During his show on Monday, comedian Jon Stewart complained about the U.S. involvement in the military operations against Moammar Gaddafi's regime in Libya.  Stewart quoted Barack Obama, who in 2007, as a U.S. Senator said:  "The President does not have power under the constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."  Stewart used this quote to criticize the actions being taken President Obama this week against Libya. Senator Obama was completely correct in his statement, but Stewart is using the quote out of context.

In a recent visit to India, President Obama announced U.S. support for India taking a seat on the United Nations Security Council.  A second announcement centered on U.S. backing of India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.  While these developments indicate a stronger tie between the world’s two largest democracies, they open up questions about Obama’s other initiatives as well as what this will mean for next steps in ensuring reform.

On July 7, 2009, President Obama spoke to the graduating class of the New Economic School in Moscow. He discussed the importance of Russian involvement in global politics and a new way of thinking about the relationship between the U.S. and Russia. He noted that the dynamics of international politics have changed greatly and that "the pursuit of power is no longer a zero-sum game - progress must be shared." He added that the U.S. and Russia must make "a sustained effort...to identify mutual interests, and expand dialogue and cooperation that can pave the way to progress."

Reaction is pouring in to the International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued on Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. Several members of Congress issued statements calling for stronger U.S. engagement with the ICC and Darfur. Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) said: