1. President Barack Obama shakes House speaker John Boehner's hand before delivering the State of the Union address, January 25, 2011

    Obama Touts Message of Economic Nationalism

    The president suggested that American manufacturing is in decline because foreign competitors don’t play by the rules.

  1. President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address to Congress, January 25, 2011

    Obama Offers No Fresh Hope of Fiscal Consolidation

    The president says that he’s prepared to make the “tough choices” that are necessary to balance the budget. Again.

  1. Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama meet with National Security Staff in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington DC, June 20, 2011

    Obama Says Iran’s Regional Standing “Diminished”

    According to the president, “Iran now faces a unified world community” in opposition to its nuclear program.

  1. A C-130 Hercules transport aircraft lands at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, July 7, 2011 (Timm Ziegenthaler)

    US Military Presence in Europe Unlikely to “Evolve”

    Europe won’t fend for itself as long as there is an extended and permanent American military presence on the continent.

  1. Presidents Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Barack Obama of the United States meet on the sideslines of a NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal, November 20, 2010

    Taliban Talks Could Hurt Obama’s Reelection Chances

    Domestic American politics will probably frustrate attempts to bring the war in Afghanistan to a negotiated end.