| This week's curated content continues the focus on the grand strategy implications of a Joe Biden presidency. Daniel DePetris wonders if a more "humble" foreign policy is possible with Biden. Writing for the New York Times, Peter Beinart seems to answer this question in the negative, arguing that Biden wants America to lead the world, and it shouldn't. Readers interested in the case that Biden will actually represent a more restrained perspective on foreign policy should consult Aaron David Miller & Richard Sokolsky's NPR piece. And, for the opposite position, consult Doug Bandow's piece that Biden is bringing the infamous foreign policy "Blob" back with him, and that Blob is ready for war. Bonnie Kristian takes a hard, critical look at Biden's likely pick for secretary of defense, Michèle Flournoy. Kristian also offers a comprehensive look at all likely picks from a personnel perspective. In addition to personnel, of course, there is the question of specific policies. Ted Galen Carpenter has an illuminating piece on Taiwan, and Simone Chun profitably speculates on whether Biden can end the Korean War. Gil Barndollar has an excellent piece detailing how it would be possible and eminently desirable to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. And Barry Posen argues forcefully for a drawdown in our involvement in Europe. Finally, we must consider the policy that determines whether various foreign policy adventures are realistically feasible--that is, the almighty power of the purse. On this issue, we direct readers to an excellent piece by Mandy Smithberger & William Hartung. Essential Reading John Mueller, Cato Institute Bottom line: The U.S. should give up efforts to prevent North Korea from attaining a nuclear weapon and use South Korea to renormalize relations with Pyongyang. This detente may not ... In the News Daniel DePetris, Newsweek Barry R. Posen, International Institute for Strategic Studies Mandy Smithberger & William Hartung, Responsible Statecraft Doug Bandow, American Conservative Aaron David Miller & Richard Sokolsky, NPR Tim Shorrock, Responsible Statecraft Barbara Boland, American Conservative Peter Beinart, New York Times Ted Galen Carpenter, Antiwar.com Simone Chun, Responsible Statecraft Evan McAllister, National Interest Bonnie Kristian, Reason Bonnie Kristian, The Hill Robert Malley & Peter Salisbury, Washington Post Paul Pillar, Responsible Statecraft Quincy Institute & Sejong Institute How can Washington and Seoul better cooperate to bolster the alliance and U.S. allies’ resilience to economic coercion and undue political influence, while also ensuring peaceful and constructive relations with Beijing? On December 1st, the Quincy Institute and South Korea-based think tank Sejong Institute held a joint webinar on U.S.-ROK bilateral relations in an era of heightened competition between the United States and China. Empire Has No Clothes On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Rachel Esplin Odell of the Quincy Institute. She discusses China, what a Biden administration policy will look like, and the real nature of the threat from Beijing. We also talk about the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist and Israel's likely involvement. Carnegie Connects As the outgoing Trump and incoming Biden administrations grapple with the challenge of withdrawal, what are U.S. vital interests in Iraq and Afghanistan and what kind of military presence is necessary to safeguard U.S. interests? Is there an acceptable path forward for the United States? And what overall political and economic strategy should the United States employ to bring greater stability to these regions? Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft China has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to connect Eurasia. Pakistan is the BRI’s “pilot project” but critics accuse Beijing of failing to live up to the hype. Meanwhile, headline grabbing Chinese projects in Afghanistan have largely come to a grinding halt. What is the future of Chinese development in South Asia and is it a threat or an opportunity for the United States? Can Beijing and Washington find common ground and avoid the pitfalls of a zero-sum competition for influence in the region? Net Assessment Chris, Zack, and Melanie get together to discuss Joshua Rovner’s recent War on the Rocks article, “Intelligence in the Biden Administration.” Rover argues that President-elect Joe Biden should immediately rebuild relations with the intelligence agencies. How can he go about doing that in difficult political circumstances and after years of them being treated with contempt during the Donald Trump administration? What role does Congress have in ensuring our intelligence agencies are functioning properly? How will Biden use the intelligence community to enhance U.S. security and prosperity? The Politics of Everything The country with the most powerful military in the world likes to pretend it has no choice in the matter. If the United States didn’t maintain order, the story goes, disorder would prevail. But as decades of messy wars drag on, this justification grows less and less plausible Rising Trita Parsi discusses the assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist Bridging the Gap On December 1st, Bridging the Gap hosted the authors of two major books on America's role in the world to share their scholarship and findings. BTG co-director James Goldgeier moderated the event, joined by Rebecca Lissner and Mira Rapp-Hooper, authors of An Open World: How America Can Win the Contest for 21st-Century Order, and Stephen Wertheim, author of Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy. | 
