Learning Curve

Presidential Palace / AP

Tour of duty: Obama visiting Kabul earlier this year

Much of the world senses a connection with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama. The feeling appears mutual. Obama has repeatedly said that his background (childhood in Indonesia, father from Kenya) enables him to better understand other nations and cultures. He will need that understanding, especially in Asia, where the U.S. is fighting a war in Afghanistan, battling terrorism in Pakistan and learning to cope with rising powers China and India, among other challenges. Here's Obama's main Asia agenda, and what he should do about it.

The war on terror. Obama has called for...

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