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Could Protests in Turkey Hurt U.S. Effort to Arm Syrian Rebels?

Matt Vasilogambros | June 14, 2013

Now that the U.S. is moving toward arming the Syrian rebels, American allies in the region will play an increasingly important role in the coming months. But some of those countries have their own security issues that could hamper that effort.

A Committee Chairman’s Job Is Never Easy

Sara Sorcher | June 12, 2013

It’s tough to chair a 62-member panel responsible for authorizing roughly half a trillion dollars that funds America’s defenses. Just ask Rep. Buck McKeon.

Republicans Hold Fire on Rice, but Controversy Still Looms

Stacy Kaper | June 5, 2013

Without any leverage to block Susan Rice from succeeding Tom Donilon as President Obama's national security adviser, Republicans appeared resigned to her appointment Wednesday, but unready to let go of doubts about the administration's leadership on national security issues.

Susan Rice and Samantha Power: Less Change Than Meets the Eye

Michael Hirsh | June 5, 2013

Obama's new national security adviser, U.N. ambassador aren't as controversial as you think.

What the New U.N. Ambassador Pick Says About Obama's Stance on Intervention

Matt Vasilogambros | June 5, 2013

As the U.S. considers further action in Syria, and monitors countless potential conflicts across the globe, President Obama's new pick to be the ambassador to the United Nations could shed light on how he approaches international crises.

Susan Rice Taking Over for Tom Donilon Despite Benghazi Mess

Niraj Chokshi | June 5, 2013

President Obama will elevate U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to national security adviser, a politically aggressive move in the face of Republican fury over her mischaracterization of the fatal attacks on American diplomats in Benghazi.

Failed Long-Shot Presidential Candidates Like Michele Bachmann Tend to Disappear

Brian Resnick and Ben Terris | May 29, 2013

Do you remember Jim Gilmore? Exactly.

Washington’s Other Scandal: Syria

George E. Condon Jr. | May 23, 2013

The obsession over the IRS, hacked reporters, and Benghazi has overshadowed a very real, and increasingly urgent, problem.

John Kerry in the Middle East: Eclipse of a Superpower?

James Kitfield | May 23, 2013

Doha, Qatar – Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in the Middle East on Thursday

Insiders Split on Edits of Benghazi Talking Points

Sara Sorcher | May 20, 2013

National Journal's National Security Insiders were split on whether the Obama administration's edits to remove any mention of terrorism from the original public statements on the Benghazi, Libya, attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens showed it deliberately tried to mislead the American public.

IRS, AP subpoena, Benghazi--and the Turkish Prime Minister Makes Obama's Life Worse

Matt Vasilogambros | May 16, 2013

The president's Rose Garden press conference.

Why Mexico Will Always Play Second Fiddle

George E. Condon Jr. | May 9, 2013

Like all presidents, Barack Obama says he wants a better relationship with his neighbors to the south. Then events get in the way.

Why Benghazi is a Blow to Obama and Clinton

Ron Fournier | May 9, 2013

Both parties are wrong about the scandal: It’s not Watergate and it’s not nothing.

Obama Is Still Fighting Bush's National Security Legacy

George E. Condon Jr. | April 30, 2013

The president's hesitance to intervene in Syria and eagerness to close Guantanamo Bay underscore how different he is from his predecessor.

Obama Is Looking for Reasons to Delay Response to Syria's Chemical-Weapons Use

Michael Hirsh | April 25, 2013

The White House is not eager to engage militarily in the Middle East again.

The End of Government as We Know It

Ron Fournier | April 21, 2013

Whatever happened to Johnny Whitmire? The answer is tied to a new book on digital-age innovations to improve government.

How Refugees Come Into the United States

Fawn Johnson | April 19, 2013

The United States has a fairly generous policy in admitting foreigners to the country as refugees, harkening back to the 1950s when several laws were passed to provide for people who escaped communist regimes.

Internet Regulation Tests Bipartisanship

Brian Fung | April 17, 2013

When China and Russia last year proposed building a set of rules into a long-standing global-telecommunications regime, critics decried the idea as a way for governments to spy on their citizens. Both chambers of Congress unanimously passed a nonbinding resolution opposing it. Dozens of countries, including the United States, refused to sign the final international treaty.

