Tag: Defense

Stevenson’s army, June 23

– Defense authorizers and appropriators split on how much money for Pentagon.

– Popular bill for veterans with toxic exposure blocked because it violates the Constitution — which requires bills with tax provisions to originate in the House.

– SAIS prof Ed Joseph reports on the political struggle in Bulgaria.

140,000 Cubans have come to US borders recently

– Historians and journalists suggest how to report on threats to democracy by issuing The Authoritarian’s Playbook.

-I’m sending this Economist article on Biden’s Middle East policy mainly because it has an extraordinary color picture of FDR’s meeting with the Saudi king in February 1945.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

Tags : , , , , ,

Stevenson’s army, June 20

On this new federal holiday, commemorating the announcement of the end of slavery in Texas in 1865, WaPo has one of its historical stories [Retropolis] noting that, just before Lincoln’s inauguration, Congress passed a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing the continuation of slavery in states where it existed. Lincoln supported the amendment as a way of preventing civil war. It was not ratified by enough states, but author Ben Winter wrote an intriguing novel [Underground Airlines] assuming we still had slavery in four states today.

– Germany is restarting its coal-fired plants to cope with Russian cuts in energy.

– Task & Purpose says USAF should re-think, given the Ukraine war.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

Tags : , , ,

Stevenson’s army, June 16

-Congress plans a big increase in defense spending.

-NBC says Biden criticized Blinken and Austin for expanding war aims.

– Politico has background on Biden trip to Saudi Arabia.

– Estonia wants more NATO forces.

– Turkey still blocks Sweden & Finland.

My friend Jim Fallows has suggestions on the best software for writers.  His Substack columns are also good on journalism issues.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

Tags : , , , ,

Stevenon’s army, June 15

As President Kennedy said, “To govern is to choose.” NYT has a good piece summarizing the conflicting views on whether to cut Trump tariffs on Chinese goods as part of the fight against inflation.

Ukraine assessments: David Ignatius emphasizes Russia’s problems. Fred Kaplan notes Russian progress.

While senior officials discuss what more to ship to Ukraine, Politico notes the practical logistical shipping and training issues that slow things down regardless.

Remember that the NDAA is not necessary for DOD to do its job. The only legal effect if there were no NDAA is that military pay couldn’t rise faster than the regular government COLA rules. Sure enough, NDAA committees are seeking to enact a huge military pay raise.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

Tags : , , , ,

Stevenson’s army, June 3

– Ceasefire in Yemen and increased oil output paves way for Biden trip to Saudi Arabia.

– Politico explains the bureaucratic shuffles to manage China policy.

– CNA Russia expert says it’s down but not out in Ukraine. And on WOTR has numerous details on Russian military.

Islamic State attacking beyond Afghanistan.

– State corrects website on Taiwan.

– More details on China tariff review.

Facts wrong on critical infrastructure.

DPRK heads disarmament group? What’s wrong with this picture?

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

-Fred Kaplan enjoyed new Top Gun movie, but raises many technical points.

Tags : , , , , , , , , , ,

Stevenson’s army, May 25

– Turkey’s demands regarding Swedish and Finnish NATO entry.

Orban blocks EU consideration of Russia sanctions.

– WSJ shows limits of Biden Asia trip — Quad didn’t even mention Russia

Kissinger says Ukraine must make concessions.

– US public support for Ukraine slips, economy more important.

Russian naval blockade detailed in declassified report.

– RAND author sees civil war in the Marine Corps

– WSJ says Iran previously got access to secret IAEA info.

Remember to check every now and then for new CRS reports — such as this on DOD’s  process, and this longer piece on executive branch process.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

Tags : , , , , , , , , , ,
Tweet