In Eye of Euro Storm, Jean-Claude Trichet at the Helm of ECB (8/9)

The president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, has devoted the last three decades of his distinguished career to building a solid currency for Europe. Now, three months from his retirement, Trichet, 68, is waging what seems to be the fiercest struggle of all as he strives to prevent a collapse of his prized euro.

Read more...
 

Missile-Defense Blocking Russian Reset: A Way Forward With Moscow (8/5)

The proposed U.S. missile-defense system in Europe remains a major sticking point in relations with Russia: the recent NATO-Russia Council meeting (July 4) chose to postpone further debate, apparently until after the next NATO summit and into the 2012 U.S. presidential elections. A week after that meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a European Institute-sponsored event in Washington that the impasse on missile defense is a great “impediment” in a generally upward trend in U.S.-Russian ties.

Read more...
 

Success on Debt Still Risks Damage to U.S. International Financial Image (8/2)

The U.S. finally chalked up a success in reaching a Congressional deal to avoid default on the national debt, but considerable “damage may already have been done” to America’s image as a global pillar of financial security and adept manager of economic power.

Read more...