Foreign Policy
My Oral History of Star Wars
The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) has published a note on President Reagan’s “Star Wars” antiballistic missile initiative on the 40th anniversary of its proposal on March 23, 1983. It quotes several people who were involved in the… Read More »My Oral History of Star Wars
Reaction to Disclosure on Carter Hostage Crisis
This article in the New York Times describes the reactions of surviving American embassy hostages to the disclosure of the Reagan administration’s negotiations to hold the hostages captive until Reagan was elected. Some doubt that it happened or that it… Read More »Reaction to Disclosure on Carter Hostage Crisis
Need for Unskilled Immigrants
An article in Foreign Affairs says that automation will not eliminate the need for low skilled workers. It contributes to the debate about immigration, and how it affects the economy, discussed in previous blogs (such as this one). The article says: Undoubtedly, truly… Read More »Need for Unskilled Immigrants
US and Germany Send Tanks to Ukraine
The Washington Post reports that the US has decided to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine to match the German decision to send Leopard tanks. It was the right decision to support Germany, although it may anger Putin. I have been… Read More »US and Germany Send Tanks to Ukraine
Mishandling Classified Documents Is Not Unusual
Trump, Biden, and now Mike Pence have all been caught with unsecured classified documents. This illustrates that it is not unusual to mishandle classified documents. It often happens with people who handle them frequently. In American embassies there are Marine… Read More »Mishandling Classified Documents Is Not Unusual
Kissinger Worries about Decline in World Leadership
The Wall Street Journal reports that Henry Kissinger is concerned about a decline in world leadership. Is the quality of world leadership declining just as humanity’s need for great leadership has become more urgent than ever? As I learned over… Read More »Kissinger Worries about Decline in World Leadership
US and South Korea Deal with North Korean Nuclear Program
Bloomberg reports that the US and South Korea are working together to counter North Korea’s nuclear program. The US is in discussions with South Korea on ways to deter Kim Jong Un’s regime from using nuclear weapons, according to a… Read More »US and South Korea Deal with North Korean Nuclear Program
Lessons for Today from the Cold War
Foreign Affairs magazine has an article on the relevance of the Cold War for today’s foreign polcy challenges. In a review of a biography of diplomat and historian George Kennan, Kennan: A Life between Worlds, by Frank Costigliola, Fredrik Logevall… Read More »Lessons for Today from the Cold War