Asking and Telling Sam Nunn

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“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was a compromise forced on Bill Clinton’s presidency by a recalcitrant, (then) anti-gay Sam Nunn who stopped Clinton’s plans to end discrimination against homosexual men and women serving in the U.S. military.

Election Watch for Europeans?

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The German Marshall Fund has a nifty new website designed to create a portal for Europeans interested in the American elections and policy issues, particularly foreign policy. I like the site — and am pleased that a couple of TWN items have already been featured on the site’s roster.

Now It Begins

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Barack Obama has clinched the nomination. Watching his speech now. He’s being gracious to those rivals who he beat, particularly Hillary Clinton. Good show. That is maturity. I haven’t heard or seen Hillary Clinton’s speech tonight — but the blog buzz is reverberating with an echo that hers was less gracious.

Iran’s Impressive Ravand Institute Conference

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Unfortunately, I did not receive a visa in time to participate as a speaker in the 3rd Annual Ravand Institute Conference in Tehran this year. I was invited along with Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution, Michael Kraig of the Stanley Foundation, and Robert Malley of the International Crisis Group.

Send Bill Clinton to Tehran?

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Well, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei doesn’t seem to be buying Barack Obama’s The Audacity of Hope or Dreams from my Father, but he does seem to be buying himself a copy of Bill Clinton’s My Life.

Why Is Obama Triangulating on Meeting with World Rivals?

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I watched the debates and admired Barack Obama’s strongly expressed commitment to “engagement” — particularly with leaders of states with whom America was in conflict. This was a great contrast from Hillary Clinton’s positon — and even a starker contrast with McCain’s.