For the last two days, I have been deeply embedded in German Marshall Fund President Craig Kennedy’s “Brussels Forum“. In years previous, I have been to the World Economic Forum, the Clinton Global Initiative, Economist Intelligence Unit seminars, McKinsey sponsored meetings, and I generally like them all.
One of the very coolest and most informative blogs I check in on a daily basis is ArmsControlWonk.com published by my New America Foundation colleague Jeffrey Lewis. Both of us were asked by the Better World Campaign to offer comments for its “On Day One” initiative. He talked nukes, and I talked Cuba. . .
Cuban President Raul Castro has started his reforms — well, he did quite a while ago actually though few noticed. But the new news is that the Cuban government has removed restrictions on the sale of computers, DVDs, and video players inside Cuba. Old story first.
Today at 9:30 am, Former Israel Foreign Minister Schlomo Ben-Ami will be speaking about his work to encourage a Gaza ceasefire and then how to trigger moves in a positive direction for Israelis and Palestinians. He’ll be at the New America Foundation today in Washington, DC, and yours truly will be moderating the meeting.
Washington, DC is actually, really, seriously becoming a hip place. Helene Cooper — the New York Times‘ diplomatic correspondent — is occasionally forced to write for other sections of her paper, and she’s been asserting that DC hipsterism is on the upswing more by assertion than empirical surveys. . .but I’m now with her.
In its infinite wisdom, the Senate Budget Committee slashed $4.1 billion from President Bush’s proposed International Affairs budget. International Affairs, which includes our diplomacy, development and international organization expenses, comprises just over 1.2% of our total federal budget and 6% of our national security spending. It accounts for almost all of our global non-military footprint.
Shlomo Ben-Ami, as Israel’s Foreign Minister, led peace negotiations with the Palestinian Liberation Organization under Prime Minister Ehud Barak, culminating in the Camp David Summit. And ever since he’s maintained an active profile and is utilized as a source of fresh thinking on various informal security policy planning exercises.
This was an exchange last night on Lehrer News Hour between my friend and former colleague Nir Rosen and AEI scholar and “surge architect” Frederick Kagan: JIM LEHRER: And now, two very different views of the surge. They come from two frequent visitors to Iraq.
Neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama can publicly acknowledge that either would accept the 2nd slot on a Democratic ticket because it would spell the end of their campaign. But I have to take exception to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s comment that a joint ticket is impossible.
Here is The Nelson Report‘s take on CENTCOM Commander William Fallon’s resignation dismissal: The Nelson Report – 12 March 2008 FALLON FIRED…insubordination, not Iran war risk FALLON…the speed with which Adm. Fallon’s “retirement” was announced by DOD Secretary Gates tells you the real story: this came right from the White House.
