HFVs]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Terrorists' Nuclear Capabilities]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Energy’s Impact on EU-Russian Relations]]> Tue, 10 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Palestinian Authority]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-12-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Iraq]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-12-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[FBI and Law Enforcement]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 cfr.org editorial staff <![CDATA[Targets for Terrorism: Information Infrastructure]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 cfr.org editorial staff <![CDATA[Department of Homeland Security]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Fire Departments]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Responding to a Terrorist Attack: Hospital Emergency Rooms]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 cfr.org editorial staff <![CDATA[Targets for Terrorism: Food and Agriculture]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 cfr.org editorial staff <![CDATA[Targets for Terrorism: Nuclear Facilities]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 cfr.org editorial staff <![CDATA[Police Departments]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 cfr.org editorial staff <![CDATA[Targets for Terrorism: Ports]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2006-01-01 00:00:00 cfr.org editorial staff <![CDATA[Hamas’ Role in the Palestinian Elections]]> Fri, 30 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Iraq and Oil: Revenue-Sharing Among Regions]]> Thu, 29 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Muslim Democracy: A status report]]> Wed, 28 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Dina Guirguis <![CDATA[Hong Kong Pushes Beijing Back as Democracy Demands Continue]]> Fri, 23 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[2006: A Look Ahead]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[Land Reform Revisited]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Tsunami Rebuilding Efforts, One Year Later]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Forming a New Iraqi Government]]> Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[IRAQ: Sunnis, the Elections, and the Insurgency]]> Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Bolivia’s Presidential Elections]]> Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[China's Angry Peasants]]> Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Who’s Who in Iraqi Politics]]> Tue, 13 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Dina Guirguis <![CDATA[Iraq’s Media Takes Its First Steps]]> Tue, 13 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Iraqi Political Coalitions in the Parliamentary Elections]]> Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The WTO’s Troubled ‘Doha Negotiations’]]> Fri, 09 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan and Claire Calzonetti <![CDATA[Long-Term Prospects for the U.S. Military Presence in the Persian Gulf Region]]> Fri, 09 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Training Iraqi forces]]> Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[American Presidents at the Council on Foreign Relations]]> Wed, 07 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Iraq’s Parliamentary Elections: An Explainer]]> Wed, 07 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[U.S. Treatment of Terror Suspects and U.S.-EU Relations]]> Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[Kazakhstan’s Presidential Elections]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Child Soldiers Around the World]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Georgia]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-12-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Colombia]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-12-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Indonesia]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-12-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[State Sponsors: Libya]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-12-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Terrorism Havens: Afghanistan]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-12-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt's Parliamentary Elections]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[Shiite Militias and Iraq's Security Forces]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Elections in Chechnya]]> Wed, 23 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Venezuela and the Rise of Chavez: A Background Discussion Paper]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Richard Lapper <![CDATA[One Year After Ukraine’s ‘Orange Revolution’]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[U.S.-Venezuelan Relations]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[The Impact of the Gaza Border Deal]]> Tue, 15 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Violence in the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia vs. Eritrea]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The U.S.-China Relationship: Policy Goals]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Torture, the United States, and Laws of War]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Effects of the Amman Bombings on U.S.-Jordanian Relations]]> Thu, 10 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Egypt’s Parliamentary Elections]]> Wed, 09 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[Iraq's Reconstruction Ailments]]> Wed, 09 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Liberia’s Presidential Runoff]]> Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[EGYPT: Islamist Opposition Groups]]> Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 2005-08-01 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Nagorno-Karabakh: The Crisis in the Caucasus]]> Thu, 03 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Importance of Azerbaijan’s Parliamentary Elections]]> Wed, 02 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[What to Expect from the Summit of the Americas]]> Wed, 02 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Northern Ireland Loyalist Paramilitaries (U.K., extremists)]]> Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-11-01 00:00:00 <![CDATA[India-Pakistan: Peace After the Earthquake?]]> Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-11-01 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[PFLP, DFLP, PFLP-GC, Palestinian leftists]]> Mon, 31 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 2005-10-31 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Oil for Food Scandal]]> Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 2005-10-28 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[Is Russia’s Economy Running out of Energy?]]> Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Africa's Food Crisis]]> Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[Japan's Relationship with South Korea]]> Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Recruitment Woes for U.S. Guard and Reserve]]> Wed, 26 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[American deaths in Iraq at 2,000: Milestone or ‘Irrelevant’?]]> Tue, 25 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[Syria Stands Alone]]> Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[The Arab League and Iraq]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Michael Moran <![CDATA[Timeline: Famous Trials of World Leaders]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Dina Guirguis <![CDATA[Iraq’s Sunni Arabs]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Why Sunnis Don't Support Iraq’s Constitution]]> Wed, 12 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The Pernicious Effects of Oil]]> Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Monitoring the Iraqi Constitution Referendum]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Dina Guirguis <![CDATA[Profiles of Palestinian Leaders]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder CFR.org profiles the most prominent Palestinian leaders.

]]> 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: Reorganizing the Palestinian Security Forces]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 2005-10-04 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[How will Iraq’s October 15 referendum work?]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The U.S.-Indonesian Military Relationship]]> Mon, 03 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Adam O’Brien <![CDATA[Severing of U.S.-Uzbek Ties Over Counterterrorism]]> Fri, 30 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Turkey’s EU Bid]]> Fri, 30 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Gaza’s Reconstruction Prospects]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Perceptions of U.S. Public Diplomacy]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Reversing the Flow]]> Fri, 23 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Post-Election Security in Afghanistan]]> Thu, 22 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Iran’s New Position]]> Tue, 20 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Afghan Parliamentary Elections]]> Fri, 16 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Is there Civil War in Iraq?]]> Fri, 16 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[INDONESIA: The Aceh Peace Agreement]]> Thu, 15 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 2005-09-15 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Q&A on Germany’s Election]]> Wed, 14 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Q&A on UN reform]]> Wed, 14 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Status of Iraq’s insurgency]]> Tue, 13 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Assassination of Moussa Arafat, former Palestinian Security Head]]> Thu, 08 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAN: The Nuclear Threat]]> Tue, 06 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[EGYPT: Elections]]> Wed, 31 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[BANGLADESH: Nationwide Attacks Raise Fears of Growing Islamist Presence]]> Mon, 29 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Eben Kaplan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Drafting the Constitution]]> Tue, 23 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman and Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: The Gaza Withdrawal]]> Thu, 18 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[Iran: Nuclear Developments]]> Tue, 09 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[SUDAN: John Garang's Death]]> Tue, 02 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Suicide Attacks]]> Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[ASIA: U.S. Military Bases in Central Asia]]> Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[What are the main issues in the debate over CAFTA?]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[INDONESIA: Local Elections]]> Tue, 12 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: A Decade After Srebrenica]]> Thu, 07 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[The G-8 Summit]]> Thu, 30 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[LEBANON: Election Results]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAN: Presidential Candidates]]> Wed, 15 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[IRAQ: Militia Groups]]> Thu, 09 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[AFRICA: Debt-Relief Proposals]]> Wed, 08 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[Lebanon: Election Update]]> Mon, 06 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[EUROPEAN UNION: The French & Dutch Referendums]]> Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[EUROPEAN UNION: The French Referendum]]> Thu, 26 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[IRAQ: Insurgency Goals]]> Fri, 20 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[IRAN: Nuclear Negotiations]]> Mon, 16 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[IRAQ: Cabinet Ministers]]> Thu, 12 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[RUSSIA: U.S.-Russia Relations]]> Fri, 06 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[NONPROLIFERATION: Proliferation Threats]]> Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Insurgents' Tactics]]> Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner <![CDATA[IRAN: European Nuclear Negotiations]]> Thu, 14 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[ISRAEL/PALESTINE: Leading Figures]]> Mon, 11 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Debaathification]]> Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Ibrahim Jaafari]]> Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Transitional Government]]> Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan and Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[Does the Muslim Brotherhood Have Ties to Terrorism?]]