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A careful selection and summary of editorials, commentaries, and analyses from the world’s leading newspapers and magazines to help you stay on top of the latest debates and developments in the transatlantic agenda. See list of monitoring sources.
Readers can also see how the perspectives and priorities diverge in different regions.

Regardless of Snags, Obama Must Close Guantanamo

Upon taking office, Obama must immediately close the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison that so dreadfully taints the reputation of the US. ++ Bush’s criticism of the prison might have been truthful, but its closure would create several practical problems that he is not willing to face. ++ For example, the release of 50 cleared suspects who face persecution in their home countries. ++ European critics of the prison may have to take them in. ++ Holding open trials on the US mainland would also create problems and a hybrid court must be created.

Minimum Target for the G20: Do No Harm

The G20-meeting may harm the economy if conflicts surface and the US is blamed for the crisis. ++ The IMF lacks legitimacy due to an under-representation of Asian powers and over-representation of Europeans. ++ Obama must agree to the results of the summit, even with a lame-duck Bush as host, or markets risk destabilization. ++ Leadership is needed from Europeans who called for the meeting. ++ The best result would be stimulus packets to support domestic demand. ++ The meeting may transform global economic power.

Restoring US-Iranian Relations

President Bush will take a first step toward restoring diplomatic relations with Iran by establishing a diplomatic office. ++ The US understands that going to war with Iran would be fatal. ++ Unlike the US, “Iran never tried to overthrow a US government. Iran never invaded America's neighbors. Iran never stationed aircraft carriers off the US coast.” ++ Dialogue will change the political landscape, giving Iranians the chance to prove their legitimate ambitions while offering an “alternative to military adventurism and diplomatic lawlessness.”

India Needs Separate Deals with Washington, Islamabad

Indian elites are showing insecurity over India's role with relation to Washington. ++ That Obama is courting Islamabad for support in Afghanistan shouldn't be cause for worry. ++ The lack of criticism of US military action in Syria from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs is a sign of weakness; confidence is required. ++ India's response to Iran, Afghanistan, and Syria mustn't be determined by US action. ++ “Rather than panicking about what the U.S. might or might not do,” Pakistan should be engaged directly.

Congressman Calls for Fire Hose on Own Party

A "fire hose, not [a] feather duster" is needed for Republican Party reform, even if it means taking risks. ++ The Fed's task should be limited to stopping inflation; the financial system also needs overhaul. ++ The GOP, meanwhile, should target changing the tax code while taking control of the health-care debate. ++ Republicans have lost their ideals of spending discipline and need to return to them in order to win back relevancy. ++ Republicans should aim to offer an alternative future to the one of Democrats, not just block their policies.

Sarkozy Against "Polite Conversation"

French President Sarkozy is rushing on with demands for the upcoming G20-meeting, at the expense of diplomacy. ++ His harsh call for multilateral action, blaming Wall Street for the crisis, is explained by a feeling of support from public opinion in Europe. ++ However, the crisis was not fabricated only in the US; Europe's structures have their own faults. ++ Sensible targets for the summit would be coordination of requirements for banks and managing investment transparency, not a French-style re-regulation.

Getting out of Bretton Woods Was a Bad Idea

Although little can be done until the financial crisis is over, it is time to think about exchange rate reform now. ++ Asian countries devalued their own currency while hording US dollar reserves to boost employment and growth. ++ This excess was pushed into housing bubbles in the US and UK by expansionary policies that fired up credit expansions. ++ Countries’ reserve needs must be met, “while avoiding the use of national currencies as international reserves.” ++ A new global exchange rate system must correct excessive imbalances.

How Obama Must Renew US-Russian Relations

Last week, Medvedev threatened to station missiles near Poland if the US administration continued its plans to install a missile defense system there and in the Czech Republic. ++ President-elect Obama has to improve US-Russian relations. ++ He should be “ready to cancel deployment of the faulty missile defense system in Central Europe [and] end the US push for imminent NATO expansion into Ukraine and Georgia.” ++ Obama should ask Russia to cooperate on the issues of energy security, terrorism and Iran’s nuclear program.

"Bush's Last Bullet: Why the US Attacked Syria"

Russia’s attacks on Georgia have been decried by the US as a violation against international law but recent US attacks on Syria are no less destabilizing to the area. ++ Syria has not only initiated peace talks with Israel and reestablished diplomatic ties with Lebanon, it is also strengthening relations with the EU. ++ US attempts to isolate Syria are failing. ++ The bombings can be viewed as Bush’s warning to Syria. ++ US policy towards Syria has to change, as it becomes the source of “further animosity towards the U.S. throughout the world.”

Obama's Foreign Policy Ivory Tower

Anti-intellectualism is no new current in US election cycles. ++ Election populism soon gives way to post-election academic inspiration, especially in the realm of foreign policy. ++ JFK raided the ivory towers of Cambridge, MA; Nixon, Harvard; and Carter, Columbia. ++ While intellectuals provide profound insights, Obama must be leery of those with a "theory" to test. ++ Such advisors undid JFK and George W. Bush. ++ The ideas of Samantha Powers and John Ikenberry, Obama advisors, "are thankfully less ambitious in scope.”