Bloomberg View
Columnist for the Washington Post, covering foreign policy and national security; former columnist for Bloomberg View and political analyst for CNN; former senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast; former reporter for Foreign Policy magazine, where he wrote The Cable blog; former reporter for Congressional Quarterly
Barack Obama's nuclear legacy In 1945, the US became the first nation to use a nuclear weapon when it dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since then, no other country has followed suit. But the threat of nuclear catastrophe hangs over the world as others build up their arsenals. In the early months of his first term as President Obama promised, "The United States will take concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons. To put an end to Cold War thinking, we will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and urge others to do the same." That speech earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. But, in the last days of his second term, he's continuing to modernize America's arsenal — and approving a so-called "smart bomb" — potentially more usable than ever. Isn't it reasonable to ask, why?"
The US and Iran: Does Diplomacy Have a Future? Iran has reduced its nuclear program and is back in the global economy, thanks to the lifting of sanctions imposed under the leadership of the United States. The Presidents of both countries have made those and other concessions, but they also face stern opposition from domestic hardliners. High-profile prisoner swaps can't disguise 35 years of hostilities over Middle East politics and international terrorism. With elections pending in both countries, what are the prospects for a troubled relationship?
Republican Rhetoric on Foreign Policy: What's the Plan? If former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is next year's Democratic nominee, foreign policy will be front and center in the presidential campaign. Most of the 17 Republican hopefuls are foreign-policy amateurs, but they're almost unanimously hawkish, blaming the Democrats for "weakness." It turns out that almost all are consulting the same group of advisors, who were part of Mitt Romney's losing campaign in 2012. We hear what the John Hay Initiative is telling the candidates about war, diplomacy and America's role in the world.
Obama Readies War Authorization It's been six months since President Obama began air strikes against the so-called Islamic State. Some 3000 military personnel already are on the ground. Now, under pressure from Capitol Hill, the White House is ready to ask Congress for formal permission. Josh Rogin is a columnist for Bloomberg View and a political analyst for CNN .
US and Allies Discuss Islamic State Strategy Top defense officials from 21 countries are meeting today in Washington to discuss strategy against the so-called Islamic State. But some major players are missing: the government of Syria, any of its opponents—or its most important neighbor Turkey. Josh Rogin reports for The Daily Beast.
Romney Tries to Draw Distinctions on Foreign Policy At the Virginia Military Institute today, Mitt Romney made what his campaign called a "major speech" on foreign policy. Referring to recent events in Iran, Syria and Libya, Romney said, "It is clear that the risk of conflict in the region is higher now than when the President took office." Josh Rogin reports and writes the Cable blog for Foreign Policy magazine.
Hillary Clinton Wraps Up World Tour in Israel Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is wrapping up a two-week trip through Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Her last stop was today in Jerusalem, where she met with top Israeli officials to talk about ways that Israel and the US can work together to resolve regional issues, including Iran's efforts to build a nuclear program. Josh Rogin reports for Foreign Policy magazine, where he writes The Cable blog.
Can International Community Heal Fractured Syrian Opposition? Former Secretary General Kofi Annan formally told the UN Security Council today that Syria has agreed to implement a peace plan on April 10, but fighting continues. Over the weekend, the US and others offered help to a fractured opposition. Josh Rogin reports for Foreign Policy magazine.
Diplomatic Pressure on Syria Increases After weeks of delay, Syria said today that former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan can enter the country as a special envoy. Josh Rogin reports for Foreign Policy magazine.
Nuclear Weapons and the Politics of National Security Senate ratification of the New START treaty with Russia looked like a shoo-in but, after Republicans raised objections, debate went down to the wire. The Pentagon's top brass and Republican cold warriors said it would make America safer, but Senate GOP leaders and other confirmed hawks disagreed. Did the President cave in to Russian demands? What about missile defense? Why were short-range battlefield weapons left out? Will another victory in the lame-duck session advance the cause of a world without nuclear weapons or solidify opposition to the President's vision?
Can President Obama Change the Subject? The Constitution gives the President authority to conduct foreign policy, but the President still needs Congress to appropriate money and the Senate to ratify treaties. New Republican committee chairs in the House take a dim view of foreign aid , climate change, the arms treaty with Russia or reducing troops in Afghanistan. They want to crack down on Iran and lighten up on Israeli settlements. They might give Obama a break on free trade, but will Democrats go along?
Can President Obama Change the Subject? Many presidents have diverted attention from domestic defeats by focusing on foreign policy, but that option may not be available to Barack Obama. While the Constitution gives the President authority to conduct foreign policy, he still needs Congress to appropriate money and the Senate to ratify treaties. New Republican committee chairs in the House take a dim view of foreign aid , climate change, the arms treaty with Russia or reducing troops in Afghanistan. They want to crack down on Iran and lighten up on Israeli settlements. They might give Obama a break on free trade, but will Democrats go along? Now, the Fed has outraged the rest of the world by deciding to print money .
What Kind of Iraq Will the Next President Inherit? General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker have moved to the House side of Capitol Hill today with the same message they had for the Senate: After the surge is over, stop withdrawing troops for 45 days, and then assess what's needed; progress has been made in Iraq, but it's "fragile and reversible," and it could be jeopardized by "withdrawing too many forces too quickly." That sounded right to John McCain , but Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have different ideas. We get contrasting views on what the next president will be faced with -- like it or not. Can US objectives be met, or is it "all over?" Is the military stretched too thin to meet other contingencies? What do the candidates have to say?
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
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.
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.