February 2006

In This Issue

• Foreign Policy for 2006
• Debating Iran
• The Unexpected Hamas Victory
• Energy Security

Features

Foreign Policy for 2006. The president's January State of the Union address was only a modest nod to foreign policy in the coming year. But, as Michael Schiffer writes, the United States faces a number of challenges in 2006. From Iran and China to democracy and nuclear proliferation, the administration has its work cut out for it. Which of these issues will be resolved through Secretary of State Rice's "transformational diplomacy," though, and which cannot be?

http://vps.stanleyfoundation.org/articles/2006think02_foreignpolicy.php

Debating Iran. The IAEA has decided to send the Iranian nuclear case to the UN Security Council for possible action. In response, Iran has announced that they will scale back its cooperation with the IAEA. With the situation deteriorating, what must happen to reverse this downward spiral, and what hope is there for a diplomatic solution? Matt Martin examines how the situation with Iran has developed to this point and what the future may hold for Iran and its weapons programs.

http://vps.stanleyfoundation.org/articles/2006think02_iran.php

In the News

The Unexpected Hamas Victory. Few experts predicted a Hamas win in the Palestinian elections of a few weeks ago. Even fewer know what to expect now that the terrorist organization has claimed legitimate recognition in politics. Sherif Hamdy explores the most pressing concerns of the international community toward Hamas and suggests that the group now has the opportunity to moderate in return for international legitimacy.

http://vps.stanleyfoundation.org/articles/2006think02_hamas.php

Energy Security. President Bush called for less dependence on foreign oil in his State of the Union address. And the responses it drew from across the country were fascinating. Matthew Wald and Edmund Andrews pointed out that this has been the call for 35 years. The president promoted research on renewable energy, but the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado, recently underwent layoffs and budget cuts. And while the United States tries to tame its energy dependence, Hugo Chavez and other states continue to practice "petro-diplomacy." Finally, the BBC answers questions about the US relationship with foreign oil.

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