> Tue, 05 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[INTELLIGENCE: Intelligence Reform]]> Thu, 31 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[INTELLIGENCE: Negroponte's Challenges]]> Thu, 31 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Infiltration of Iraqi Forces]]> Mon, 28 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: U.S.-Syrian relations]]> Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Mary Crane <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: Syria and Lebanon]]> Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Iraq's Leadership Class]]> Mon, 14 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Training Iraqi Forces]]> Tue, 08 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: Peace Plans Background]]> Mon, 07 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: The Road Map to Peace]]> Mon, 07 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Important Dates in 2005]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Iraq, Iran, and Islam]]> Fri, 28 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Organizing the Elections]]> Tue, 25 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Important Dates in 2005]]> Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAN: Important Dates in 2005]]> Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: The January Elections by the Numbers]]> Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: Road Map to Peace]]> Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[TSUNAMI DISASTER: Relief Effort]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Insurgency: By the Numbers]]> Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Election Politics]]> Fri, 31 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Postpone the election?]]> Tue, 14 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Egypt Conference]]> Wed, 24 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Other Troublespots]]> Tue, 16 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: After Arafat]]> Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Battle for Falluja]]> Fri, 12 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Al-Sadr's Political Ambitions]]> Tue, 12 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Election Plan]]> Mon, 27 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Quelling the Insurgency]]> Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[AFRICA: The Darfur Crisis]]> Mon, 20 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[AFGHANISTAN: Karzai vs. the Warlords]]> Wed, 15 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[TERROR: War on Terror Update]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[U.N. Reform]]> Mon, 13 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Reform Panel]]> Mon, 13 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani]]> Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The National Conference]]> Tue, 17 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Insurgency Flare-up]]> Mon, 16 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[TERROR: Targeting Banks]]> Tue, 03 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[INTELLIGENCE: National Intelligence Czar]]> Thu, 22 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Bremer Edicts]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Reconstruction]]> Thu, 01 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[CHINA: Beijing-Hong Kong Tensions]]> Thu, 01 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The June 28 Transfer of Power]]> Mon, 28 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Most Wanted]]> Fri, 25 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Iraqi Insurgency]]> Fri, 18 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Iraqi Economy]]> Wed, 16 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: U.N. Resolution 1546]]> Thu, 10 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[Iraq: The war's price tag]]> Mon, 07 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Paul Tagliabue <![CDATA[IRAQ: The interim government leaders]]> Wed, 02 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Who's in charge?]]> Wed, 02 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[FOREIGN AID: Millennium Challenge Account]]> Fri, 28 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Sovereignty Issue]]> Tue, 25 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The June 30 Handover]]> Mon, 24 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Military Outsourcing]]> Thu, 20 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Military Justice]]> Wed, 19 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Iraq's Governing Council]]> Mon, 17 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Interrogation and Torture]]> Mon, 17 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAN: Curtailing the Nuclear Program]]> Thu, 13 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Prison System]]> Tue, 11 May 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[EUROPE: EU Expansion]]> Fri, 30 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Troop Reinforcements]]> Fri, 23 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Brahimi Plan]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Sunni and Shiite Unrest]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[TERROR: 9/11 Commission]]> Wed, 07 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[SYRIA: U.S.