Category Archives: Doctrine Blog

  • Home
  • Category Archives: "Doctrine Blog"

6th Grade Revolutionaries

6th Grade Revolutionaries
I received an email from Jessica, Ujashi, Kelsey, An-chi and Jocelyn, 6th graders in Fremont, CA. For a school project, they were asked to create a concept for “Fremont of the Future”. They decided to focus on energy and the debt crisis.  They put it this way: ”As we looked at oil and debt we…
Read more

Who Is In Charge of Our Nation’s Cyber Defense?

Who Is In Charge of Our Nation’s Cyber Defense?
There’s been a lot of debate in Congress lately over the issue of how do we protect our critical infrastructure from cyber attack and would this involve the government regulating how companies set up their cyber security? I thought a quick history might be helpful.  The issue of critical infrastructure protection from cyber attacks was…
Read more

Breaking the Ice in U.S.-China Rule of Law Dialogues

Breaking the Ice in U.S.-China Rule of Law Dialogues
For those in the rule of law development community, it was no doubt exciting to see Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referencing the advancement of democracy and human rights as one component of the U.S.’s strategic rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region. As the Secretary rightly pointed out, our most potent asset as a nation, more…
Read more

Persistence is Critical in Diplomatic Negotiations with Iran

Persistence is Critical in Diplomatic Negotiations with Iran
After years of largely unsuccessful diplomatic efforts, one can hardly be blamed for feeling a little cynical about the latest round of negotiations with Iran.  But though the discussion has yet to lead to a breakthrough, it is still far from breaking down.  Diplomacy takes time, and Iran has more incentive to compromise now than…
Read more

All Foreign Policy is Local

All Foreign Policy is Local
In the Spring of 1948, President Harry Truman – having been appointed to the position 82 days into his term as Roosevelt’s Vice President – was widely predicted to lose the upcoming election that Fall. His national approval rating was barely over a third, and his party was splintered into widely varying factions as they…
Read more

Mitt Romney Doesn't Understand the Arab Spring or Its Implications for America

As part of his argument that President Obama deserved an "F" on foreign policy, Mitt Romney recently said, "the Arab Spring has become the Arab Winter." This seasonal metaphor, with its implied freezing of the hopes of last year's revolutions, has become widespread in recent months as Islamist parties have proven to be the strongest political…
Read more

Ordinary Americans are the Engines of the Economy, Not the Superrich

Ordinary Americans are the Engines of the Economy, Not the Superrich
On CNBC's "The Call", I appeared with Ben Ferguson to discuss the wisdom of extending the Bush tax cuts. Like President Obama and the Democrats, I believe in continuing the Bush and Obama tax cuts on the 98% of Americans who earn under a quarter of a million dollars. I think ordinary Americans need the money,…
Read more