Stephen Dinan

Obama: discrimination in U.S. at lowest level

Addressing the NAACP, President Obama on Thursday said discrimination in America is the lowest it has ever been, though he said it does still hurt blacks, religious minorities and gays. Published July 17, 2009

Dems hope to speed Obama’s stimulus

Senate Democrats said Tuesday that President Obama's $787 billion stimulus program needs to be fixed to ensure money is spent more quickly and on projects that will provide a faster boost to the economy. Published July 15, 2009

Obama’s to-do list grows after overseas trip

President Obama's weeklong trip overseas yielded modest accomplishments but left a host of unanswered questions and self-imposed deadlines that will test whether his power of personal persuasion will work in international diplomacy. Published July 14, 2009

Obama urges Africa to seize promise

To adoring crowds, and with a nod to his own success as a black American, President Obama on Saturday used this relatively stable democracy to challenge the rest of Africa to rise above conflict and corruption as it sees the world stage. Published July 12, 2009

Obama: Stimulus bill worked ‘as intended’

With bad-news stories about the stimulus spending bill piling up at home, President Obama used his weekly radio address Saturday to try to reset expectations, saying that the program "has worked as intended." Published July 12, 2009

Obama: Africa at moment of ‘promise’

To adoring crowds, and with a nod to his own success as an African-American, President Obama on Saturday used this relatively stable democracy to challenge the rest of Africa to rise above conflict and corruption as they seek to gain the world stage. Published July 11, 2009

Obama: Stimulus working as planned

With bad-news stories about the stimulus spending bill piling up at home, President Obama used his weekly radio address Saturday to try to reset expectations, saying despite continued job losses and the money going out slowly, the program "has worked as intended." Published July 11, 2009

Obama claims G-8 resolve against Iran

Wrapping up the Group of Eight summit, President Obama said Friday that the world's major powers are ready to act if Iran fails to show good-faith efforts and negotiate about its nuclear development program. Published July 11, 2009

Obama to African leaders: Time for ‘responsibility’

President Obama on Friday said African countries cannot blame colonialism for problems caused by corruption and their own bad governance as he embarked on his first trip as president to sub-Saharan Africa. Published July 11, 2009

World leaders: Obama doing ‘everything right’ so far

President Obama's debut performance at a G-8 summit is playing to rave reviews from his counterparts Friday, with Italian President Silvio Berlusconi telling reporters the American "has done everything absolutely right" on foreign policy so far. Published July 10, 2009

Obama gives Iran deadline on nuclear program

UPDATED: President Obama said Friday that Iran faces a September deadline to show good-faith efforts to halt its nuclear weapons program, and said the statement issued by the world's leading industrial nations meeting here this week means the international community is ready to act. Published July 10, 2009

G-8 vows restart of talks on trade

Trying to fight a rising tide of protectionism, leaders of the world's top economies Thursday vowed to restart moribund global trade talks and have the on-again-off-again negotiations finished by the end of next year. Published July 10, 2009

Leaders aim to finish trade talks by 2011

Fighting a rising tide of protectionism, leaders of the world's top economies Thursday said they will try to restart trade talks and have the on-again-off-again talks finished by the end of next year. Published July 9, 2009

World leaders greet Obama with applause

In a curious sign, leaders of the world's most powerful nations applauded President Obama as he arrived for the group photo Thursday afternoon. Published July 9, 2009

Polluting nations not on board with G-8

Eight of the world's top economies, including the United States, pledged Wednesday to slash greenhouse gas emissions but have failed to win the same agreement from top polluting nations. Published July 9, 2009

G-8 leaders pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The world's top eight economic powers, including the U.S., pledged Wednesday to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but have failed to win the same agreement from the broader group of top polluting nations. Published July 8, 2009

Obama: Putin is ‘practical,’ not ‘soul’ mate

Eight years after President George W. Bush peered into Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's psyche and got "a sense of his soul," his successor on Tuesday took his own look over breakfast and found a "strong," "practical" and unsentimental advocate for his country. Published July 8, 2009

Obama rejects Russians’ invite to light up

The hosts had a message for President Obama - we've got 'em, so smoke 'em while you're here. But America's most famous wannabe ex-smoker was having none of it, and instead encouraged Russians to quit for health's sake. Published July 8, 2009

Obama challenges Russia’s strong-arm policy

While acknowledging America's own imperfections, President Obama on Tuesday challenged Russia's strong-arm foreign policy and urged his host nation to stop competing and instead join in a "global partnership" of strong nations dedicated to world security. Published July 7, 2009