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Michael Auslin, The Wall Street Journal | February 10, 2012 US military budget cuts will hinder Obama’s new strategic focus on Asia. ++ American allies worry that a ‘leaner’ military will weaken US resolve in the region at the exact same time China is growing more assertive. ++ They also fear that US focus on Asia might not outlast the Obama presidency. ++ Countries such as Japan, South Korea, and ...More

Dr. Arunas Molis has been a member of atlantic-community.org since 2009 and works as an associated professor at Vytautas Magnus University and lector at Vilnius University. His range of expertise includes energy security, international relations, European integration and the Baltic States. Before moving to Lithuania, Dr. Molis was affiliated with the Department ...More

Nicholas Noe, The New York Times | February 9, 2012 The violence in Syria could result in a full-blown civil war. ++ The controlled collapse of the Syrian regime is not possible considering that the army, the elites, and other segments of society still support the government. ++ With support from Iran and Hezbollah, Assad has the means to prolong the conflict. ++ A drawn-out struggle might ignite sectarian ...More

Shada Islam is the head of the Asia Programme at Friends of Europe - a Brussels-based European think-tank promoting discussion and debate on the future of the EU. For over 25 years, she has covered Europe-Asia relations as a correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review and the German News Agency. As an expert on Asia, she has broadcast experience with the ...More

Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic | February 8, 2012 Traditional warfare is being replaced by intelligence agency operated drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. ++ Americans won't see a debate about the war on terror because the details are secret. ++ Conservative estimates suggest that hundreds of civilians have been killed in Pakistan. ++ Secrecy is beneficial in international relations but citizens can ...More

Christian Mölling, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik | February 2012 NATO's operation in Libya has revealed significant deficiencies in European defense. It is not only that Europe's defense capability is chronically underdeveloped and the USA's support is dwindling. The resources that would allow European states to deal with these deficits are likewise shrinking dramatically. The defense budget crunch has strategic ...More

Mustafa Akyol, The Daily Star | February 7, 2012 If Turkey is to become a good model for Muslim nations it must synthesize liberal democracy with its traditional religious values. ++ "Post-Islamism" does not imply a detachment from Islamic identity. ++ The AKP has matched its pro-Palestinian position with peaceful support for a two-state solution. ++ Increasing authoritarianism in the AKP emerges from the ...More

John Kampfner, Index on Censorship | February 6, 2012 Beijing is dismissive of Western interests in the UN, prioritizing stability, economic benefit and non-interference. ++ Russia is Syria's largest arms supplier and is attempting to demonstrate an alternative to Western "belligerence". ++ Domestically, Putin fears bloodshed if public resistance does not subside when he returns to power. ++ The West can do little ...More

Rosa Brooks, The Los Angeles Times | February 3, 2012 Despite American rhetoric to the contrary, the United States’ power is declining. ++ Both Republicans and Democrats do not want to speak the simple truth that American influence is waning. ++ States such as China, India, and Brazil are developing into regional powers. ++ The American dream is dying: a small number of people do really well while the ...More

Robert Fisk, The Independent | February 2, 2012 Bashar al-Assad is hanging onto power in Syria despite a gradually developing civil war. ++ The current turmoil is the most precarious moment in Syria’s post-independence history. ++  No matter how much condemnation and bloodshed, the Assad regime is likely to continue fighting, even alone if need be. ++ While his time might be numbered and everyone ...More