Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng arrived in New York to a throng of cheering supporters on Saturday. He will soon begin a fellowship at New York University Law School's U.S.-Asia Law Institute, and he spoke to the crowd at NYU about his plight: "After much turbulence, I have come out of Shandong," he said, through an interpreter. "This is thanks to the assistance of many friends." Bob Fu is a Chinese human rights activist and pastor, living in the United States. He was instrumental in publicizing Chen Guangcheng's case and helped negotiate his release.

Some argue that the United States' global leadership has waned, but Ian Bremmer argues that the our role in the international community isn't over, it’s just different. Today’s international order must be one of strategic partnerships and compromises, Bremmer argues, like President Obama’s so-called "leading from behind" strategy in Libya.

The debate over whether to intervene in Syria continues, and many questions remain. What role would the U.S. play in an intervention? How should Americans engage the international community? Should we arm the Syrian opposition? 

Today we have the opportunity to reflect on the U.S.’s role in two recent conflicts. One year ago today, the American troops joined their French and British counterparts on the battlefield in Libya. Nine years ago today, the U.S. launched Operation Iraqi Freedom. What have we learned from these conflicts, and how do they inform U.S. foreign policy today? 

Sunday morning's shooting, which killed at least 16 Afghan villagers, including nine children and three women, raises many questions: how much does this imperil the US mission in Afghanistan? And is it time for an earlier troop withdrawal? Michael Semple, former deputy to the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan, and Nick Colgin, a medic stationed in Afghanistan from January 2007 to April 2008, join the show to explain the possible ramifications of Sunday's act of violence. 

As the Republican Presidential candidates fight for the GOP nomination, President Obama is getting slammed on all sides. While voters consistently say that the economy is the most important issue in this election, the Republican candidates are particularly critical of President Obama’s foreign policy. Both Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney criticized President Obama for his stance on Iran's nuclear capabilities at the American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) Conference earlier this week. Santorum was particularly critical of the President for apologizing for the Koran burnings in Afghanistan last month. 

Historian Robert Kagan holds the distinction of influencing both Mitt Romney and President Obama's political discourse. A foreign policy adviser to the Romney campaign, Kagan's ideas were also evident in President Obama’s state of the union address, which disputes the claim that America is in decline.  

On Sunday, the American Embassy in Cairo offered to shelter American citizens barred from leaving the country after the Egyptian government instituted a travel ban on 17 American citizens working for NGOs within the country. Sam LaHood, son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, is among the Americans stuck in Cairo. The American Embassy's need to shelter American citizens in a once-friendly nation symbolizes a serious rift in U.S.–Egypt relations.

On Monday Arab League representatives met with the United Nations Security Council to discuss a plan of action for Syria. More than 5,000 Syrians have been killed by government forces since protests against President Bashar Al-Assad began last March. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton delivered a strong message of support to the Syrian resistance the same day: "The longer the Assad regime continues its attacks on the Syrian people and stands in the way of a peaceful transition, the greater the concern that instability will escalate and spill over throughout the region."

The escalating tension between Israel and Iran over the latter's nuclear program has been at the center of many foreign policy debates and diplomatic talks over the past decade. Proponents of an Israeli strike say it's needed for to preserve Israel's national security while detractors say such an attack would precipitate World War III. 

A number of political analysts have noted that President Obama has been far more successful in the foreign policy arena than domestically. But the President who managed to find Osama Bin Laden still faces a tough re-election battle this year. David Sanger, Chief Washington correspondent for our partner The New York Times, and contributor to WQXR's The Washington Report gives his thoughts on the foreign policy points made during last night's state of the union address.

Former journalist and human rights activist Sherry Rehman has been named as Pakistan's new ambassador to the United States. Rehman will replace Husain Haqqani, who resigned amid accusations he was involved in an effort to engage the U.S. to curb the Army's powers in Pakistan. Haqqani allegedly sent an anonymous memo sent to Admiral Mike Mullen after the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistani in May. The memo requested Washington’s help in diminishing the power of the Pakistani army. In recent days, a Pakistani-American businessman has said he was instructed to write the memo by Haqqani. 

The GOP presidential candidates discussed foreign policy and national security during yet another debate on Tuesday night. The candidates attempted to subtle distinctions between each other in policies on Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Patriot Act, Iran, and Israel. Newt Gingrich, the current front runner, made waves when he suggested the party should not adopt an immigration policy that "destroys families that have been here a quarter-century."

The Republican candidates will debate again tonight on foreign policy. But this time around, Newt Gingrich is leading in the polls. It's a major comeback for Gingrich who started out ahead and took a heavy hit early on. He's now doing one percentage point better than former front-runner Mitt Romney. But is this just a passing trend? Or is he now a serious contender? 

When Anne-Marie Slaughter joined the Obama administration as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's director of policy planning she became the first woman to hold the position. In February, Slaughter left the job as protests were beginning in Libya. Since leaving office, she's been very vocal about her concerns regarding the U.S. approach to Libya through blogging for The Atlantic, appearing on many news outlets, and maintaining an active presence on Twitter. 

Over three decades have passed since Henry Kissinger served as Secretary of State for the Richard Nixon, and then Gerald Ford, and his advice is still sought and respected by politicians and world leaders. In the third installment of our interview with him, he shares his thoughts on the Arab spring, Israel and Palestine, and how President Obama is handling all of this.

While Washington continues tp debate the debt ceiling, the United States is expected to reach the limit on its debt today. This means the government will no longer be able to borrow money. Charlie Herman, business and economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC Radio, says it's just a mystery what will happen, because we're not seeing any deals on the table yet. There are questions about the future of the International Monetary Fund after its managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York for allegedly sexually assaulting a Manhattan hotel maid.

The U.S. has been at war in Afghanistan for almost ten years, with one of the main objectives to hunt down Osama bin Laden. With bin Laden now dead — killed by American Navy Seals, and buried at sea — does U.S. foreign policy on the global war on terrorism have to change? Retired Air Force Colonel, Sam Gardiner believes President Obama will have to find a good argument to stay at war in Afghanistan.

Since January 25, when a wave of popular protests began to sweep across the Middle East region, the U.S. has been put into several very precarious policy positions. The most obvious question is: should the U.S. stand on the side of revolution and support the protesters seeking new Democratic leadership; or, should we continue to support the incumbent, sometimes brutal, autocratic regimes that have been our long-time allies in the region? The answers aren't always clear. 

President Barack Obama is a different leader than candidate Barack Obama. What remains difficult to discern is just how different both men are on matters of U.S. foreign policy. Critics to both the left and the right of the president have voiced frustration at the administration's obstinate refusal to state a foreign policy doctrine. Ryan Lizza, Washington correspondent for The New Yorker describes how recent events in the Middle East may be creating an Obama doctrine on its own.

George Packer, staff writer for The New Yorker, knew Richard Holbrooke not only through his reporting but through many conversations with the diplomatic titan. Packer was supposed to have dinner with Holbrooke this Friday, and joins us now to remember not only Holbrook's impressive career, but his personality and his humor.