Monthly Archives: February 2010
In a speech to the Nixon Center Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates highlighted anew his proposal for “pooled authorities” for international security assistance to be funded and administered jointly by State and Defense – a proposal he originally made in a letter to Secretary Clinton in December. Congressional authority for this funding, known as [...]
As a former Republican Congressman and a conservative, I know the pressures facing lawmakers to stretch every dollar and cut waste wherever they can. But it would be a serious mistake to slash foreign assistance programs, as Andrew Sullivan’s “Chart of the Day” on February 25th argues is popular among my fellow conservatives today. When [...]
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified on Capitol Hill before four separate committees on February 25th and 25th, to make the case for the President’s $58.5 billion FY11 International Affairs Budget request. In her testimony before each of the committees, Secretary Clinton talked about the importance of the International Affairs Budget to America’s national security, as well [...]
Secretary Clinton wrapped up her week on the Hill with testimony yesterday before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations. Before both committees, she said, “At a time of change and challenge at home and abroad, we believe these investments will enhance the security of Americans, assure the future of [...]
Head of U.S. Central Command General David Petraeus spoke to a packed audience of over 600 people on not just defense, but the importance of 2 other D’s—development and diplomacy.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday morning that the “QDDR will be finished this summer.” Mentioning involvement with Capitol Hill on the review, Clinton said, “We are looking to it to coordinate foreign assistance reform with Congress, with our goal being to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of foreign [...]
Yesterday afternoon, before a packed audience, Sec. Clinton addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the importance of fully funding the President’s $58.5 billion International Affairs Budget request. During her testimony, she noted, “We can bury our heads in the sand and pay the consequences later, or we can make hard-nosed, targeted investments now – [...]
Secretary Clinton was on Capitol Hill today to begin discussions on President Obama’s FY11 International Affairs Budget request with the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In her opening statement, Secretary Clinton told Senators, “The budget we are presenting today is designed to protect America [...]
This morning, over 40 USGLC leaders had breakfast with Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and are now off to meetings with key Senate and House Budget Committee Members and Staff to show the broad support from the business, NGO and faith-based communities for the President’s International Affairs Budget request. As [...]
While much of the media focuses on the military effort in Marja, Afghanistan, the importance of engagement and diplomacy is getting notice and good results according to National Security Advisor Jim Jones. In today’s Politico, Jones said, “The president’s guidance to us is be respectful, to engage, be transparent and try to bring people into [...]
