James Dobbins

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James Dobbins Guest

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RAND Corp

James Dobbins is a senior fellow and Distinguished Chair in Diplomacy and Security at the RAND Corporation. He is the author of The RAND History of Nation Building, America's Role in Nation-Building: From Germany to Iraq, The Beginner’s Guide to Nation-Building and Foreign Service: Five Decades on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy.

A former US diplomat who helped oversee nation-building efforts in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, Dobbins served as a special envoy for Afghanistan immediately after 9/11.

FROM James Dobbins

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

What happens when the State Department isn’t equipped for high level diplomacy? The president is on his way back from two weeks in Asia. No deals were inked. One reason for that: A lack of advance work by State Department diplomats. The department has been short staffed, and according to many experts, that’s lead to a crisis for U.S. leadership in the world. We look at that and how the USDA is faring under the trump administration.

12 MIN, 30 SEC Nov 14, 2017

To the Point

Is US diplomacy under friendly fire? After six months of the Trump Administration, America's professional diplomats are reportedly "desperate" for a foreign policy — or even for something to do. They complain that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has walled himself off from the diplomatic corps and that he's being walled off from the White House. Ambassadorships and other important jobs are going unfilled, and budget cuts may add to the hollowing out of a veteran staff already depleted by resignations. What's at stake for America's interests — and American values — around the world?

32 MIN, 25 SEC Aug 01, 2017

To the Point

Destroying Mosul in order to save it The Islamic State is mostly gone from the ancient city of Mosul after what some veterans call "the toughest urban warfare since World War II." Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has declared victory, but half his second largest city is in ruins. Thousands are dead; more than 700,000 are refugees. Nobody thinks peace is at hand — while ISIS still holds the Syrian city of Raqqa and fosters violence in other places, too. Will the US and other western countries help rebuild Mosul — while Kurds, Turks and other factions struggle for power?

32 MIN, 53 SEC Jul 13, 2017

Which Way, L.A.?

Afghanistan and the 'Civilian Surge' Laying out his strategy for Afghanistan last March, President Obama called for "agricultural specialists and educators, engineers and lawyers…to develop an economy that isn't dominated by illicit drugs." But last week's speech on increasing troops contained only a single reference to a "civilian surge."

26 MIN, 19 SEC Dec 08, 2009

To the Point

Afghanistan and the 'Civilian Surge' In last week's speech on Afghanistan, President Obama barely mentioned the so-called "civilian surge," an essential part of counterinsurgency doctrine. But Secretaries Gates and Clinton are talking it up , and government employees are being recruited from Agriculture and other departments. Will paving roads and building schools help win the "hearts and minds" of Afghans? Will they help defeat the Taliban? What are the prospects of blowback if big money is wasted in bribes and other forms of corruption?

37 MIN, 3 SEC Dec 08, 2009

To the Point

Diplomacy and Promises of Democracy in the Middle East The Arab summit is reaching out to Israel, led by the regional powerhouse of Saudi Arabia, where King Abdullah has taken up where Egypt left off. Despite Israel's initial rejection five years ago, Prime Minister Olmert has agreed to take another look. In Egypt itself, voters have increased the powers of President Mubarak, but the election's being criticized as a violation of his promise to increase democracy. Pakistan's President Musharraf, a guest at today's Arab summit, is another US ally accused of stifling dissent to strengthen his own position. For three years before September 11, US aid to Pakistan amounted to less than $10 million; since then, it's been more than $10 billion, with only Israel and Egypt getting more. How great is the risk of extremist takeovers in Egypt or Pakistan? Is US aid promoting democracy or propping up repressive regimes? We hear from journalists, military and political analysts, foreign policy experts, and human rights advocates.

5 MIN, 41 SEC Mar 28, 2007

To the Point

More Troops? More Diplomacy? Both? The United States finally sat down with Iran and Syria in Baghdad on Saturday, a departure from past policy that appears to have changed almost nothing. Nevertheless, yesterday an Iranian spokesman called it a "constructive first step" and said it was looking forward to another meeting at the foreign minister level. Meantime, on his trip to South America, President Bush announced a call to Congress for 8200 new troops--4800 to bolster the Baghdad security plan. The Los Angeles Times reports that Pentagon planners have begun "plotting a fall back strategy that includes a gradual withdrawal of forces and renewed emphasis on training Iraqi fighters." Was it the first step in a long process or a dead end? What did other nations from around the region have to contribute? We speak with journalists in the US and Middle East, political scientists, the last senior US diplomat to speak one-on-one with Iranian officials in 2001 and the current senior Iraq advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

35 MIN, 53 SEC Mar 12, 2007

To the Point

Bush's New Way Forward in Iraq; Chavez's Venezuela One of the promises of the President Bush's New Way Forward in Iraq is deployment of "provincial reconstruction teams" to work with local leaders. Echoing the President's plan at yesterday's news conference with the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice affirmed that success will depend on the US getting civilians out of the embassy and green zone and into the field to support local leaders and structures. We hear how America's original occupying force walled itself off from the Iraqi people. Is there still time for a change or is the new plan too little too late? Also, today, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he'll nationalize communications, electricity and oil companies and turn his country into a socialist state. Should the US be worried? Has the war on terror diverted the Bush administration from America's interests in Latin America?

42 MIN, 52 SEC Jan 12, 2007

To the Point

The Democrats and Prospects for Change While Democratic victories are creating a host of expectations about the next Congress, especially when it comes to Iraq, President Bush says his replacement for Donald Rumsfeld will bring a "new perspective" on Iraq. Meantime, the old, Republican Congress still has work to do, not least of which is the passage of spending bills to keep the government going. President Bush also wants warrantless wiretaps, an energy bill and nuclear technology for India. We hear about his chances and look at the options for changing the course in Iraq, including "regional diplomacy" with Syria and Iran. We look at the options and what might be expected from the Secretary of Defense-designate, Robert Gates . What about diplomacy with Syria and Iran?

33 MIN, 48 SEC Nov 09, 2006

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.

51 MIN, 13 SEC Jun 06, 2017

To the Point

Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.

51 MIN, 17 SEC Jun 09, 2017

Left, Right & Center

How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.

28 MIN, 31 SEC May 26, 2017

Left, Right & Center

President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.

28 MIN, 31 SEC Jun 02, 2017

PROFILE

FROM James Dobbins

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