James M. Lindsay

The Water's Edge

Lindsay analyzes the politics shaping U.S. foreign policy and the sustainability of American power.

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Showing posts for "Nonproliferation"

What Americans Think About Foreign Policy

by James M. Lindsay
U.S. Army soldiers roll up a national flag after their headquarters' change of command ceremony in Afghanistan in 2010. (Shamil Zhumatov/ courtesy Reuters) U.S. Army soldiers roll up a national flag after their headquarters' change of command ceremony in Afghanistan in 2010. (Shamil Zhumatov/ courtesy Reuters)

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs came out today with its new (and lengthy) survey on what Americans think about the world and America’s place in it. The Chicago Council has been conducting foreign policy surveys periodically since 1974, and they have been the gold standard in the field for about as long. I have only had time to read the executive summary and glance at a few charts, but here are some of the survey’s findings: Read more »

Foreign Policy and Campaign 2012

by James M. Lindsay
President Obama waves as he arrives to address delegates at the Democratic National Convention. (Jason Reed/ courtesy Reuters) President Obama waves as he arrives to address delegates at the Democratic National Convention. (Jason Reed/ courtesy Reuters)

CFR.org just posted an interview I did with former New York Times correspondent Bernard Gwertzman looking at the role foreign policy will likely play in the remaining two months of the presidential campaign. Along the way we discussed President Obama’s acceptance speech last night, reviewed where the candidates stand on major issues like Iran’s nuclear program, and recalled how another tight presidential race was tipped in part by a candidate’s misstep in a critical foreign policy debate. Read more »

The World Next Week: Congress’s Recess, Syrian Violence, Hiroshima Anniversary, and NASA’s Mars Mission

by James M. Lindsay
Darkness sets in over the U.S. Capitol building. (Jonathan Ernst/courtesy Reuters) Darkness sets in over the U.S. Capitol building. (Jonathan Ernst/courtesy Reuters)

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed where things stand in Washington as Congress recesses for the summer; the continued violence in Syria; the 67th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing; and the upcoming Mars landing of NASA’s rover, Curiosity. Read more »

The World Next Week: Egyptians Pick a President, NATO Meets in Chicago, and Baghdad Hosts Iran Talks

by James M. Lindsay
Egypt-Election-20120517 A boy selling sweets walks past posters for Egyptian presidential candidate Amr Moussa in Alexandria. (Asmaa Waguih/courtesy Reuters)

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed the presidential election in Egypt; the NATO summit in Chicago; and the P5+1′s talks with Iran in Baghdad.

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The highlights:

The World Next Week: Iran-IAEA Talks, G8 Summit, President Hollande, and the Cannes Film Festival

by James M. Lindsay
IAEA-Iran20120510 Iran's International Atomic Energy Agency ambassador Soltanieh briefs the media during an IAEA board of governors meeting in Vienna on March 8, 2012. (Herwig Prammer/courtesy Reuters)

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed next week’s talks in Vienna between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran; the Group of Eight (G8) summit at Camp David; François Hollande’s inauguration as president of France; and the Cannes Film Festival.

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The highlights: Read more »

The World Next Week: Will the P5+1 Negotiations Succeed?

by James M. Lindsay
U.S. Secretary of State Clinton listens to EU foreign policy chief Ashton during a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (Francois Lenoir/courtesy Reuters) U.S. Secretary of State Clinton listens to EU foreign policy chief Ashton during a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (Francois Lenoir/courtesy Reuters)

The World Next Week podcast is up. This week, Bob McMahon and I had the week off. Fortunately, Isobel Coleman and Toni Johnson graciously agreed to step in for us to preview next week’s news. They discussed the resumption of Iran and the P5+1′s nuclear talks; the Summit of the Americas in Colombia; the continuing trials of foreign NGO workers in Egypt; and World Health Day. Read more »

The World Next Week: Arab League Meets and Obama Visits Korea

by James M. Lindsay
Iraq's Foreign Minister Zebari speaks with the Arab League's Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Ahmad bin Hilly in Baghdad. (Mohammed Ameen/courtesy Reuters) Iraq's Foreign Minister Zebari speaks with the Arab League's Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Ahmad bin Hilly in Baghdad. (Mohammed Ameen/courtesy Reuters)

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed the Arab League summit in Baghdad; President Obama’s visit to the Denuclearized Military Zone (DMZ) on the Korean Peninsula as part of his visit to the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul; the presidential election run-off in Senegal; and the Pope’s trip to Cuba. Read more »

Lessons Learned: Tokyo Sarin Gas Attack

by James M. Lindsay

A new installment of “Lessons Learned” is now out. This week I discuss the sarin gas attack that Aum Shinrikyo carried out in the Tokyo subway system on March 20, 1995. In the video, I discuss how technological advances increasingly mean that governments are no longer the only ones capable of inflicting mass destruction.  Here’s a question to consider: what steps should society take to protect itself as technology makes it easier for terrorists, messianic figures, or just embittered individuals to inflict great harm? I encourage you to weigh in with your answer in the comments section below.

I hope you enjoy the video.

Read more »

The World Next Week: Iran’s Nuclear Program and Syria’s Civil War

by James M. Lindsay
Iran-Nuclear-Program-2012-02-16 Iran's President Ahmadinejad speaks during a ceremony at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. (Caren Farouz/courtesy Reuters)

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed the UN inspectors visiting Iran for a second time; the “Friends of Syria” meeting in Tunis; and the convening of G20 foreign ministers in Mexico. Read more »

The World Next Week: Federal Budgets, Foreign Threats, Xi Jinping, and Egyptian Prosecutions

by James M. Lindsay
Federal-Budget-2013 A U.S. Senate staffer carries a copy of Obama's proposed 2012 federal budget on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Johnathan Ernst/courtesy Reuters)

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed the Obama administration’s FY 2013 budget; the Senate Armed Services Committee’s upcoming hearing on worldwide threats; Chinese Vice President Xi Jingping’s visit to the United States; and the one-year anniversary of Hosni Mubarak’s ouster from power. Read more »