Tag: Iraq
Stevenson’s army, March 2
– The Afghan peace deal may break down over prisoner exchanges.
– The Russo-Turkish understanding over Syria is breaking down. And Greece is sending troops to its border.
– The effort to find a new Iraqi premier has broken down.
-North Korea’s missile test moratorium has ended.
– A federal judge has ruled that Ken Cuccinelli’s acting appoint is illegal under the Vacancy Act — and also that two of his decisions are nullified. That’s a consequence of using Actings improperly.
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. If you want to get it directly, 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, February 10
– The administration will propose a 6% cut in domestic spending, despite agreement earlier this year on a higher figure. Pre-release backgrounders brag that foreign aid will be cut 20%. [This is progress: the past 2 years,the administration wanted 30%, which Congress rejected.]
– In what looks like a further effort to privatize veterans programs, the administration wants to deny access to regular military hospitals to retirees and family members.
– David Sanger says North Korea has tripled its internet use,allowing it to escape sanctions via the dark web.
-WaPo reports a story I’ve told in class: how Biden and Republicans tried to amend the 2002 AUMF for Iraq with more restrictive provisions, only to be outmaneuvered by Cong. Dick Gephardt [D-Mo], House Democratic leader, in payback for the 2001 AUMF, when the Sernate forced the House to approve language limiting the authorization to those actually connected to the 9/11 attacks.
– Dan Drezner says the administration’s 5G strategy is confused and not working.
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. If you want to get it directly, 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, February 7
There are reports this morning that President Trump may fire his acting chief of staff as well as NSC staffer LtCol Vindman.
The Atlantic has a detailed article on how the Trump campaign has mastered digital advertising,leaving the Democrats far behind. There’s a lot of disinformation, but Trump voters remain loyal. I was struck by the reporter’s talk with a voter in Mississippi:“He tells you what you want to hear,” Willnow said. “And I don’t know if it’s true or not—but it sounds good, so fuck it.”
NYT has a good collection of Democratic candidate views on several foreign policy questions.
NYT also reports that Iraqi officials doubt that the attack that killed an American contractor and sparked retaliatory raids by US and Iran was launched by Iran. More likely, they say, it was ISIS.
AP says Iraq is deepening ties with Russia.
Dan Drezner warns the dollar may lose its primacy.
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. If you want to get it directly, 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, February 6
– FP says political ambassadors are forcing out career DCMs.
-NY Fed report warns of cyber attack consequences.
-IAEA says no new Iranian violations of JCPOA.
-Navy has greatly increased FONOPS in South China Sea.
-Here’s a report on the House defense panel hearing on defense innovation.
-AP reports on the slow-motion divorce from Iraqi military.
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. If you want to get it directly, 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, January 28
–Britain won’t ban Huawei.
– Congress may punish such action.
– WSJ says Putin outfoxed US in Venezuela.
– NYT says Russia is outmaneuvering US in Africa, too.
– Israelis report US is building bases in Iraq close to Iran.
-House Democrats warm to resuming earmarks.
– FP calls O’Brien the anti-Bolton.
-Conservative Max Boot says Pompeo is worse than Tillerson.
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. If you want to get it directly, 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 25
Happy Lunar New Year! Welcome to the year of the Rat.
The coronavirus epidemic prompts me to remind you of a congressional anomaly. In the Senate, health policy is set by a committee that also does education and labor issues. In the House, however, health laws are written by the Energy and Commerce Committee. Why? Because more than a century ago that panel had jurisdiction over “quarantine” laws and had created the Public Health Service to protect us from overseas illnesses. Over time it expanded its jurisdiction over all health laws except Medicare.
Another congressional item: in the House, often the only way the minority can influence bills is through a “motion to recommit.” Speaker Pelosi has already lost several such votes and wants to avoid another. So the war powers bills coming up next week are to be attached to a Senate-passed bill as amendments, thus preventing the MTR [Lesson: the rules matter.]
NYT reports that the Pentagon prevailed over Commerce in a fight about how restrictive to be on Huawei products.
NYT also reports that Mexico is being very helpful in enforcing Trump administration immigration policies.
There were more big demonstrations in Iraq calling for withdrawal of US forces. NYT notes how well orchestrated the demonstrators were, with most signs in English.
Yahoo news has a story of a chance to kill Suleimani that was rejected.
I read the Post in broadsheet, but a writer for Columbia Journalism Review reports what the paper does to maintain its huge lead over NYT online. Think about this as you read the news. Yes, you are being manipulated.
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