Podcasts about afpc

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textIn this glorious mess of a members-only episode, Peaches and Trent go full rogue: no guests, no guardrails, just straight-up brain dumps and verbal knife fights. The guys break down the importance of cognitive stress training, Air Force leadership cowardice, and the existential burden of watching “Interstellar” while contemplating your career.Also on deck: 

Alaska imports the vast majority of food from other states and countries making our state vulnerable to supply line disruptions and driving up prices. The Alaska Food Policy Council aims to help support more in-state food production and distribution. What are the unique challenges and opportunities for Alaskans interested in boosting the annual harvest? What do food policy advocates think of the proposed Alaska Department of Agriculture? We discuss the ongoing work and AFPC's upcoming conference in Kodiak on this Talk of Alaska.

In his final episode as host of GREAT POWER PODCAST, Michael Sobolik says goodbye to AFPC and to the podcast's listeners, and offers a retrospective of recent counter-Chinese Communist Party policy developments in Washington, DC.

Ever feel like your business is running you instead of the other way around? Pamela Ahart-Steward and Beth Greenberg Cotell, founders of Monarchs in Motion, share their journey of discovering balance and intentional living as business owners. They discuss the challenges of burnout, the importance of setting boundaries, and how saying "no" can create space for what truly matters. Drawing from their 26 years of experience, they offer actionable advice on transforming your approach to business and embracing personal growth. Packed with inspiration and practical tips, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a business that supports both their life and their goals. Main topics: Balancing business and personal priorities Strengthening partnerships through respect Recognizing and overcoming business burnout Setting boundaries to prevent overwhelm Transformation and intentional goal setting Main takeaway: "The power of saying no isn't about rejection; it's about creating space for what truly matters." As pet business owners, it's easy to feel like we need to say "yes" to every client request, every opportunity, and every demand on our time. But saying "yes" to everything often leaves us overwhelmed, burned out, and unable to give our best to the things that truly matter. Here's the truth: "The power of saying no isn't about rejection; it's about creating space for what truly matters." When you say no, you're not just turning something down--you're prioritizing your time, energy, and mental well-being. You're setting boundaries that allow you to focus on the clients and services that align with your goals and values. You're building a business that supports your life, not the other way around.

Herman Pirchner is the president of the American Foreign Policy Council, which was founded back in 1982 in Washington to provide some well thought out perspectives on foreign policy questions. In 1982, Herman was the president of the American Foreign Policy Council, and today more than forty years later he remains as the president of this important and distinguished group. Herman has held other significant positions as well, senior Senate staff, and as director of the national security team advising former presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. The AFPC, the American Foreign Policy Council, also publishes a great deal of material from is senior fellows and senior management in the form of monographs and books and shorter papers for briefings. Herman has hosted hundreds of delegations from foreign countries to come to the United States to meet senior American political leaders. And likewise, he has sent these senior American political leaders to foreign countries to meet with their peers. He did this for quite a few years in China, and likewise in Russia, and has done it for the last 10 years in Ukraine, a country with which he is very familiar, and to which he has traveled often. Herman has also written a good deal. Two of his books particularly pertain to the topic. One was a work in 2004, which shows the kind of prescience that Herman exercises or possesses, Reviving Greater Russia: The Future of Russia's Borders with Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Ukraine. He is also the author of Post Putin: Succession, Stability, and Russia's Future, which is also available in Russian and Ukrainian. Stephen Bryen has also held senior Senate staff positions, including for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and he has excelled in both the private sector and the government sector. For many years he was one of the senior civilian employees at the Department of Defense, a position in which he gained the highest award given by the Department of Defense to civilians, not once but twice. I am speaking of the Distinguished Service Medal. Dr. Bryen is particularly expert on technology and strategy, and as such has been contributing to other Westminster shows on China, Japan, Taiwan, as well as on Russia and Ukraine. I should also mention that he was the executive director of a grassroots political organization, the head of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, and in the Pentagon he served as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Trade Security Policy. Dr. Bryen is also a frequent contributor on foreign policy matters in his own column, which appears usually a couple of times weekly, in which he gives his sometimes unique perspective on the burning questions of the day, including Russia and Ukraine, so we are delighted he is also back here with us to further debate the future of Ukraine.