Now, as part of a broader effort to address Internet regulation, the House Energy and Commerce Committee wants to institutionalize Washington’s position in the talks as official policy. It’s one of those rare moments at which Democrats and Republicans find themselves in alliance based on their respective beliefs, rather than out of political expediency. Democrats see the issue as mainly about civil liberties; for the GOP, it’s about blocking government overreach. When China and Russia last year proposed building a set of rules into a long-standing global-telecommunications regime, critics decried the idea as a way for governments to spy on their citizens. Both chambers of Congress unanimously passed a nonbinding resolution opposing it. Now, as part of a broader effort to address Internet regulation, the House Energy and Commerce Committee wants to institutionalize Washington’s position in the talks as official policy.

Why Is North Korea Acting Out?

Matthew Cooper | April 12, 2013

Two members of Congress discuss John Kerry's trip to the Korean Peninsula, what China can do to help, and the Kim Jong Un relatives who seem to be guiding the rogue leader.

Amid Deep Cuts, the Pentagon Labors to Keep Its Forces Ready for Korea

Elaine M. Grossman | April 11, 2013

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Sen. Murray Keeps Hanford Nuclear Site Safe From Budget Cuts

Amy Harder | April 8, 2013

She may not attend Tuesday’s confirmation hearing for Ernest Moniz, President Obama’s nominee for Energy secretary, but you can bet Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., will make sure the department has all the money it needs to keep the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in her home state running safely.

The Paradox of Syria's Chemical Weapons

Sara Sorcher | April 4, 2013

The surest way to keep the arsenal safe is to leave it in the hands of a murderous dictator.

The Man Who Could Put Climate Change on the Agenda

Coral Davenport | April 4, 2013

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough has a record against global warming—and the president's ear.

How the U.S. Could Cool Tensions With North Korea

Rachel Oswald | April 2, 2013

It's not too late. Regional experts say that the United States should seek to engage the DPRK.

Obama to Israelis: Don’t Listen to Bibi

Michael Hirsh | March 21, 2013

The president goes over Netanyahu’s head abroad, just as he has with the GOP at home.

Obama and Netanyahu: It's Complicated

Matt Vasilogambros | March 19, 2013

A look at some of the ups and mostly downs of the relationship between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Personal Frictions Loom Over Obama's Trip to Israel

George E. Condon Jr. | March 19, 2013

It is widely believed that this American president and Israeli prime minister simply don’t like each other. And the personal always has a bearing on the policy.

Mapping Out Obama's Middle East Trip

Matt Vasilogambros | March 18, 2013

From the museum that holds the Dead Sea Scrolls to the ancient city of Petra, here are the stops President Obama will visit on his Middle East trip.

Why Hillary Clinton Now Supports Gay Marriage

Elahe Izadi | March 18, 2013

Former first lady wanted to make her views known before the Supreme Court rules on the subject.

Why John McCain Doesn't Matter Anymore

James Kitfield | March 14, 2013

The GOP is now more open to isolationists and deficit hawks like Rand Paul than to traditional pro-defense Republicans.

3 Energy Pipelines That Could Shake Up Geopolitics

Steve LeVine and Quartz | March 12, 2013

Three of the most volatile parts of the Middle East—Iran, Iraq and Israel—are the scene of oil and gas initiatives that could shake up geopolitics there and beyond. The efforts center on three energy pipelines, at least two of which seem likely to be built.

Outsourcing the Fight Against Terrorism

James Kitfield | March 7, 2013

The United States is using local soldiers to fight al-Qaida allies in East Africa.

How Bibi Beat Barack

Adam B. Kushner | March 7, 2013

Obama desperately wants peace in Israel. Too bad there’s nothing he can do to force it.

You Call This an Army? The Terrifying Shortage of U.S. Cyberwarriors.

Brian Fung | February 25, 2013

When the Soviet Union launched the first satellite in 1957, it set off an intellectual arms race that led to more than $1 billion of federal investment in science education.

On the Move

Christopher Snow Hopkins and Mike Magner | February 21, 2013

Angela Rye launches a new lobby shop, Impact Strategies. Domingo Herraiz is Motorola's new VP of North American government affairs. Campaign insider Tharon Johnson joins McKenna Long & Aldridge.

Top Densities of Minorities Show High Poverty Rates

Sara Johnson - The Atlantic Cities | February 20, 2013

More than one in four Dominicans lives below the poverty level in the U.S., a rate similar to that of American Indians and Alaska Natives. In some cities, however, these rates are significantly higher.

Fewer Afghan Civilians Are Being Killed, But Drones Are on the Rise

Matt Vasilogambros | February 19, 2013

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan released an annual report on the protection of civilians on Tuesday showing that while the number of civilian deaths in the conflict has decreased in the last year, there has been an increase in the number of deaths from drone strikes — a heated issue that has received greater attention in recent weeks, following CIA director nominee John Brennan's confirmation hearing.

Why Japan Can't Quit Nuclear Power

Olga Belogolova | February 14, 2013

Since the Fukushima meltdown, the country has tried to reduce its reliance on nuclear reactors. But with nearly a third of its energy needs powered by the atom, change is difficult.

Obama Set to Affirm Nuclear-Arms Reductions

Chris Schneidmiller | February 12, 2013

Despite the taunting actions of North Korea, the president is expected to continue backing his committment to decrease the U.S. nuclear stockplie.

Security Insiders: Sequestration Most Likely Scenario

Sara Sorcher | February 11, 2013

Sequestration is now the most likely scenario, according to 78 percent of National Journal's National Security Insiders, who are not optimistic that Congress and the White House will reach a deal to reduce the deficit by the March 1 deadline.

Don't Expect Much From Obama's Trip to Israel

Michael Hirsh | February 6, 2013

The White House plays down expectations for peace between Israel and the Palestinians—and it should.

Targeted Killings: Obama’s Endless War

James Kitfield | January 31, 2013

Even as it pulls forces out of Afghanistan, the Obama administration wants to continue high-tech targeted killings in the war against terrorists.

When Can the U.S. Kill Americans? The White House Won't Say.

Sara Sorcher | January 31, 2013

The administration refuses to say why it thinks it can kill American terrorists abroad—even to the lawmakers entitled to know.

Did You Know Hillary Clinton Won A Grammy?

Brian Resnick | January 31, 2013

Yup; she won one back in 1997 for the audio version of her book It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us.

Is Chuck Hagel Failing?

Michael Hirsh | January 31, 2013

Honest but slow to answer at his committee hearing, Obama's pick for Defense secretary fumbles badly on Iran, Israel.

Could John Kerry Broker a Mideast Peace Deal? Probably Not

Matt Vasilogambros | January 28, 2013

John Kerry says he’s hopeful that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be resolved during his tenure as secretary of State. But that hope, shared by President Obama, might be a pipe dream.

Colbert: Finally, French 'Truffle Huffing Surrender Monkeys' Step Up in War on Terrorism

Cory Bennett | January 25, 2013

After mulling over Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's testimony for a day, the late-night show hosts all weighed in. Jon Stewart mocked the Republicans for grandstanding and the Democrats for "ass kissery." He suggested that when Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., asked Clinton, "What does th...

After Taking on Terrorists, Can Mary Jo White Handle Tycoons?

Michael Hirsh | January 24, 2013

As U.S. attorney, she took down John Gotti and the “blind sheikh.” As head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, she would be hunting a different kind of game.

Kerry's Confirmation Kicks Off

January 24, 2013

CongressWhite HouseNational SecurityPoliticsEnergyEconomy & BudgetHealth Care TOP FIVE KERRY’S CONFIRMATION KICKS OFF. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, the committee that he chairs, for a hearing on his own confirmation as secretary...

Obstacles Kerry Will Face in the Aftermath of Israel's Election

Michael Hirsh | January 23, 2013

Despite his ambitions and Bibi’s weakness, the hurdles as the new secretary of State remain huge.

Hillary Clinton Testifies on Benghazi: Full Text of Her Opening Statement

National Journal Staff | January 23, 2013

The State Department released a transcript of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's testimony opening statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

Why Benjamin Netanyahu Will Be the Big Loser in Israel's Election

Michael J. Koplow - The Atlantic | January 22, 2013

The current and future prime minister will be stuck with a coalition that's doomed to fail.

Insiders: Go Ahead, Slash the Defense Budget

Sara Sorcher | January 21, 2013

Defense cuts may be on the table in a new fiscal-cliff deal, as the deadline to avoid sequestration is just weeks away. National Journal's National Security Insiders say: Go for it.

Why Morsi’s Comments Are Irrelevant to Mideast Peace

Michael Hirsh | January 16, 2013

The reflexive response of many in the pro-Israel community to anti-Semitic comments from Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was predictable: See? Didn’t we tell you? This just shows how impossible it is to deal with these people. Whatever hopes that Secretary of State-to-be John Kerry had for restarting peace talks in a region he has long had a passion for—the Mideast—will not likely be realized, at least with Morsi playing the broker. But that may be an overreaction.

What Obama's Missing in Afghanistan

Michael Hirsh | January 14, 2013

More than troops, the president needs a strategy in the region--and a diplomat.

Obama Faces Dilemma on 'Mother of All’ Climate-Change Regulations

Coral Davenport | January 10, 2013

How President Obama could clean up carbon emissions—alone.

