Meetings of high ranking U.S. diplomats with leaders of the countries will focus on issues on the bilateral agenda and the regional situation. They will meet with representatives of civil society and media in each of the countries, the State Department reports.

For nearly three weeks next month, America’s most famed and busiest performing arts facility will be transformed into a high temple of India’s varied culture. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, will celebrate India with an extraordinary fare of classical, folkloric and contemporary masterpieces from the country.

CPD Summer Institute '09 Alumna, Emily Metzgar, releases a survey through Indiana University on the Japanese Exchange & Teaching program.

The events from Tunisia and Egypt to Yemen and now Libya also shined a spotlight on Al Jazeera, as the Qatar-based news network used its well-positioned reporters to garner scoops and become, almost overnight, a new must-view for millions of global citizens interested in the big Middle East story.

Sports have often been a bridge between cultures. Even when politicians have tried to use sports for propaganda purposes, the spirit of sports has often overcome political problems. The 1936 Olympics come to mind. Hitler’s “master race” blew up in his face because of Jesse Owens.

In CPD Advisory Board member Barry Sanders' article, "Sports and Public Diplomacy" he writes that America's greatest foreign policy challenge is combating violent extremism. Sports and public diplomacy can offer the growing population of youth around the world, whether or not connected to an extremist organizations or philosophies, an alternative to violent activity.

It is of course possible, and probably likely, that the Arab Spring of 2011 will fail, as other springs in the Middle East and elsewhere have never come to fruition. There would still be a case, for reasons of honor and duty, for the United States to try to help, to do the right thing, to stand with the opponents of tyranny, even if one thought them likely, even nearly certain, to fail.

The federal budget deficit will run a record $1.65 trillion in 2011. So why does Washington continue to subsidize foreign governments? The House Republicans appear determined to reduce spending, and one of their targets is foreign “aid.” This year the State Department would lose 16% of its budget; humanitarian aid would drop by 41 percent.