Tag: National security
Stevenson’s army, January 5
– It can happen! Ohio and Pennsylvania have just elected speakers in their state legislatures with bipartisan candidates.-
– David Ignatius interviews Jake Sullivan.
– Analysts propose a “Better Biden Doctrine.“
– Politico’s NatSecDaily reports on efforts to make State Dept less risk averse:
THE RISKY BUSINESS OF U.S. DIPLOMACY:Many State Department employees are unsure how much risk they can take and whether they can fail without undermining their careers, according to recent survey results.
The findings were laid out in a Dec. 20 email to State Department staffers from BRIAN McKEON, who recently ended his tenure as deputy secretary of State for management and resources. The survey was conducted as part of Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN’s effort to modernize the department.
McKeon’s note, obtained by our own NAHAL TOOSI, framed the results this way: “Nearly 75 percent of respondents said they did not receive clear communication from their leadership on risk tolerance; over 50 percent said they rarely or never participated in formal risk assessment activities; and over one-third did not feel empowered or equipped to manage risk. Moreover, a significant number of respondents associated risk with threat and related concepts like risk aversion, fear of failure, career, and security.”
“The bottom line is clear,” McKeon wrote. “If we are to succeed in advancing U.S. priorities, the department’s perception of risk must evolve. We need to be risk aware, not risk averse. We must accept the possibility of failure when taking risks, and risks must be viewed as opportunities for mission success, not just as threats.”
McKeon hinted at upcoming initiatives to “foster a culture of ‘failing well.’” Already, he pointed out, the department is trying to make it easier to open diplomatic facilities, which is never simple given security concerns.
A State Department spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal matter, said in a statement that Blinken wants to “shift the culture of the department to lead in the face of, rather than avoid, risk.” The spokesperson added: “The department defines risk as anything that has the potential to negatively (threats) or positively (opportunities) impact the Department’s capability to achieve its objectives.”
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, with occasional videos of my choice. 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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, November 7
Warning: election results may be a long time coming. RollCall notes that floor maneuvers could delay organizing the new House.
The polls are suspect this year [only 1% response rates lately] and quite close for Senate tossup seats. Nate Cohn is right to see 4 possibilities.
Reuters notes growing opposition to machines.
GOP lawsuits oppose mail-in ballots.
The Hill speculates on a GOP House and defense.
In other news: SAIS wins Space Force training role.
Lawfare compares Biden and Trump NSS
WaPo says administration has urged Zelensky to be open to peace talks.
Jake Sullivan has secret contacts with Russia.
Israeli elections could affect US defense relations.
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, with occasional videos of my choice. 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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, November 1
Apropos of nothing in particular:
Political Wire got hold of NBC’s briefing book.
AP explains new laws that might affect voting this year.
Military Times speculates on what GOP win could mean for defense.
WaPo says trade secondary to security in US view of China.
NYT has interactive report on how Russia is paying for its war.
Turkey & Hungary still haven’t approved NATO membership for Sweden and Finland.
China unhappy US plans to send B52s to Australia.
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, with occasional videos of my choice. 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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, August 30
-WaPo says Ukraine has been using decoys to attract some Russian missiles.
-Le Monde says Russians are tuning out Moscow TV
– Former lawyer for NSA explains damage from Trump classification practices.
-Axios says Mossad chief is coming to DC with views on Iran nuclear deal.
– Retiring AP reporter tells how Congress has changed.
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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, June 4
– Fred Kaplan sees a long struggle.
– In the FT, UK’s Lawrence Freedman says time is on Ukraine’s side.
– I’m more dubious, because —
-WaPo reports lower troop morale among Ukrainians.
– WaPo says Putin expects Ukraine support to weaken.
– And this from WSJ:
The problem for Kyiv—and for Western European governments proposing a cease-fire—is that Russia has seized much of the industrial heartlands of Ukraine’s east and vast tracts of its fertile agricultural land, while blocking Ukraine’s access to the sea, needed for exports.
That threatens to leave Ukraine as a barely viable state surviving on Western giving. Ukraine needs roughly $5 billion every month to cover essential government services and keep its battered economy functioning, officials in Kyiv have said, in addition to humanitarian aid and armaments.
– Estonia’s government has collapsed, in part because of Russia issues.
– Bloomberg says US is still revising National Security Strategy to account for Russian threat.
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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, October 28
– Taiwan confirms US troop training.
– Iran will return to nuclear talks.
– Iran complains of hacking attack on gas stations.
– NYT says Iran now worries about Taliban.
– Language: a professor says we need new language for national security issues.
– A journalist decries the use of “snowclones.”
– Think about this: Dan Drezner raises serious doubts that Havana syndrome is an attack by outsiders. It may be a psychogenic illness.
– UVa researcher describes GOP path to power.
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).
RSS - Posts
