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Foreign Policy magazine
Paul McCleary is a senior reporter covering national security and the Pentagon for Foreign Policy.
PROFILE
Paul McLeary
Guest
FROM Paul McLeary
To the Point
Trump gives Mattis authority on Afghanistan troop levels During his campaign, Donald Trump said American generals were not being listened to, and he vowed to give them increased authority. Now, he’s given Defense Secretary — and former General — James Mattis unilateral command of the action in Afghanistan. Paul McLeary, who covers national security and the Pentagon for Foreign Policy , assesses the role of additional US troops and what "winning" might mean.
To the Point
Unmanned Drones and "Collateral Damage" Drones have become a hallmark of the Obama Administration's assault against suspected terrorists all over the world, including in countries where the US is not officially at war. They're operated from a base in Nevada, and the President insists they accidentally kill fewer civilians than conventional airstrikes. But available numbers show it's exactly the other way around, and the White House has yet to make good on the promise to be more transparent. We hear what it's like to be on the "kill list, and talk to a former bomber pilot who's also operated drones.
Recommended
The Mixer
Heading for the fire exit Thousands of Californians are spending the holidays deciding what to do next after devastating wildfires. The Camp Fire – in northern California – took out nearly an entire town, killing at least 86 people. And the Woolsey Fire, closer to home, left 3 people dead, chewing through nearly 100,000 acres in L.A. and Ventura Counties. Ken Pimlott knows those names all too well. He heads up the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and today is his last day on the job.
To the Point
California Gets Back into Presidential Politics In 1972, California clinched the presidential nomination for Democrat George McGovern. Since then, the biggest state has become an ATM for candidates of both parties. But starting in 2020 all eyes will be on California as it moves its primary up to a month after the Iowa caucuses.