Hagel Pick Could Signal U.S. Policy Shift on Iran

Diane Barnes | January 8, 2013

President Obama might be signaling plans to shift his administration's approach to an entrenched dispute over Iran's nuclear program by nominating a noted critic of hard-line policies to lead the Defense Department, a former Iranian nuclear negotiator and other expert observers said on Tuesday.

6 Reasons Obama Chose Chuck Hagel

Jill Lawrence | January 7, 2013

Chuck Hagel, weighing a 2008 presidential bid, puzzled a conservative breakfast audience in 2004 with talk of multilateralism and the United Nations. As it turns out, his remarks ended up laying groundwork for a different kind of future--as Defense secretary in the Obama administration.

Hillary Clinton's Blood Clot Is Between Her Brain and Skull; Doctors Say She'll Be Okay

J.K. Trotter - The Atlantic Wire | December 31, 2012

The blood clot for which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was hospitalized Sunday night is situated in a vein between her brain and her skull, reports CNN, but it has caused no neurological damage and the Associated Press says her doctors expect a full recovery:

Hillary Clinton Hospitalized with Blood Clot

Matt Berman | December 30, 2012

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital Sunday after doctors found a blood clot during a follow-up examination for a concussion she suffered on December 13, 2012.

In the 'War on Terror', Hagel Hasn't Gone with the Crowd

Michael Hirsh | December 27, 2012

The truth about Chuck Hagel is that he saw before most that America was embarking on an unparalleled strategic disaster.

Congress Has Outsized Influence Over Obama's Cabinet

Reid Wilson | December 25, 2012

President Obama is allowing the personnel moves that will become critical in forming his foreign policy legacy to be influenced -- even decided -- by Congress

What Did Congress Do for You This Year? 10 Bills the 112th Passed

Matt Vasilogambros | December 25, 2012

You wouldn’t know it from the rhetoric in Washington, but Congress actually passed a few bills this year.

Full Text: President Obama Nominates John Kerry as Secretary of State

National Journal Staff | December 21, 2012

The White House released a transcript Friday of President Obama's nomination of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State. Read the full text below:

Republicans Win With Secretary of State John Kerry

Sara Sorcher | December 21, 2012

Ever since United Nations ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration, observers on Capitol Hill correctly assumed President Obama’s short list for secretary of State had narrowed to one person: Sen. John Kerry. After all, Obama was genuinely conflicted between the two, and Rice’s withdrawal meant the choice was effectively made for him-- with the added bonus, of course, that Senate Republicans would back the well-respected Massachusetts Democrat.

Whither Global Climate-Change Talks?

Amy Harder | December 3, 2012

Should international negotiators abandon the top-down multilateral system to confront climate change and find another way? The 18th installment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is now in its second and final week in Doha, Qatar, the country with--ironically--the world'...

Almost 2 Years Later: Japan's Slow Rebound From Fukushima

Olga Belogolova | November 16, 2012

Against the Tide

Olga Belogolova | July 26, 2012

Republicans are almost always in tune with the oil and gas industry, but they’re singing a different song on the drydocked Law of the Sea Treaty.

NRC on Hot Seat a Year After Japan Disaster

Olga Belogolova | March 11, 2012

While it may be easy to dismiss last year’s nuclear accident in Japan as an unpredictable act of God or even the result of irresponsible actors on the other side of the globe, the calamity raises the question, are U.S. nuclear plant operators and their regulators taking all possible threats seriously?

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Reinventing Iraq

March 22, 2003

A country called Iraq has existed only since 1919. But some cities in that land were already 16 centuries old when the nearby Egyptians built their pyramids. Bureaucrats in Mesopotamia, as the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was known, began keeping written records in 3400 B.C. And despite three decades of political repression, economic mismanagement, and military disaster under Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, Iraq today-unlike Afghanistan in 2001, Yugoslavia in 1995, and Germany in 1945-is not a "failed state." (See "Occupational Hazards," this issue.) From food-distribution systems to local police forces, essential institutions and infrastructures have survived Saddam, albeit barely, and they will survive a war that successfully ousts him. So the good news is that Iraq will not have to start over from scratch. Unfortunately, the bad news is also that Iraq will not be able to start over from scratch.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Collateral Damage

March 15, 2003

The first American war against Iraq, fought a dozen years ago, produced an overwhelming, if transitory, U.S. victory, while also popularizing several phrases that slipped almost lightheartedly into the world's lexicon. But if the U.S. military's new "smart bombs" helped make a mockery of Saddam Hussein's bluster about winning "the mother of all battles," there was nothing funny about "collateral damage," the Pentagon's time-honored euphemism for the killing and wounding of everyday Iraqi people with cruise missiles and airpower.

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