January 28, 2011 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website. OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION This CFR Analysis Brief discusses President Obama's State of the Union address, which stressed an agenda to boost competitiveness, bipartisanship, and sacrifice. Critics say he failed to lay out a convincing plan to tackle the country's mounting debt. ==> Explore CFR's Issue Guide on the State of the Union. U.S. DEBT CRISIS In this Financial Times op-ed, CFR President Richard N. Haass and Evercore Partners Founder and Chairman Roger C. Altman argue that a debt crisis in the United States will shrink America's global role and result in a less safe and less free world. ==> Read this Foreign Affairs article on American Power and American Profligacy. CHINA'S STATE VISIT In this CFR Interview, CFR Senior Fellow Elizabeth C. Economy discusses how the Obama administration scored some successes on human rights and trade during Chinese president Hu's state visit, but made no breakthrough on currency and other issues. ==> Visit CFR's Asia Unbound Blog for more timely analysis of emerging issues in Asia. U.S. TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGE In this CFR podcast, CFR Senior Fellow Adam Segal argues that to maintain its technological primacy, the United States should focus on strengthening the politics, social networks, and institutions that move ideas from the lab to the marketplace He says that local capabilities are also important--regions and cities will have to start thinking competitively. ==> Explore Dr. Segal's new book, Advantage: How American Innovation Can Overcome the Asian Challenge.   THE NATURAL GAS REVOLUTION Thanks to technological advances, vast amounts of natural gas--particularly shale gas--have become economically viable. This development is a boon for consumers interested in affordable energy and for governments hoping to reduce their countries' dependency on foreign oil, says former U.S. undersecretary of energy John Deutch.     About CFR's State and Local Officials Initiative The CFR State and Local Officials Initiative seeks to serve as a resource and forum for bipartisan discussion on pressing international issues that affect the priorities and agendas of state and local governments, including the economy, trade and competitiveness, homeland security, public health, immigration, and energy supply and climate policy. For more information, please contact Elizabeth McCourt, assistant director for the National Program & Outreach, at 212.434.9535 or outreach@cfr.org. About the State and Local Government Portal on CFR.org Bookmark our dynamic home on CFR.org, www.cfr.org/stateandlocal! This page is your guide to CFR's best materials on global topics of local importance, including trade and the economy, homeland security, health, energy, and climate change. EXPLORE CFR's WEBSITE:     Regions      Issues      Experts     Publications     About CFR Find CFR on Twitter and Facebook. Privacy Policy The Council on Foreign Relations does not share email addresses with third parties. Council on Foreign Relations 58 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065 Tel. +1 212.434.9564 Fax: +1 212.434.9829