So long as the global economy continues to recover, that remains Obama's No. 1 claim to successful leadership. Nothing else even comes close. Thomas P.M. Barnett claimclosecontinue Change image and share on social
Washington has a tendency to hold other powers to standards that it routinely flaunts - plain and simple. Thomas P.M. Barnett flauntholdplain Change image and share on social
China's headlong rush to industrialize was pursued with the most Marxist of prejudices - bending nature to man's will. That's a desperately hard trick to pull off when one fifth of humanity, having previously subsisted on 7 percent of the world's freshwater supply, decides that it wants to instantaneously increase its caloric intake. Thomas P.M. Barnett bendcaloricdecide share on social
Frankly, the only thing China has in easy abundance is people and dirty coal. Neither is the asset they're made out to be. Thomas P.M. Barnett abundanceassetchina Change image and share on social
Women waited 144 years before earning suffrage. If a mature, multiparty democracy was so darn easy, everybody would have one. Thomas P.M. Barnett darndemocracyearn Change image and share on social
I have long argued that, if China and the United States were interested in pursuing a strategic partnership, Africa is the best place to start, as neither enters the situation with past colonial baggage, and both possess interests that are quite complementary. Thomas P.M. Barnett africaarguebaggage share on social
Every U.S. president enters office promising stronger ties with our southern neighbors, only to thereupon largely ignore them. Thomas P.M. Barnett enterignorelargely Change image and share on social
Barack Obama inherited a bankrupt economy, a bankrupt government, and a bankrupt foreign policy. Thomas P.M. Barnett bankruptbarackeconomy Change image and share on social
Homeland defense doesn't generate any force requirements beyond having enough National Guard to save lives in natural disasters and to baby-sit nuclear power plants on Code Red days. Thomas P.M. Barnett babycodeday Change image and share on social
The most important thing you need to know about the Pentagon is that it is not in charge of today's wars but rather tomorrow's wars. Thomas P.M. Barnett chargeimportantpentagon Change image and share on social