American leadership is once again being challenged in the Middle East.  But this time, it is not Iran, Iraq, or some other predictable actor that is doing the challenging.  This time, it is Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who is stating, unequivocally, that while he supports American efforts to promote Middle East peace, he rejects American calls for actions that the Obama administration has identified as necessary to move the process forward.  In particular, Netanyahu publicly rejected the Administration's call to stop Israeli settlement construction in East Jerusalem, directly rebuking longstanding American policy and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's call for such a move at this week's AIPAC conference.

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This morning brought welcome news of progress in multilateral talks with Iran over its nuclear program – and a comprehensive reminder of how US global engagement to reduce and control the threat nuclear weapons pose can pay off in dealing with Iran, North Korea and other key regional concerns. A diplomatic deal has been struck to send Iran’s uranium to Russia to be processed and sent back to Iran as relatively harmless fuel for civilian nuclear power plants. The deal, which must still be officially confirmed by Friday by all governments, would push back the prospect of Iran developing a nuclear weapon for a number of years. This arrangement is the latest demonstration of diplomacy paying dividends to address immediate flashpoints while also advancing the global non-proliferation agenda. It stands in stark contrast to the Bush administration’s record, which failed to both deal effectively with Iran’s nuclear program and stem the flow of dangerous weapons.

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s trip to India and Southeast Asia this week spotlighted a nation and region on the rise – and showcased the Obama administration’s focus on improving relations and simultaneously tackling the toughest issues, from climate change to North Korea to human rights in Burma. The focal point of the trip was Clinton’s three day visit to India – a country the Administration sees as a potential key strategic ally of the United States. Her trip demonstrated that the Obama administration is capable of forging closer ties, while at the same time addressing contentious issues that the Bush Administration had shied away from, such as climate change.

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