Tag: State Department
Stevenson’s army, October 20
– Gideon Rachman warns China may move against Taiwan during post election confusion or interregnum. What would Trump do? What would Biden do?
– FP has analysis of Taiwan’s military situation.
– Vox says Democrats are divided on how to rebuild State Department.
– WaPo details how Scott Atlas took over pandemic policy, overcoming a “den of dissent.”
-Khalilzad says Afghan peace is in trouble.
– I said you didn’t have to understand budget reconciliation process, but Hill staffers see it as the way for a Democratic administration to make big changes.
– Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are using obstruction tools against Barrett nomination.
– WSJ says farmers are still for Trump, despite problems.
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, October 19
Nobody knows what Joe Biden might actually do if elected in terms of choosing senior officials. But these stories are appearing and will appear. They’re interesting; just don’t believe them.
Who will be Secretary of State?
How will Biden change Intelligence?
Can Biden unite Asian allies against China?
On the other hand, here’s some news: ISIS is surging in Africa.
O’Brien talks about Taiwan.
China threatens Taiwan.
China’s economy is growing again.
And 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 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 3
Senate Intelligence Chairman Rubio says his panel will get in person briefings, contrary to earlier DNI announcement.
I agree with Norm Ornstein’s call for keeping the Senate filibuster but requiring 40 members to show up to keep one going. I’d also end filibusters on the motion to proceed.
I also agree with Dan Drezner’s conclusion that Pompeo rather than Tillerson has been the worst ever Secretary of State.
Profiles of 2 presidential advisors that have no legal authority, but are powerful because they have the evident backing of the president: Navarro and Atlas.
On the other hand, the president once again issued a press release disguised as a legal order telling OMB to stop funding Democrat-run cities. If you read the actual document, it just says to see if any current law lets the agency do this sort of thing.
And Facebook says it won’t allow any new political ads in the week before the elections.
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, August 19
– State is denying documents to House, not Senate
– SecState Pompeo cancels briefings for HFAC
– I share the basic political science judgment that there are few truly Independent voters; most lean regularly to one party. But there are changeable voters, though few, as WSJ reports.
– Rare good news from Afghanistan: Taliban stopped attacking US troops.
– Administration drops insistence on China, willing to discuss extending New START with Russia.
– WSJ says Xi is purging domestic security forces.
– Now that reporters have had time to review Senate Intell report, here are some key points from NYT and Vox.
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, July 31
– Tata is out. Good.
– Diplomats push back at returning to offices.
– Postal Service cuts back just when it’s needed for elections. That’s one of several threats to the elections discussed in a good CFR session.
-CFIUS had increased workload in 2019. Here’s the official report.
– The USG didn’t run its pandemic playbook, as it should have.
– Intriguing idea: non-kinetic ASAT
– Back to normal: approval of Congress falls
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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