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with Col. Peter Garretson, AFPC Senior Fellow in Defense Studies and former chief futurist for the U.S. Air Force, regarding China's recent strides forward in space internet, and what it might mean for the unfolding “great power competition” between Washington and Beijing.   BIO: Peter Garretson is a Senior Fellow in Defense Studies at the American Foreign Policy Council and a strategy consultant who focuses on space and defense. He is the coauthor of Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space and the host of AFPC's Space Strategy Podcast. Prior to joining AFPC, Col. Garretson spent over a decade as a transformational strategist for the Department of the Air Force, where he served as a strategy and policy advisor for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, as Division Chief of Irregular Warfare Strategy Plans and Policy, and as the Chief of the Future Technology Branch of Air Force Strategic Planning. As an instructor of Joint Warfare at Air University, he laid critical foundations for the future of American and allied spacepower, initiating the Schriever Scholars (America's premier program to develop space strategists), the Space Horizons Task Force (America's think tank for space), and developing the rationale for a U.S. Space Force.  He taught courses in war theory, joint planning, and national security implications of artificial intelligence. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE: — Richard M. Harrison and Peter Garretson, The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy (Praeger Security International, 2023), https://www.amazon.com/Next-Space-Race-Blueprint-International/dp/1440880808/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UFE24YXJ64RY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U5jc8fFfd3tUDF3jfbDynL9Nuq9BLl_DkRXTRmNuvtM76WLNhBJZaoe0LEhH22OR8D_kBygP0ixcMFkPOGTkc1oBimuINW2JB20AeEYleaWJNzMgO-S-zrz2EEtnDy1NnoxVCNxzUTBDnCNN0Peg2OjrzjVZtN3LlliApM3LuFnUTGrhiRdcBHpx1sf6ahlcExyjdN2OH56fXcxfoyN4tLDnSrzVpGoyQvZ1JgxF0Dw.XqO3ZsBLh237M-t_eWtecmX8EF7h1Jfrq6IyoMNBlrg&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+next+space+race&qid=1725217225&sprefix=the+next+space+race%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1.  — Peter Garretson and Richard M. Harrison, “Reacting to Major Space Events at or Below Geostationary Orbit - After Action Report 1,” AFPC Special Report, July 5, 2024, https://www.afpc.org/publications/special-reports/reacting-to-major-space-events-at-or-below-geostationary-obit-after-action-report-1. 

Space Power: War-Gamers Say We're “Behind the Eight Ball” What should the new U.S. vice president and the National Space Council do if China achieved a Sputnik-like moment? According to this week's guests, we're “Behind the Eight Ball”, which is the title of their first report on a series of recent wargames that included former NASA and Department of Defense political appointees, representing both major U.S. political parties. Laura Winter speaks with Peter Garretson, a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) who also co-authored the book “The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy” with the second guest; Richard Harrison, AFPC's Vice President of Operations and Director of the Defense Technology Program.

Over the last 25 years, while the United States fought costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the People's Republic of China has been expanding its influence, its economic relationships, and even the reach of it's military.  Michael Sobolik offers a sober look at the challenge China poses to the West and offers a strategy to guide America's response.    Sobolik is an expert in the American and Chinese grand strategy, regional economic and security trends, America's alliance architecture in Asia and human rights. He served as a Legislative Assistant in the United States Senate, drafting legislation on China, Russia, India, Taiwan, North Korea, Cambodia, and strategic systems and missile defense from 2014 to 2019. He has been serving as a Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies for the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) since 2019. Sobolik hosts “Great Power Podcast,” AFPC's show about great power competition and U.S.-China relations. He is also the author of “Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance,” which explains China's growing threat to the global stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Sobolik joined AFPC as a Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies in September 2019. His work covers American and Chinese grand strategy, regional economic and security trends, America's alliance architecture in Asia, and human rights. Michael also hosts Great Power Podcast, AFPC's show about great power competition and U.S.-China relations. He is also the author of Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance (Naval Institute Press, 2024). Michael's analysis has appeared in the Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Politico, Newsweek, National Review, Jane's Defence Weekly, and RealClearDefense. Prior to joining AFPC, Michael served as a Legislative Assistant in the United States Senate from 2014 to 2019. While in the Senate, Michael drafted legislation on China, Russia, India, Taiwan, North Korea, and Cambodia, as well as strategic systems and missile defense. Michael is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he studied political philosophy as an undergraduate. He also earned his Master of International Affairs degree in American grand strategy and U.S.-China relations at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.

