Tag: Terrorism

Stevenson’s army, March 24

Remembering Madeleine Albright, first female secretary of state, whom I first knew when she worked for Sen. Muskie and on whose Policy Planning Staff I was privileged to serve.

– NYT says NSC set up Tiger Team to game responses to Ukraine.

– Politico details arms from many countries to Ukraine.

– Bill Arkin explains Russian air operations in Ukraine.

– Task & Purpose says CIA agents were in Iraq before US invasion.

– Paul PIllar says Revolutionary Guard doesn’t belong on terrorist list.

AIPAC supports election deniers.

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).

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Stevenson’s army, February 4

– WaPo has the best tick-tock on the raid that killed the ISIS leader.

– Fed Kaplan assesses how the war on terror is going.

– NYT reveals how Putin has sanctions-proofed Russia.

– US reveals more Russian planning for pretexts for Ukraine war.

-WSJ says even renewed Iran nuclear deal will leave it within 12 months of a bomb.

-State Dept approves new Mideast arms sales.

-Documents show Trump WH considered using NSA to gather election info.

– Wired says an independent US hacker took down North Korea’s internet.

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).

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Stevenson’s army, October 30

– WaPo summarizes the intelligence report on Covid19’s origins. Here’s the document.

– NSA Sullivan & USTR Tai clash over China sanctions.

– NYT notes complications facing nuclear subs for Australia.

– CRS has some interesting new reports — on emerging military technologies and on legislation related to foreign coups.

– NYT tells of US efforts to head off Sudan coup.

– Politico says Mike Pence spoke to rally of anti-Iranian group once listed as terrorist.

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 5

– State’s legal adviser Harold Koh is resigning with a blistering letter criticizing administration immigration policy.

USTR explains Administration’s China policy. Here’s the text.

– Crisis Group suggests changes in war powers to deal with war on terror.

Joe Klein cites  historian’s analysis of early immigrant groups to today’s political divisions. Interesting read.              

-I’m beginning to wonder whether the best debt limit action would be a narrow Senate ruling that measures affecting the debt can’t be filibustered. I know McConnell can’t be shamed into changing his position. And Democrats fear a vote-a-rama if they use reconciliation [which is stupid since they’ll face multiple votes on their ultimate package]. But I could see a point of order on the narrow debt question based on the 14th amendment, paragraph 4.

The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

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Stevenson’s army, October 4

Hungary burnished its image with lobbying campaign.

– Foreign leaders like King Abdullah of Jordan bought prime Malibu real estate.

Where the money won’t go, because of the CR.

– In speech today USTR will show little thaw in trade war with China.

– Paul Pillar says Afghanistan isn’t good real estate for terrorists.

– Punchbowl News says parliamentarian tells Senators debt limit can be changed using reconciliation without jeopardizing Biden program.

– My former colleague and Mint Director Philip Diehl makes the case for the platinum coin.

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 14

Punchbowl provides several stories on Blinken testimony. Politico: “Blinken lays blame on Trump as he defends messy withdrawal from Afghanistan” … Reuters: “Blinken defends Afghan withdrawal at testy U.S. congressional hearing” … CNN: “Blinken testifies on Afghanistan before House lawmakers angry about the war’s chaotic end” … WaPo: “Blinken clashes with Republican lawmakers over Afghanistan withdrawal”
Look at the talking points the WH sent to its friends.
Here’s a link to the actual hearing. [But if you want to use it for your Hill Observation paper, be aware it’s over 5 hours long.]

– NYT says Iran almost has enough fuel for one nuclear bomb.

– WaPo says US is releasing some aid to Egypt, conditioning the rest.

– WSJ is running a series of articles on how Facebook dodges some of its own rules.

– The Brown University Costs of War project points the finger at contractors.

– What can Hill staffers do whose workplace is toxic? Leak to Buzzfeed.

– A retired USMC colonel says US doesn’t practice what it preaches about mission command.

Our brownbag guest yesterday recommends this article about changing the GOP.

Lots of new material this afternoon. Different reporters are citing bootleg copies of the new Bob Woodward book — WaPo says Milley “pulled a Schlesinger“;  CNN has more about the military.

– Different emphases: Intell officials say AlQaeda could rebuild in a year, and greater terror threats are outside Afghanistan.

Congress looks at military role in evacuation. Blinken hearing “marred by politics.”

Military aid to Guinea cut off.

How should a Member spend his time? Tweeting about Democratic policies or helping deal with local floods?

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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