About Elephants in the Room
Elephants in the Room is a blog about U.S. foreign policy in the age of Trump, written by experienced GOP policymakers, scholars, and others not currently working in the new administration. It is curated by co-editors Peter D. Feaver and William Inboden.
The Realists Are Wrong About Syria
Neither Trump nor the international relations experts who cheered his choice to withdraw U.S. troops have wrestled adequately with the costs of departure.
U.S. Deterrence in the Middle East Is Collapsing
The withdrawal from Syria is part of a broader pattern of weakness, especially in response to Iran.
Maduro Is Playing a Dangerous Game on the Colombian Border
Tensions and lawlessness could spiral into armed conflict.
Trump’s Globalism Is a Caricature of Multilateralism
When it comes to international cooperation, the White House is repeating the mistakes of the past.
The United States Should Help Mongolia Stand Up to China
On Beijing’s doorstep, Ulaanbaatar continues to defy the geopolitical odds.
The United States Should Lift Sanctions on Sudan
It’s finally time to breathe new life into the country’s moribund economy.
Refusing to Talk With Iran Is a Mistake
Donald Trump should use the U.N. General Assembly as an opportunity to open dialogue with Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Israel Shouldn’t Worry About Ilhan Omar. It Should Worry About Xi Jinping.
China risks becoming a point of chronic contention between the United States and Israel.
Iran-Backed Militias Are In Iraq to Stay
Prime Minister Mahdi is trying to bring the Popular Mobilization Forces under control of the government, but even he probably knows it won’t work.
Dear China, We Have to Talk About Your Nukes
The United States and Russia can’t maintain the global system of nuclear deterrence on their own anymore.
Galleries
30 Years Since the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Celebration and uncertainty in Germany as communism crumbled on Nov. 9, 1989.
A Week in World Photos
A robot in Saudi Arabia, demonstrations in Iraq, and an elephant roadblock in Thailand.
Why Trade Wars Are Inevitable
Trump’s trade wars aren’t just about him or China—but global economic imbalances that the next U.S. administration will still have to address.
The Internet Broke the News Industry—and Can Fix It, Too
The only way to save journalism is to make readers direct participants in making, and paying for, the media.
Repent for Your Frequent Flyer Miles!
Feeling guilty for the carbon burned on your last flight? The Germans have a word for that.
The Women Who Shaped Obama’s Foreign Policy
Two new memoirs by Samantha Power and Susan Rice show how idealists became insiders—and what was lost along the way.
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