Since the parlor game of naming ambassadors has begun, here are a few my unsolicited recommendations. First, some principles, We need experience qualified people -- career or political -- in the top jobs. I explain why here. THREAD 1/ americanpurpose.com/articles/dress…
Diplomacy with our rivals is most important. For China, Ambassador William Burns would be great. For Russia, Ambassador Maria Yovanovitch would be great. 2/
Next, we need strong ambassadors in the countries that help us contain (and engage) China and Russia. In Europe, that's Germany. Karen Donfried would be ideal there. In Asia, that's Japan. Kurt Campbell would be a strong ambassador there. 3/
Next, we need qualified, strong ambassadors at our multilateral alliances in place to contain Russia & China. In Europe, that's NATO. Julie Smith would be terrific. In Asia... Wait! We don't have a multilateral alliance there. In meantime, what about a senior envoy for the Quad?4
The State Department, NSC & DOD also needs strong, experienced senior people to run point for policy on China and Russia. Too much talent out there to name names and offend those I dont name! End of parlor game. END THREAD 5/

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More from @McFaul

19 Dec
Saddened to read this story about Trump's decision to close our consulates in Ekaterinburg and Vladivostok. THREAD 1/ apnews.com/article/politi…
The U.S. should be seeking ways to engage more directly with Russian society. These consulates help. Some of my best trips in Russia as U.S. Ambassador were to Ekaterinburg and Vladivostok. 3/
In Ekaterinburg, the press followed me everywhere. They were eager for interaction. 4/ Image
Read 6 tweets
18 Dec
On Russian power, a few sentences from “Putin, Putinism, and the Domestic Determinants of Russian Foreign Policy." mitpressjournals.org/doi/full/10.11… THREAD/ 1.
"Regarding military power, Russia has substantially greater capabilities in 2020 compared to 1992 with its modernizing nuclear arsenal, new missile defense and space capabilities, and a vastly expanded conventional military budget." 2/
"Russian conventional military power in the European theater is particularly threatening. As one of two nuclear superpowers, Russia far outpaces China, France, and the United Kingdom. Russian military doctrine also has modernized." 3/
Read 14 tweets
17 Dec
An article today posted by @JusticeTristan claims that “some Democratic elites who engaged in the conspiracy are outright whitewashing their earlier claims.” He claims that "Michael McFaul… is no exception.” This claim is false. LONG THREAD 1/
I engaged in no “conspiracy” to “whitewash” anything. In fact, my actual words and video clips in this piece demonstrate as much. Go look at them and judge for yourself. (Not posting the piece deliberately because I do not want to amplify, but easy to find.) 2/
To reaffirm (for the last time), the Trump administration – not me – stated repeatedly & unambiguously that the Russian government was propagating disinformation about the Bidens to influence he 2020 campaign. It was not a "hoax." 3/
Read 25 tweets
9 Dec
After climate change, competing with China is the next most important security challenge for the United States in the 21st century. The Trump team has framed this struggle as Cold War 2.0. Some parts of this analogy are right. Others very wrong. THREAD 1/
Those invoking the Cold War analogy like it because we "won" the Cold War. If we won Cold War 1.0, we can win Cold War 2.0 2/
In fact, Russian democrats, together with Polish, Hungarian, Baltic, Ukrainian, Georgian anti-communists forces were the ones really responsible for "winning" the Cold War. We played a marginal role in the end game. (But that's a longer story for another day) 3/
Read 8 tweets
8 Dec
When I was in government, I remember Ambassador Bill Burns saying many a time in meetings that we were doing a great job "admiring the problem." But we were not solving the problem. That comment reminds me of Trump & team's China policy. THREAD 1/
I applaud the Trump administration diagnosis of the China challenge. The 2017 National Security Strategy rightly focused on great power competition -- China and Russia -- as needing more attention. 2/
This summer and in a very long Policy Planning paper, Trump (or is it really presidential candidate Pompeo?) then overshot the mark. See my take here: Xi Jinping Is Not Stalin foreignaffairs.com/articles/unite… via @ForeignAffairs 3/
Read 9 tweets
5 Dec
Here's my @JoeBiden foreign policy "to do" list in the first year.

Day One: rejoin the Paris climate agreement. THREAD.
2. Extend the New START Treaty for five years.
3. Reenter the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). Once done, devise and implement a new comprehensive strategy for containing Iranian influence in the region and promoting democracy inside Iran.
Read 8 tweets

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