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Council on Foreign Relations
Senior Fellow and South Asia expert for the Council on Foreign Relations; former member of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff for South and Central Asia (2003-2007)
PROFILE
Daniel Markey
Guest
FROM Daniel Markey
To the Point
Can the US and Pakistan Mend an Uneasy Alliance Pakistan is crucial to US interests, with a growing nuclear arsenal and a strategic location, but ties to anti-American terrorists and political unrest have strained relations. After 60% of the voters braved deadly violence, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party won big enough to raise hopes for stability. Yesterday at the White House, he called for an end to American drone strikes, but leaked CIA files detail how deeply Pakistan’s military has been involved in drone strikes — even helping to choose targets hundreds of times. The files also describe "tense meetings" with US officials accusing Pakistan’s intelligence service of ties to militant groups that attacked American forces. What's the state of Sharif's credibility? Does either country trust the other? Can diplomatic and economic relations be improved?
Which Way, L.A.?
The Case of Raymond Davis and a Crisis Between Two Uneasy allies; Washington and Islamabad Raymond Davis, a CIA agent, sits in a Pakistani jail while the US worries that extraordinary security might not be enough to keep him alive. The US claims Raymond Davis killed two men in self-defense during an attempted robbery. A Pakistani police report says one man was shot in the back. President Obama says he’s entitled to diplomatic immunity. But Pakistan’s President Zardari is under public pressure to hang him for murder. Pakistan claims Davis is being held under extraordinary security. But Pakistan is a country where a security guard recently shot and killed the provincial governor he was supposed to protect. The case raises a host of issues, including: competition between US and Pakistani intelligence agencies; Congressional frustration with foreign aid; and Pakistan’s buildup of its nuclear arsenal.
To the Point
The Case of Raymond Davis and a Crisis Between Two Uneasy allies; Washington and Islamabad Raymond Davis, a CIA agent, sits in a Pakistani jail while the US worries that extraordinary security might not be enough to keep him alive. The US claims Raymond Davis killed two men in self-defense during an attempted robbery. A Pakistani police report says one man was shot in the back. President Obama says he’s entitled to diplomatic immunity. But Pakistan’s President Zardari is under public pressure to hang him for murder. Pakistan claims Davis is being held under extraordinary security. But Pakistan is a country where a security guard recently shot and killed the provincial governor he was supposed to protect. The case raises a host of issues, including: competition between US and Pakistani intelligence agencies; Congressional frustration with foreign aid; and Pakistan’s buildup of its nuclear arsenal.
To the Point
Afghan President Hamid Karzai Takes Office Yesterday, President Obama told Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, now that he's re-elected it's time to build credibility by getting rid of corruption. Speaking to reporters in Kabul today, Karzai acknowledged "the difficulties of our governance." Elsewhere in his statement, Karzai referred to "the stain of corruption." Daniel Markey, a fellow on South Asia for the Council on Foreign Relations , was last in Kabul two weeks ago.
To the Point
Pakistan, Afghanistan and America's War on Terror More bad news today for President Pervez Musharraf whose party took a big hit in Pakistan's parliamentary elections. The two main opposition parties have agreed on a "common agenda" which could mean negotiations with militant forces, including the Taliban. Whatever else it could mean, it will not include anyone from the President's former governing coalition. Can Musharraf survive? How will Pakistan shape events in neighboring Afghanistan, where NATO forces already are hard pressed? Should the US stay deeply involved or pull back to make way for a regional, non-military reconciliation?
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To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.