The Center for Strategic and International Studies new “Global Forecast” offers 17 essays on the potential top challenges with security implications for the US in 2008. Leading the pack are essays featuring Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, but the forecast also covers Asia, Europe, Africa, Cuba, and transnational threats. Concluding this forecast, which labels the upcoming US Presidential election as the “main event” for 2008 is an “afterword” in which Richard Armitage and Joseph Nye say the US should “become a smarter power by reinvesting in the global good.” Hmmm.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.