Is America in a new Cold War with China? If so, who is winning? One of the defining features of the 21st century has been the intensifying competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. As the two superpowers jockey for global influence, China threatens to dislodge America's longstanding role atop the international order.At the heart of this struggle lies the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, a massive infrastructure and investment project that has become the centerpiece of China's foreign policy. The BRI is often portrayed as an economic venture—China is seeking to create new markets for its goods, stimulate economic growth in its less-developed regions like Africa and Latin America. But the BRI has increasingly come under scrutiny as a geopolitical gambit designed to expand China's power and undermine American leadership.As policymakers in Washington grapple with how to respond to China's growing assertiveness, our guest today offers a provocative thesis: America is losing this new cold war, and it needs a bold strategy to turn the tide.Evan is joined by Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council. His new book, "Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance,” calls for the U.S. to take new approach that would exploit the BRI's weaknesses, such as its reliance on unsustainable debt and its tendency to breed corruption and local resentment, while simultaneously strengthening U.S. alliances and providing alternative models of development assistance. Michael also hosts the "Great Power Podcast," AFPC's show about global competition and U.S.-China relations. You can read a critique of Michael's book here.

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with S. Frederick Starr about the lives and work of Ibn Sina and Biruni. They discuss who were Ibn Sina and Biruni, their time and context, and the correspondence between Ibn Sina and Biruni. They discuss their interactions in the Muslim world, Ibn Sina as vizier, the canon of Ibn Sina and the canon of Biruni. They also discuss work post-canon, how their works were preserved, legacy of both thinkers, and many more topics.S. Frederick Starr is the founding chairman of the Central Asia -Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program, a joint transatlantic research and policy center affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Institute (AFPC) in Washington and the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Stockholm. Dr. Starr is Distinguished Fellow for Eurasia at AFPC. Starr is author of the widely acclaimed Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane. In this book on the history of the region between the 8th and 11th centuries, he argues that Central Asia was the center of the world. Lost Enlightenment has been translated into 20 languages, and received widespread praise by regional leaders, including Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Starr has focused on the challenge of reopening continental-wide transport passing through Central Asia and Afghanistan. This issue was the subject of a series of articles between 2000 and 2008 and of a book, The New Silk Roads, published in 2007.  He is a frequent commentator on the affairs of the region, and the author of numerous articles in journals including Foreign Affairs and op-eds in various leading American and international newspapers. Starr was the founding Chairman of the Kennan Institute in Washington, and served as Vice President of Tulane University and President of Oberlin College (1983-94).  He was closely involved in planning the University of Central Asia and the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and is a trustee of the Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan.  He earned his PhD in History at Princeton, MA at King's College, Cambridge, and his BA at Yale, and holds five honorary degrees. Starr is also a founding member of the Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble of New Orleans and founded the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the single largest non-governmental sponsor of post-Katrina recovery in that city. He has written four books on New Orleans, including New Orleans Unmasqued, Southern Comfort, and Inventing New Orleans: The Writings of Lafcadio Hearn. Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