-Syrian Relations]]> Fri, 02 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[HUMANITARIAN: A Decade After Rwanda]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: The Assassination of Sheik Yassin]]> Wed, 24 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[TAIWAN: Presidential Election]]> Thu, 18 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Security Forces]]> Tue, 16 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[TERROR: Military Tribunals]]> Wed, 10 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Interim Constitution]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[TERROR: The Search for bin Laden]]> Wed, 03 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Claire Miller <![CDATA[HAITI: Current Upheaval]]> Tue, 02 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: The Disengagement Plan]]> Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[DEFENSE: Non-lethal Weapons]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[INDIA-PAKISTAN: Peace Talks]]> Fri, 20 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[TRADE: Outsourcing Jobs]]> Fri, 20 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[NONPROLIFERATION: The Pakistan Network]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[INTELLIGENCE: Major Reform Plans Compared]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: U.S. Troop Rotation]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Kurds' Agenda]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[PAKISTAN: Threats to Musharraf's Rule]]> Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[AFGHANISTAN: The New Constitution]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Regime's Debt]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[AFRICA: Terror Havens]]> Tue, 30 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[AFRICA: Mugabe's Zimbabwe]]> Fri, 19 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Saddam Hussein on Trial]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Saddam's Capture]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Sunnis]]> Fri, 12 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[EUROPE: European Defense Policy]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Changing Plan]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[AIDS: The U.S. Anti-AIDS Program]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAN: Nuclear Weapons]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The New Bush Plan]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[TRADE: The FTAA Meeting]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Role of Tribes]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[SAUDI ARABIA: In al-Qaeda's Sights]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Claire Miller <![CDATA[IRAQ: Madrid Donor Conference]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[LIBERIA: Status Report]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Justifying the War]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[NATO: Keeping the Peace in Afghanistan]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: Promoting Democracy]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[UNITED NATIONS: Nation-Building]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Democracy's Prospects in Iraq]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: Islam and Democracy]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[PAKISTAN: U.S.-Pakistan Relations]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[World Trade Organization]]> Thu, 11 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[AFGHANISTAN: Security]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Security Council Resolution]]> Mon, 08 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Shiites]]> Tue, 02 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[LIBERIA: Child Soldiers]]> Fri, 29 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Esther Pan <![CDATA[IRAQ: Oil]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Ongoing Attacks]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[SAUDI ARABIA: U.S. Relations]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: Pivotal Issues]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: International Peacekeepers]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Editorial Briefing with Robert C. Orr]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: The U.N. Role]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Resistance to U.S. Forces]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[WMD: U.S. Interdiction]]> Thu, 26 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Finding WMDs]]> Wed, 18 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[NORTH KOREA: U.S. Negotiations]]> Tue, 17 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[MIDDLE EAST: Terrorism]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Interim Authority]]> Mon, 02 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: U.N. Sanctions]]> Thu, 22 May 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Iran's Involvement]]> Thu, 15 May 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[NORTH KOREA: U.S.-Japan Relations]]> Thu, 15 May 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[SAUDI ARABIA: Withdrawl of U.S. Forces]]> Fri, 02 May 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Iraqi Ties to Terrorism]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: The Country]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Iraqi Opposition Groups]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Oil]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Weapons Inspections: 1991-1998]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[AFGHANISTAN: Nation-building]]> Thu, 24 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Iraq's Prewar Military Capabilities]]> Thu, 24 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: U.S. Diplomacy]]> Tue, 22 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: America's Rationale for War]]> Mon, 21 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: U.S. Deployments at the War's Height]]> Mon, 21 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: The War's First Days]]> Mon, 21 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Law and Order in Postwar Iraq]]> Wed, 16 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: U.N. Humanitarian Relief]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: Weapons of Mass Destruction]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Prosecuting War Criminals]]> Tue, 08 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0400 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: International Law and POWs]]> Mon, 31 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: U.S.-Turkey Relations]]> Mon, 31 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[IRAQ: What is the Fedayeen Saddam?]]> Mon, 31 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Sharon Otterman <![CDATA[PAKISTAN: The North Korea Connection]]> Fri, 01 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[NORTH KOREA: Parallel to Iraq?]]> Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 <![CDATA[IRAQ: Iraqi Leaders Voicing Anger at Arab Neighbors]]> Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 backgrounder 0000-00-00 00:00:00 Lionel Beehner