March 4, 2011 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website. In this Issue: Confronting Mexico's Drug War Ratcheting Up Pressure on Qaddafi Secretary Gates's Strategic Thinking Confronting Mexico's Drug War Improving bilateral relations is a priority for Mexican President Calderon's March 3 visit to Washington. This Council Special Report argues that the U.S. can help Mexico fight corruption and its drug wars by strengthening its economy, political institutions, and civil society. Read more Expert Brief: "A Crucial U.S.-Mexico Summit" by Shannon O'Neil Task Force Report: U.S. Immigration Policy by Jeb Bush, Thomas McLarty, and Edward Alden Markets and Democracy Brief: "Mexico - Development and Democracy at a Crossroads" by Shannon O'Neil CFR Symposium Audio, Video, Transcript: 200 Years of U.S.-Mexico Relations - Challenges for the 21st Century Interactive: Timeline - U.S.-Mexico Relations (1810-present) CFR experts on Mexico Ratcheting Up Pressure on Qaddafi The Qaddafi government's violence has resulted in at least 300 civilian deaths and the attempted flight of thousands of Libyans and migrant workers, says Human Rights Watch's Tom Malinowski. The immediate step the United States and NATO should consider is getting assistance to people trying to flee. Read more Expert Brief: "Libya's Leadership Crossroads" by Robert Danin Expert Brief: "Lessons for the Mideast from Asia's Revolutions" by Joshua Kurlantzick Foreign Affairs: "Bahrain's Shia Question - What the United States Gets Wrong About Sectarianism" by Kristin Smith Diwan Op-ed: "Should the U.S. Move Against Qaddafi? First, Define the Goals" by Steven Simon (New York Times) Foreign Affairs: "Rage Comes to Baghdad - Will Iraq's Recent Protests Lead to Revolt?" by Raad Alkadiri CFR experts on the Middle East For continuously updated coverage on the Middle East visit the Issue Guide to the Arab World Protests Secretary Gates's Strategic Thinking Secretary of Defense Robert Gates's recent West Point speech promoted the need for better strategic thinking by the U.S. military to supplant a current emphasis on counterinsurgency tactics and nation building, says CFR's Gian Gentile. Read more Article: "Hoist By Their Own Words" by Leslie Gelb (The Daily Beast) Foreign Affairs: "A Leaner and Meaner Defense - How to Cut the Pentagon's Budget While Improving Its Performance" by Gordon Adams and Matthew Leatherman Blog: "Can the U.S. Cut Defense Spending?" ("Geo-Graphics") Op-ed: "The Future of War" by Micah Zenko (Foreign Policy) Foreign Affairs: "Fighting the Laws of War - Protecting Civilians in Asymmetric Conflict" by Charli Carpenter CFR experts on Defense   New Interactive Feature Maps Armed Conflict The latest addition to the Global Governance Monitor, an online, multimedia guide that tracks, maps, and evaluates multilateral efforts to address various challenges, examines armed conflict. It features a short video on conflict prevention and response; an interactive timeline; and a map detailing violent conflicts worldwide. View the monitor, and its components on public health, climate change, finance, and more at www.cfr.org/conflictmonitor     This Week on CFR's YouTube Channel Reza Aslan, author of No God but God, discusses how the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa influence the balance of power in the region. Former ambassador James Jones analyzes U.S.-Mexico relations and the resulting violence from President Felipe Calderón's continued "War on Drugs." Watch more videos on CFR's YouTube channel.     On the CFR Blogs THE WATER'S EDGE James Lindsay considers the risk that Libya may become home to al Qaeda in today's "Friday File." ASIA UNBOUND Joshua Kurlantzick argues that after the initial euphoria, many revolutions in Asia have gone sour. PRESSURE POINTS Elliott Abrams urges the Obama administration to send arms to rebels in Libya. AFRICA IN TRANSITION John Campbell discusses the resonance of North African events in sub-Saharan Africa. FROM THE POTOMAC TO THE EUPHRATES Steven Cook argues that some observers wrongly see the sons of dictators as progressive change agents. ENERGY, SECURITY, AND CLIMATE Michael Levi discusses the impact of continued unrest in the Middle East on oil prices. GEO-GRAPHICS Alan Greenspan argues that the economic recovery has been hampered by the exceptional level of government activism over the past two years. Read and weigh in on CFR's expert blogs.     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. +1 212.434.9400 Fax: +1 212.434.9800