An Alexander Hamilton Society student roundtable discussion focusing on current affairs in East Asia, what would happen leading up to an invasion of Taiwan or conflict breaking out in the South China Sea, the policy implications behind it for the region, the United States, and the rest of the world, and then identify unique policy responses outside of what the current thinkers are considering. About Michael Sobolik Michael Sobolik is a Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies for the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC). His work covers American and Chinese grand strategy, regional economic and security trends, America's Asian alliance architecture, and human rights. Michael also serves as editor of AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor e-bulletin, AFPC's review of regional developments. His analysis has appeared in The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, The Hill, Jane's Defence Weekly, The National Interest, National Review, Newsweek, Providence, and RealClearDefense. Before joining AFPC, Michael served as a Legislative Assistant in the United States Senate from 2014 to 2019. While in the Senate, Michael drafted legislation on China, Russia, India, Taiwan, North Korea, and Cambodia, as well as strategic systems and missile defense. Michael is an undergraduate student at Texas A&M University, where he studied political philosophy. He also earned his Master of International Affairs degree in American grand strategy and U.S.-China relations at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.

In this episode of GREAT POWER POCAST, Michael Sobolik cedes the host chair to his colleague Ilan Berman. The episode is a re-airing of Ilan's conversation with Michael on DISINFORMATION WARS, another AFPC product. In the conversation, Ilan and Michael unpack H.R.7521, the TikTok bill making its way through Congress. Michael unpacks the legislation, maps out the policy and political terrain in the House and Senate, and previews what to expect over the next few weeks. Resources from the conversation: Pre-order Michael's book, Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance Subscribe to Ilan's podcast, DISINFORMATION WARS Read H.R.7521, the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" Follow Michael on X/Twitter, where he has closely tracked the TikTok debate Follow Ilan on X/Twitter, where he regularly shares analysis about information warfare and Middle East politics

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with AFPC Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies Michael Sobolik about the new push in the U.S. Congress to limit the reach of TikTok, China's wildly-popular social media app.  Bio: Michael Sobolik is Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC, where his work covers American and Chinese grand strategy, regional economic and security trends, America's alliance architecture in Asia, and human rights. Michael also serves as editor of AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor e-bulletin, AFPC's review of developments in the region. His analysis has appeared in The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, The Hill, Jane's Defence Weekly, The National Interest, National Review, Newsweek, Providence, and RealClearDefense.  He is the host of Great Power Podcast, which examines America's geopolitical strategy toward adversaries like China and Russia. Michael is also the author of Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance, forthcoming from the U.S. Naval Institute Press later this Spring. Pre-order your copy today!

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Iskander Rehman about protracted warfare throughout history, what a war between America and China could look like, and what the United States should do to strengthen its resiliency. Guest biography Iskander Rehman joined AFPC as a Senior Fellow for Strategic Studies in July 2020. His work focuses on applied history, grand strategy, and US defense strategy in Asia.

https://westminster-institute.org/events/the-future-of-ukraine-a-debate/ Stephen Bryen is a leading expert in security strategy and technology. He has held senior positions in the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill and as the President of a large multinational defense and technology company. Dr. Bryen has 50 years of experience in government and industry. He has served as a senior staff director of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as the Executive Director of a grassroots political organization, as the head of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Trade Security Policy, as the founder and first director of the Defense Technology Security Administration, as the President of Finmeccanica North. In 1982, Herman Pirchner, Jr. became the founding President of the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC), a non-profit public policy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. Under his leadership, AFPC has hosted Washington events for hundreds of foreign officials ranging from the Prime Minister of Malta to the Prime Minister of Russia; conducted hundreds of briefings for Members of Congress and their staffs and, organized dozens of fact-finding missions abroad for current and former senior American officials. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Former Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, former Director of Central Intelligence R. James Woolsey, as well as the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dick Myers are among those who have participated in this program.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow 1901 #Turkey: Erdogan after the election. Svante Cornell, American Foreign Policy Council. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 Svante E. Cornell is a co-founder and Director of the Institute for Security and Development Policy. He is the Director of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, the Joint Center operated by ISDP in cooperation with the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC). Dr. Cornell is also a Senior Fellow for Eurasia at AFPC. His main areas of expertise are security issues and politics in Southwest and Central Asia, with a specific focus on the Caucasus and Turkey. He is the Editor in Chief of the Joint Center's bi-weekly publications, the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst and Turkey Analyst, and oversees the Joint Center's Silk Road Papers series of occasional papers. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-votes-pivotal-elections-that-could-end-erdogans-20-year-rule-2023-05-13/ https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/heres-how-read-turkeys-election-results-so-far

