former Assistant, Church Commission
Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia, Athens and author of the forthcoming book, The Threat on the Horizon: An Inside Account of America’s Search for Security After the Cold War; former assistant to late Senator Frank Church when he led 1970's Senate investigation of all US intelligence agencies; top assistant on the staff of Bill Clinton's Aspin-Brown Commission on Intelligence (1995-1996)
Explosion in Domestic Intelligence Gathering The Department of Homeland Security is spending tens of billions of dollars on domestic intelligence and is coordinating with state and local organizations. More than 70 so-called "fusion centers" have been established across the country.
Fighting Terror and Protecting Civil Liberties Some 4000 federal, state and local organizations are battling domestic terrorism, far more than the number of terrorists who've been identified. The FBI is amassing data on US citizens who've never committed a crime. Local agencies monitor anti-war groups and Tea Party meetings. The Department of Homeland Security is spending tens of billions of dollars, more money than it can keep track of, and local agencies and "fusion centers" are happy to snap it up. Is fear breeding over-reaction? Are Constitutional rights at risk? Will the US develop a coherent intelligence strategy or become a police state?
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?
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.
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?
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.