How to exit Afghanistan without creating wider conflict (Henry Kissinger—Washington Post, Op-Ed)

A multilateral diplomacy that defines a common international security interest proscribing terrorist training centers and terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan should be undertaken urgently. To encourage this process, a deadline should be established for reaching a residual force — say, in 18 months to two years, with the major reductions coming at the end of the process.

The International Community Needs To Stay Focused on Bosnia and Herzegovina (Secretary of State Clinton and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague—Op-Ed)

The situation in Serbia and Croatia is dramatically different to that of two decades ago. Those countries are now moving steadily forward to membership of the European Union. Croatia is already a member of NATO and seeking conclusion of its accession negotiations with the EU. Serbia is working in pursuit of EU Candidate status. But while its neighbors are looking to the future, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina itself gives rise to mounting concern.

Smart Power

Up for the Challenge: MCC vs. U.S. Development Assistance (Sarah Jane Staats—Center for Global Development)

Congress is calling for an explicit comparison of development results from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and traditional U.S. development assistance programs. The House Budget Committee’s FY2012 budget resolution seeks to eliminate duplication in U.S. development programs and asks all agencies funded by the foreign operations or 150 account “to step back and ask what results are being achieved.”

Politics/Foreign Policy

Afghan nation-building programs not sustainable, report says (Karen DeYoung—Washington Post)

The hugely expensive U.S. attempt at nation-building in Afghanistan has had only limited success and may not survive an American withdrawal, according to the findings of a two-year congressional investigation to be released Wednesday.

Ryan Crocker to Face Questions on Afghanistan Drawdown (Aamer Madhani—National Journal)

When Ryan Crocker testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, he’ll be hearing a lot of versions of the same question: How quickly can President Obama withdraw troops from Afghanistan?

Obama, Merkel disagree on Libya, economics. But they’re working on it. (Scott Wilson and Howard Schneider—Washington Post)

President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel played down their differences Tuesday over the military campaign in Libya and the flagging European economic recovery, offering assurances that they share the goals of pushing Moammar Gaddafi from power and restoring the global economy.