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GIVEN CURRENT events-the disappointing lack of progress (if not backsliding) in Afghanistan, the de facto sectarian and ethnic civil war in Iraq, and the difficulties the United States faces in obtaining an international consensus on how to deal with the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea-it is rather ironic that it is realism, rather than other schools of international relations, which labors under something of a cloud. The author argues: 'Even if Iraq possessed chemical or biological weapons (which was a fair assumption) or even a nuclear weapon (which was a stretch of the imagination), it did not have the long-range military capability to strike the United States and thus pose a direct threat.'.

Examines the the process by which US national election results are interpreted by news media, in which the media rely on competing sources inside Washington, DC, whose interpretations are designed to maximize their political advantage in the postelection political environment. Ultimately, a conventional wisdom emerges that gives political actors a common understanding of the political reality, on which they base their interaction. The "winning" interpretations will be those most vigorously promoted by their supporters inside Washington. In 1988, the dominant interpretations were that the president-elect had no mandate to lead Congress & that the Democratic party lost because its message was too liberal. 7 Tables, 28 References. Adapted from the source document.

Responds to Melvyn P. Leffler's article, "9/11 and American Foreign Policy" (Diplomatic History, June 2005). Leffler is praised for acknowledging the complex history of US foreign policy when analyzing the policies of the George W. Bush administration; however various weaknesses in his argument are identified. The structure of Leffler's analysis is considered unconvincing, particularly regarding the relationship between threat perception & ideals & values. Also, Leffler is criticized for his non-specific evaluation of Bush's policies. L. Collins Leigh

'An Old Wife's Tale: My Seven Decades in Love and War,' by Midge Decter, is reviewed.

'Does America Need A Foreign Policy?: Toward a Diplomacy for the 21st Century' by Henry A. Kissinger is reviewed.

Essay in a symposium on international statesman Max van der Stoel and his important contribution to promoting security and human rights. Adapted from the source document.