Ever since Adm. Michael Mullen told Congress that in his personal view, gays and lesbians should be allowed to openly serve, it's been hard to find a vocal dissenting view. The chairman's voice is a powerful one indeed. The highest-ranking and loudest critic has been Marine Corps Commandant James. T. Conway, who told Congress late last month that he...

We're hearing that China may decide to skip next month's Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, an Obama White House priority. Two sources say that Chinese President Hu Jintao may elect not to come, which would be a blow to the summit, not to mention U.S.-Chinese relations.

As one source explained, China was never thrilled with the April 12-13 summit, which is...

Before our readers get their feathers in a ruffle, that's a tongue-in-cheek headline up there.

Still, an item from Persia House, the excellent Iran-watching cell at Booz Allen Hamilton, caught our eye. They report that this weekend, Iran will hold the first summit of "Palestinian Combatant Groups." Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to attend the confab, according to Farsi-language media...

For as long as we here at N&S can remember, the US Embassy in London--with whom the United States has a "special relationship," it is said--has been at Grovesnor Square in downtown Mayfair.

But the 1960s-era building is getting old and crowded, and the U.S. State Department is moving to new turf, both physically and...

Iran has just sent a letter to the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, repeating its request for fuel to run a research reactor in Tehran that produces nuclear isotopes for medical purposes, according to U.S. and European officials.

They are reading the letter as Iran's latest, and perhaps final, rejection of an offer the United States and five...