In this special edition episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik turns the conversation over to AFPC President Herman Pirchner and AFPC Advisory Board Member Manisha Singh for a discussion on the past year of warfare in Ukraine, what the coming months could look like, and what it means for the United States and global security. Guest biographies Herman Pirchner, Jr. is the founding President of AFPC. Under his leadership, AFPC has hosted Washington events for hundreds of foreign officials ranging from the Prime Minister of Malta to the Prime Minister of Russia; conducted hundreds of briefings for Members of Congress and their staffs and, organized dozens of fact-finding missions abroad for current and former senior American officials. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Former Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, former Director of Central Intelligence R. James Woolsey, as well as the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dick Myers are among those who have participated in this program. Pirchner's travels have taken him to most areas of the world, including more than 65 trips to the former Soviet Union since 1989, and more than 30 trips to China since 1994. He is an engaging speaker with a compelling grasp of the dynamics of world affairs. AFPC's publication program includes sponsorship of articles, monographs, books and Congressional testimony. AFPC authors have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines including the Washington Post, New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Jane's Defense Weekly, Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and National Review. In addition to his duties at AFPC, Mr. Pirchner directed the national security team advising the 2012 Presidential campaign of Newt Gingrich. Among his many publications is Pirchner's very prescient 2004 monograph, Reviving Greater Russia: The Future of Russia's Borders with Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Ukraine. He is also the author of Post Putin: Succession, Stability, and Russia's Future (Rowman and Littlefield, May 2019), which is also available in Ukrainian and Russian editions. Before founding AFPC, Mr. Pirchner served in the U.S. Senate as Director of Legislation for Senator Roger Jepsen (R-IA) and Legislative Assistant to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). She is an American attorney and government official who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs in the Trump administration until January 20, 2021. She previously also served as Acting Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. Previously, Singh worked as a lawyer at Reed Smith and Squire Patton Boggs. She also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs during the Bush administration. Resources from the conversation Read Herman's book, Post Putin Read Herman's Washington Times op-ed about U.S. assistance to Ukraine

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik chats with Rick Lane about the controversy surrounding TikTok, what it means for national security, and what we should do about it. Guest biography Rick Lane is a tech policy expert, child safety advocate, and the founder and CEO of Iggy Ventures. Iggy advises and invests in companies, projects, and public policy intitiatives that can have a positive social impact. Prior to starting Iggy, Rick served for 15 years as the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for 21st Century Fox. Until its purchase by Disney, 21st Century Fox was one of the world's premier entertainment companies with a portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe. As Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Rick was responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the Company's public policy activities. Resources from the conversation Read Rick's congressional testimony about TikTok Read Rick's full biography Read Rick's 2023 article about TikTok and foreign lobbying Read Rick's 2020 article about TikTok Read Michael's latest op-ed about the China spy balloon Support the work of AFPC Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik caught Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) between votes for a conversation about the Senator's recent trip to Taiwan and Japan, as well as his legislative efforts to counter Beijing's economic coercion and insulate America's supply chain vulnerabilities. Guest Biography Senator Todd Young represents the state of Indiana. He currently serves on the U.S. Senate Committees on Finance; Foreign Relations; Commerce, Science & Transportation; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Previously, in the House, he served on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Budget Committee, and most recently the House Ways and Means Committee. Resources from the Conversation Read Sen. Young's interview with Politico about his trip to Taiwan Read Sen. Young's bill, S.4514 - "Countering Economic Coercion Act of 2022" Read reporting on Sen. Young's backroom negotiations to pass the CHIPS and Science Act Read Michael's op-ed in Newsweek about Speaker Pelosi's trip to Taiwan in August 2022 Subscribe to the AFPC Indo-Pacific Monitor Give to AFPC

