Views & Voices
AP: Former top diplomats defend foreign affairs budget
By Andy Amsler at 27 April, 2010, 1:18 pm
One issue that unites all secretaries of state of either party is maintaining a strong U.S. profile in world affairs.
Rogin: Former secretaries urge Congress not to cut State’s funding
By Andy Amsler at 27 April, 2010, 1:13 pm
If there is one issue that every one of the last seven secretaries of state agrees on, it’s the need to increase State Department and foreign assistance funding next year.
Politico: Former Secretaries of State urge Congress not to cut international affairs spending
By Andy Amsler at 27 April, 2010, 12:33 pm
As the Senate Foreign Relations Committee begins mark up today of the first foreign affairs authorization bill in five years, all eight living former U.S. Secretaries of State have written a letter urging Congress not to cut the international affairs budget.
Kerry to Defend Obama’s Foreign-Affairs Budget
By Andy Amsler at 27 April, 2010, 10:15 am
After the Senate Budget Committee took a big swipe at next year’s foreign-affairs budget, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will get a chance this week to defend President Obama’s request.
Handing Back Responsibility
By Andy Amsler at 30 March, 2010, 8:19 am
“While our military power can provide the logistics and organizational support to help those in need in times of humanitarian crisis, as demonstrated by our current efforts in Haiti, it can only help create the conditions necessary to allow the other tools of statecraft…”
50 military “good ole boys” support shifting money to the State Department
By Andy Amsler at 23 March, 2010, 2:27 pm
As if the endorsement of Defense Secretary Robert Gates weren’t enough, the development community has rounded up 50 senior retired military officers to support its drive to shift money and authorities from the Pentagon to Foggy Bottom.
Politico: “Ex-generals urge Congress to fund Obama int’l affairs budget”
By Andy Amsler at 10 March, 2010, 3:06 pm
“Ex-generals urge Congress to fund Obama int’l affairs budget”
By Laura Rozen
Politico
March 10, 2010
Joining recent calls by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen to expand U.S. civilian capacities to reduce dependence on the military, some 50 former three and four star generals and flag officers have written [...]
Putting Smart Power to Work
By Jordan Smith at 2 March, 2010, 3:23 pm
“Putting Smart Power to Work”
By Dick Batchelor
Orlando Sentinel
March 1, 2010
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition is a group of bi-partisan leaders who work to educate policymakers on the values of engaging with the rest of the world and support more resources for our tools of development and diplomacy. The current co-chairs of the group’s “Putting Smart [...]
Learning from the Sin of Sodom
By Jordan Smith at 1 March, 2010, 5:31 pm
“Learning from the Sin of Sodom”
Nicholas Kristof
New York Times
February 27, 2010
For most of the last century, save-the-worlders were primarily Democrats and liberals. In contrast, many Republicans and religious conservatives denounced government aid programs, with Senator Jesse Helms calling them “money down a rat hole.”
Over the last decade, however, that divide has dissolved, in ways that [...]
Raj Shah and America’s Development Future
By Jordan Smith at 17 December, 2009, 2:59 pm
“Raj Shah and America’s Development Future”
Roll Call
Bill Frist
December 17, 2009
In most years, Senate deliberations over a nomination for administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, which leads American efforts to fight poverty and disease in the developing world, would pass without note.
This year is different. American efforts to improve the lives of [...]
