Foreign Policy Initiative
Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Initiative, a newly formed conservative think-tank in Washington, DC; former staffer in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (2005-2008) and on the US National Security Council (2008-2009)
Foreign Affairs and the Race to the White House On Monday, the last presidential debate of the 2012 campaign will center on foreign policy. A list of topics has been agreed upon, but with surprises cropping up in the world every day, we know that the rules for presidential debates are made to be broken. The latest point of contention is the deadly attack on the consulate in Benghazi. Republicans call President Obama a "weak leader." Democrats say Mitt Romney 's view of America's role in the world is "delusional." But, over all, are they really so different? Does Obama look more like George W. Bush than he might concede? Would Romney look a lot like Obama?
Obama Reverses Policy on Missile Shield NATO, the US and Russia should abandon "mistrust" and coordinate their efforts against international ballistic missiles. That's from NATO's new secretary general, just one day after President Obama pulled the plug on George Bush's plan for missile defense in Eastern Europe. Based on the latest intelligence about Iran's ballistic missile technology, the US will rely on missiles already deployed by the Navy on ships at sea. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff are unanimously in support. Russia's Vladimir Putin called that "a right and brave decision," but it's produced heated controversy in the Czech Republic and Poland, not to mention Washington, DC. We hear about technology, national security and international politics.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.