After January 20, 2021, I hope the American media can end their obsession/addiction to Trump.
I’m so old that I remember a time when conservatives and the GOP detested frivolous law suits.
I’m so old that I remember a time when conservatives respected states rights and the 10th amendment.
I’m so old that I remember a time when conservatives would find it unpatriotic and dangerous to undermine our democracy at home as that would only benefit our autocratic enemies.
Feeling really old!
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Ambassadors @RNicholasBurns , Marc Grossman, and Marcie Reis have written a terrific report for how to revitalize American diplomacy called, A U.S. Diplomatic Service for the 21st Century . Download here: belfercenter.org/publication/us… . THREAD 1/
Among many pragmatic and doable reforms, they recommend “funding for a 15 percent increase in Foreign Service personnel levels to create a training float like that maintained by the U.S. military.” 2/
They call for “an increase of 2,000 positions over three years . After the 15 percent increase in positions is achieved, launch a four-year commitment to increase the size of the Foreign Service by another 1,400-1,800 positions to fill current and projected staffing gaps.” 3/
I wrote a book on democracy promotion in 2009. My argument there was that paradoxically the US almost never invades a country to promote democracy (Panama is an exception), but then almost never leaves a country without trying to install democracy (1st Iraq war is an exception)
Why did Russia's relations with the West shift from cooperation a few decades ago to a new era of confrontation today? THREAD 1/
Some explanations focus narrowly on changes in the balance of power in the international system, or trace historic parallels and cultural continuities in Russian international behavior. 2/
For a complete understanding of Russian foreign policy today, individuals, ideas, and institutions—President Vladimir Putin, Putinism, and autocracy—must be added to the analysis. 3/
I've tried to keep an open mind about how Trump's unorthodox foreign policy strategies might produce tangible security and economic results for the benefit of the American people. Just days before voting ends, its time assess results. THREAD 1/
At times, I gave Trump the benefit of the doubt. I praised his bombing of Syria. I kept an open mind about engagement with North Korea. I applauded parts of the Trump administration diagnosis of the China threat. Some Trump critics chided me for doing so. 2/
But aspiration is not achievement. We must judge leaders by their results. On almost every major foreign policy issue, Trump did not deliver on what he promised. 3/
ICYMI: "Malicious Russian actors still have two possible plays left. First, they could seek to disrupt voting on Election Day, by freezing up computers with voter registration lists or disrupting infrastructure used for ballot processing and counting."
"To succeed, such attacks do not need to have a substantial influence beyond creating the perception of voting irregularities. At a moment when Americans are primed to distrust the electoral results, a small cyber incident could have an inordinate impact." 2/
"A second ... play is amplification of voter fraud claims. This disinformation operation would occur on Election Day and afterwards, especially if the vote is close." 3/