Tag: Defense
Stevenson’s army, September 30
After last night’s dispiriting display of socially-distanced mud wrestling, let’s turn to something completely different.
Two bipartisan congressional reports on important national security matters: a House panel on future defense and a task force report on arms control.
WSJ reports how China is taking control of various international organizations.
A retired Navy captain writes about Chinese actions in the Taiwan strait.
US Navy has moved ship to help Greece against Turkey.
SAIS profs Barno and Bensahel preview their new book about military adaptation.
Russian Duma goes remote because of Covid infections.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to 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).
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Stevenson’s army, September 27
– Politico lists the obstructive tactics open to Senate Democrats fighting the Barrett nomination.
– Politico also details how the GOP has lawyered up for election fights.
– WaPo says administration is divided over how to deal with Houthis.
– NYT notes lots of talk, little action using the Defense Production Act.
A White House report released last month claimed that Mr. Trump has wielded the act nearly 80 times to alleviate shortages of masks and other medical supplies. Yet all but six of the examples cited in the report were either executive orders unrelated to the production of medical equipment or Defense Department expenditures that do not address the nation’s supply shortages. Article links to WH report and to CRS study.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to 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).
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Stevenson’s army, September 24
– Vox says both Pompeo and O’Brien have been campaigning for Trump. contrary to norms and past practice. FP notes how much politicking Pompeo has been doing for himself.
-Unfortunate politicizing of the military: days after the Trump campaign released a list of military supporters, the Biden campaign has its own list.
– Just Security has a good rundown on the law on use of federal troops and agents during elections.
-Speaker Pelosi introduced a catch-all bill responding to administration behaviors on IGs, vacancies, etc.
The EU is struggling to put together an Africa force
Two retired diplomats have ideas on strengthening the State Dept.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to 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).
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Stevenson’s army, September 23
As you’ll learn when we discuss the Senate, there are many ways to obstruct and delay in addition to the filibuster. Democratic Leader Schumer invoked one Tuesday. The rule [XXVI, 5] requires unanimous consent for any committee to meet more than 2 hours after the full Senate has convened, and never after 2pm. This will limit Judiciary hearings on the Supreme Court nominee.
Meanwhile, candidates to become House Appropriations Chair in the next Congress are endorsing the return of earmarks.
Save the date: December 11 is when funding for the new fiscal year runs out, assuming the Senate agrees to the Continuing Resolution that passed the House with strong bipartisan support.
The Hill says DOD is planning full US withdrawal from Afghanistan by next May.
The National Security Adviser is pressuring DOD to add funds for the Navy. It’s unusual for someone in that position to do such budget stuff.
Politico says CIA is censoring and limiting what it send to WH about Russia
Lee Drutman, whose writings about interest groups I’ve assigned, says the US political parties are collapsing and some kind of transformation is coming.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to 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).
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Stevenson’s army, September 22
– Josh Rogin says secret CIA assessment says Russian leaders are probably directing an influence campaign against Biden.
– WaPo says DOD shifted Covid money to buy jet engine parts and body armor.
– BuzzFeed says government documents show failure to block suspicious financial transactions linked to drugs and terrorists.
– WSJ says Chinese leaders divided over blacklisting US companies.
–Russia rejects US New START ideas.
– Flouting nonpolitical norms, Pompeo plunges into politics, Politico says.
– CNN says Milley and Esper have different approaches to evading Trump.
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Stevenson’s army, September 21
- I agree with this Lawfare piece arguing that civilian control of special operations has weakened and should be strengthened.
- SAIS Prof Vali Nasr describes Iran’s response to Trump sanctions.
- Jamelle Bouie says Facebook is undermining democracy worldwide.
- Former HASC chairman Thornberry describes NDAA negotiations.
- WOTR piece says we have too many myths about Chinese nuclear weapons.
- NYT says Cuba has a food crisis. [Remember, Cuba is an issue in this week’s exercise.]
- New book argues that most presidents criticize, manipulate, and restrict the press. Looks like a good book.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to 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).
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