Hillen says U.S. presidents, especially those confronted by a Congress led by an opposing political party, tend to make their boldest foreign policy initiatives in their second terms. He notes, for example, that immediately after President Clinton's re-election he made critical decisions related to the continued deployment of U.S. troops in Bosnia and signaled his willingness to commit the military in support of a humanitarian mission in Zaire. He also says Clinton has assembled a team of military advisers who will "not resist focusing on the protracted and thankless tasks of military interventions in 'complex humanitarian emergencies' on the periphery of strategic U.S. interests."

Doherty, Carroll J. CHALLENGES LOOM AHEAD FOR PRESIDENT (Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, vol. 54, no. 48, December 7, 1996, pp.3344-3350)

Given the unsettled state of the world, the president's new national security team will have a lot of work to do, the author contends. "A huge pile of unfinished business remains from Clinton's first term," he says, relating to Bosnia, the Middle East peace process, the Persian Gulf, South Asia, North Korea, Russia, NATO membership for the former Warsaw Bloc nations, and the humanitarian crises in Africa. The president "will need to court" the Republican Congress "far more assiduously" than in his first-term, the author says.

Heilbrunn, Jacob. UNVISIONARY (The New Republic, vol. 215, issue 20, November 11, 1996, p. 6, 60)

"American foreign policy did not suddenly become confusing under Bill Clinton. It has always been confused. And the traits deplored by Clinton's foes -- his flexibility and adaptability -- are the very ones that make for an impressive foreign policy," the author contends. Heilbrunn suggests that Clinton, in his second term, may, like Reagan before him, "make his mark" in foreign policy. "Sometimes it takes a visionary to abandon visions," the author says.

Crock, Stan and Borrus, Amy (with others). FOREIGN POLICY: ONCE MORE, WITH VISION (Business Week, November 18, 1996, p. 48)

Given the range of trouble spots and crises around the world, the authors contend, President Clinton must develop a clearer vision for foreign policy decisions in his second term. Failure on the president's part to devise a strategic plan for foreign policy could produce disastrous consequences and "one long course in international crisis management" they warn. They cite troubles on the economic security front, difficulties in U.S. relations with traditional allies and, most significantly, a variety of problems with China.

Weinrod, Bruce W. THE NEED FOR WESTERN LEADERSHIP (The World & I, vol. 11, no. 12, December 1996, pp. 36-41)

As a world leader the U.S. "continues to be the only acceptable honest broker for European nations," the author states. Weinrod says the U.S. should lobby at the earliest opportunity for full European Union membership for central and eastern European nations. NATO expansion also should be high on the U.S. agenda. The U.S. must ensure that central and eastern Europe "become permanent parts of the sphere of world freedom," he concludes.

Nunn, Sam. SURVEYING THE STRATEGIC LANDSCAPE (Aviation Week and Space Technology, vol. 145, no. 22, pp. 66-70.)

Retired Senator Sam Nunn examines U.S. vital interests, weapons proliferation, the potential for terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction, NATO enlargement and other issues on America's security agenda and notes that "the end of the Cold War did not render deterrence obsolete." He says that NATO enlargement raises several questions that have to be addressed as part of the U.S. strategic agenda and that "sound arms control agreements can and do enhance" security.

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