With no apparent definition of McCain's ideal "victory with honor" in Iraq, it's difficult to measure our success, or lack thereof. Coniglio examines several possible definitions, but ultimately decides that estabilishing a democracy in Iraq is up to the Iraqis. We can't want it more than they do, and at a certain point, we just have to step back out the door.

This past week, amongst the chaos of the bailout and financial crisis, the Senate approved the pending nuclear deal between the United States and India, ending the boycott of India by nuclear nations in response to its refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. To critics, this agreement is a double-standard, favoring India at the expense of Pakistan, Iran and North Korea. For supporters it is simply recognizing the de-facto situation and rewarding India's cooperation by incorporating it into the international nuclear community.

Conglio gives his take on the presidential debates, focusing on each candidate's style and background.

What will McCain do? We clearly can't know for sure, but Coniglio shares his fears of Sen. McCain continuing Bush's general policy of not admitting failures or mistakes.

Rob Coniglio stresses the importance of improving U.S. foreign relations, citing unresolved issues with the Middle East, Russia, China, Venezula, and numerous other countries.

Rob Coniglio comments on the unfortunate place that Georgia has found itself in recently. Georgia sends a clear message to the other countries of the former Eastern Bloc--upset Russia and get close to the United States at your own risk. With Western powers creeping closer, Russia seems to be taking action to keep them at bay.

When I look through both American and Chinese history, I see a common thread in our shared pre-occupation with monuments. Americans have the countless presidential monuments in D.C. as well as war memorials, not to mention our grand public works projects such as the Hoover Dam and Interstate Highway System that represent our belief in power and hope for America.

The Olympics open in fifteen days. You could say that Beijing is putting the final touches on what it hopes will be a masterpiece, a sign of China’s rising power and ascension to an important global position. Yet these preparations have cut widely and deeply into the daily lives of those who live in and around Beijing.