Kasparov argues in Winter is Coming that Putin and his kleptocratic government poses serious risks for the world’s democracies as the oligarchs maintain their wealth and power by any means necessary.

As Recep Tayyip Erdogan steers Turkey further away from liberal democracy and ever closer to authoritarianism, we’re reminded of just how often President Obama has picked the wrong partners and chosen the wrong direction on the world stage.

The French officers are not satisfied with a mere recognition of their technical qualities. They are clamoring for their legitimate return into the political arena.

Many American officials have concluded that issues in Central and Eastern Europe have been fixed once and for all and that they can “check the box” and move on to other more pressing strategic issues. Relations have been so close that many on both sides assume that the region’s transatlantic orientation, as well as its stability and prosperity, would last forever. That view is premature.

The Obama administration is making some adjustments to its foreign policy approach, but not enough to deal with the challenges we face.

Instead of viewing the U.S. military as the world’s policeman or as protecting free riders around the globe, we should understand why it is in America’s interests to maintain forces in Europe and ensure that NATO remains strong.

Gaddy and O’Hanlon from Brookings argue that a Reaganov Russia or Besieged Russia are the most likely scenarios after Putin leaves power, but telling the difference between the two would be difficult for foreign observers.

Can anyone imagine Truman or Eisenhower, Johnson or Reagan responding in a similar manner if Stalin, Khrushchev, or Brezhnev complimented them? Did they praise Moscow for blockading Berlin, for crushing Hungary, for snuffing out the Prague Spring, for smothering Poland, for being strong, for killing terrorists, for keeping restive peoples in line?

Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church clearly have a close relationship, but their foreign policy in Syria is flawed.