http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com The World Affairs Blog Network Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:58:19 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Here's an interesting news item that I came across while reading up on President Obama's trip to China. Long an established academic powerhouse and home to many of the world's top institutions of higher learning, is the U.S. still an attractive destination for international students? According to The Wall Street ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/11/20/us-military-schools-welcome-chinese-students/ President Obama's visit to China has ended. As I reviewed the coverage of his visit I was looking to see how he would balance the traditional U.S. concern for human rights with trade and security concerns. Would he, as past presidents have done, sternly lecture the Chinese on human rights, ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/11/20/obamas-chinese-town-hall/ How about some entertainment news? I know you don't come to the Foreign Policy Association for entertainment news, but I thought perhaps my U.S. Role readers would be interested in a new television project by the CBS network. They are producing an end-of-the-decade look at America's position in the world ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/11/16/where-american-stands/ President Obama has departed for a trip to Asia that will provide his first opportunity to put his stamp on U.S.-China relations. Security, the environment, and the economy will also be on his agenda as he visits Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. Our relationship with China has always been complex ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/11/13/obama-goes-to-beijing/ I'm taking a moment to honor Veterans Day. Originally established by President Woodrow Wilson to mark the end of World War I the day now recognizes the service and sacrifice of veterans of all our wars. The VA website has a nice historical overview if you would like to learn ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/11/11/veterans-day-2009/ World leaders gather in Berlin this week to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, that iconic symbol of the Cold War. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting current leaders like Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as past Cold Warriors George H.W. Bush and ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/11/10/america-through-merkels-eyes/ In light of Senator Jim Webb's trip to Myanmar and former president Bill Clinton's recent and well publicized visit to North Korea, I thought this report in The Washington Times was interesting. It examines the practice of using "proxy diplomats" to deal with international crises and questions the political implications ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/11/04/use-of-proxy-diplomats-questioned/ Foreign policy has once again returned to the headlines as President Obama continues his decision-making process on Afghanistan and Secretary of State Clinton recently completed a tour of the Middle East. I'd like to call your attention to an interesting report in today's Washington Post that compares and contrasts the ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/11/02/foreign-policy-style-substance/ The U.S. often takes on the role of defending basic freedoms in the world at large. One of the better examples of this is our championing of religious liberty abroad and one of the primary tools we have used to do that is the annual publication of the report on ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/10/28/defending-basic-freedoms/ As you know, President Obama has not yet made a decision on whether to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan and there are any number of reports in the media about his decision-making process. The White House is signaling that President Obama is nearing his decision on Afghan war ... http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/10/27/afghanistan-and-long-term-commitments/