President Obama announced changes to his national security senior leadership last week, prompting speculation about the impact on the smart power agenda moving forward.  Here is an initial snapshot of the players. The most significant impact may not be who is coming in, but who is leaving.  Secretary of Defense Bob Gates has been one [...]

Congress returns this week for intense debate over the future course of spending and budgets. The debt limit will be reached no later than May 16 and the Treasury Department says it will only be able to avoid default until early July. Republicans continue to insist on additional spending cuts in exchange for raising the [...]