Rapid Reactions

Rethinking Iran and the Bomb

Response by Harry Blaney

02-08-12

We are getting again into the silly season of politics trumping good sense and reality on security policy. The Iran issue has many levels of complexity, uncertainty, and contingencies, as well as clear dangers and a number of options or approaches. The main problem is the desire of some to drive the debate and work towards a single thrusting action of preemptive war. The time has come to stand back a bit and give thought to not only the options “on the table,” as President Obama said, but also about what can accomplish our goals with the least cost to human lives and the fewest serious unintended consequences.

Pentagon Budget: Managerial Shifts, Not Major Changes

Response by William Hartung

01-26-12

Although it will no doubt draw howls of anguish from the arms lobby on Capitol Hill, the Pentagon's five year plan as outlined today represents a modest and long overdue course correction. A budget that grows 7% in nominal terms and falls by only 1.6% in real terms over the next five years is not only manageable, it is far too timid to adequately address the twin goals of strategic reform and deficit reduction.

Sate of the Union Address

Response by Stephen Miles

01-25-12

Last night the President reminded the nation of the interconnectedness of our national security with countless domestic concerns. As the President said, for the first time in 9 years, there are no American troops fighting in Iraq, freeing up billions of dollars for nation building here at home and paying down our debt. But we can do even better. In the days ahead, as we hear about how we can’t afford key domestic programs, remember that we are tragically still wasting $2 billion every week in Afghanistan.

Cuba in the Republican Debate

Response by Wayne Smith

01-24-12

At the GOP primary debate in Tampa, Florida on January 23, moderator Brain Williams asked the four Republican candidates what they would do if informed that Fidel Castro had just died. Ron Paul was the only one with a sensible comment, but the hostile comments of hte other three were not surprising--especially in view of the fact that the Republican primaries are to be held in Florida at the end of this month. Romney, Gingrich and Santorum could be expected to play to what they expect to be a hard-line Cuban-American vote. The majority of Cuban-Americans strongly favor Obama's open travel policy that gives them the freedom to visit their families on the island whenever they would like, and are even more in favor of the unlimited remittances they can send to those families. It will be interesting to see if this alters the voting patterns of the past.

Sen. Merkley's Bipartisan Amendment - An Opportunity

Response by Stephen Miles

11-18-11

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) recently introduced a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act calling for an accelerated drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. While the President's plan to draw down 33,000 troops by next Fall is a welcome start, tens of thousands of soldiers will remain in Afghanistan fighting a war that even their commanders admit has only a political solution. By supporting Sen. Merkley's bipartisan amendment, the Senate has a tremendous opportunity to stand with the majority of Americans who want to bring our troops home now.

Growing Popular Confidence in Cuban Economic Reforms

Response by Wayne Smith

11-14-11

During a visit in Havana last week, I found what seems to be a new sense of confidence among the Cuban people that the government is serious about its economic reforms and that they may indeed lead to a new and more productive system. This seems to be inspired in part by the new laws that permit the sale of real estate (truly a major step) and cars. And then there seems to be a growing realization that dropping people off the government payroll and encouraging them to find employment (or create it) in the private sector could have dramatic consequences – especially as the newly-permitted unlimited remittances from relatives in the United States could fund new enterprises. New shops and services are already appearing. As one Cuban put it, “we Cubans are natural entrepreneurs. With funds provided by our relatives in the U.S., we could build a new and prosperous private sector.”

Obama Administration Relying On Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Response by Tom Barry

11-01-11

Both at home and abroad the Obama administration is recklessly relying on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones to pursue its war and security policies. Despite their high cost and the lack of proven effectiveness, the Department of Homeland Security has steadily expanded its UAV fleet since 2003– adding three more Predator B drones the last week of October in response to lobbying by congressional UAV advocates and bipartisan demands for more border security. A cost-benefit evaluation of the DHS drone program, which has cost $240 million since 2005 but whose security impact remains undocumented, is needed. See Tom Barry's IPR "Fallacies of High-Tech Fixes for Border Security" for more information.

Same Old Drug War, Dressed up as "Nontraditional Threat" From the Border

Response by Tom Barry

10-27-11

General Douglas Fraser, commander of U.S. Southern Command, joined the chorus of military and administration officials warning that the United States faces a "nontraditional threat" from the south in the form of “transnational organized crime” and declared, “We’re trying to move our defense further and further from our border.” Yet, this so-called nontraditional threat is not new at all. It’s just the same old drug war dressed up in the new language of transnational crime being promoted by the Obama administration in its newly released Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime.

U.S., One of Two in Favor of the UN General Assembly Embargo Against Cuba

Response by Wayne Smith

10-25-11

Today, the United States was again handed its annual total and embarrassing defeat in the UN General Assembly on the issue of its embargo against Cuba. The vote was 186 to condemn the embargo, two votes in its favor, the United States and Israel, and three abstentions. And the fact is that Israel is one of Cuba’s most active trading partners, i.e., it votes with us, but disagrees with and disregards our policy. On the issue of the Cuban embargo, then, the United States is totally isolated.

Obama's NSC Deputy for Strategic Communications Unnoticed Statement

Response by Harry Blaney

10-24-11

President Obama announced the withdrawal of American troops on the 21st of October with a statement focused on the specific elements of that action. However, his NSC Deputy for Strategic Communications made a comment, largely neglected by the press, posted on the White House web site that heralds a clear effort to distinguish Obama's new approach to global engagement. It appears to be a signal that we can expect new initiatives in the future and a major adjustments in our military strategy. We should hopefully see in the coming weeks a more detailed laying out of the “fundamental shift.”

The NSC Deputy for Strategic Communication said: “But this moment represents more than an accomplishment for the President. It marks a monumental change of focus for our military and a fundamental shift in the way that our nation will engage in the world.”