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Josh Kurlantzick about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) public diplomacy, its malign activities around the world, and what it means for the United States. Guest Biography Joshua Kurlantzick is senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is the author, most recently, of Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World. Kurlantzick was previously a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he studied Southeast Asian politics and economics and China's relations with Southeast Asia, including Chinese investment, aid, and diplomacy. Previously, he was a fellow at the University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy and a fellow at the Pacific Council on International Policy. He is currently focused on China's relations with Southeast Asia, and China's approach to soft and sharp power, including state-backed media and information efforts and other components of soft and sharp power. He is also working on issues related to the rise of global populism, populism in Asia, and the impact of COVID-19 on illiberal populism and political freedom overall. Resources from the Conversation Read Josh's new book, Beijing's Global Media Offensive Read Josh's previous book about China's public diplomacy Read reporting from Politico about Beijing's charm offensive Read reporting from The Wall Street Journal about China-Australia relations Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

Today's Story: Civilian Opportunity

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Matt Pottinger about the Chinese Communist Party's censorship and propaganda, its impact on America, and how the United States can counter it. Guest Biography Matt Pottinger is a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and Chair of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Pottinger served the White House for four years in senior roles on the National Security Council staff, including as deputy national security advisor from 2019 to 2021. In that role, he coordinated the full spectrum of national security policy. He previously served as senior director for Asia, where he led the administration's work on the Indo-Pacific region, in particular its shift on China policy. Before his White House service, Pottinger spent the late 1990s and early 2000s in China as a reporter for Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. He then fought in Iraq and Afghanistan as a US Marine during three combat deployments between 2007 and 2010. Following active duty, he founded and led an Asia-focused risk consultancy and ran Asia research at an investment fund in New York. Resources from the Conversation Read Matt's latest article in Foreign Affairs with Matthew Johnson and David Feith Read Matt's prior articles and congressional testimony about the Great Firewall of China Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor Support the work of AFPC

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik speaks once again with Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, about disinformation, public diplomacy, and media narratives — specifically in the context of U.S.-China relations. Guest Biography Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. An expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation, he has consulted for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as well as the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, and has also provided assistance on foreign policy and  national security issues to a range of governmental agencies and congressional offices. He has been called one of America's "leading experts on the Middle East and Iran" by CNN. Mr. Berman is a member of the Associated Faculty at Missouri State University's Department of Defense and Strategic Studies. A frequent writer and commentator, he has written for the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, the New York Times, Foreign Policy, the Washington Post and USA Today, among many other publications. He has also edited and published multiple books. Resources from the Conversation Read Ilan's op-ed in Newsweek Liston to Ilan's AFPC podcast, Disinformation Wars Follow Ilan on Twitter Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

Peter Huessy, President/Founder, GeoStrategic Consulting Firm, the conditions of the uprising in China, their involvement with Russia, and the way China controls the Chinese people in the U.S. The Chinese have developed what is referred to as Chinese "Police Stations" around the world including right here in the U.S. to control the Chinese people here who speak out against the China government controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  Also covered are the national security concerns due to the purchase of agricultural lands and resources by the Chinese throughout the U.S., many of which are near strategic military bases.  Peter offers 3 things he thinks we should do to take control of the Chinese threats to our national security.   Previously he was the Senior Defense Consultant at the National Defense University Foundation, National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association. He has hosted over 1000 Congressional seminars on Capitol Hill dealing with matters including missile defense, strategic nuclear modernization, strategic airlift, strategic bombers, space, proliferation, and arms control. He has also served since 1981 as Chief Consultant to a group of associated contractors in the nuclear deterrence business, has visited dozens of U.S. military bases to consult and lecture on strategic issues, and has been the Chief Consultant to the Missile Defense Information Group, which he established in 1992.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pentagon on Friday released a readout of a close-hold classified meeting of the Defense Policy Board that illustrates a growing concern that China and Russia are likely developing weapons systems for the space domain that “could impact U.S. deterrence and strategic stability” and a need to develop options to counter those systems. And that's in addition to the release of multiple defense policies on space and the Biden Administration's second convening of the National Space Policy Board. To unpack all of these developments, Laura Winter is joined by Peter Garretson, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, coauthor of “Scramble for the Skies The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space”, and the host of AFPC's Space Strategy Podcast; and Christopher Stone who is a senior fellow for space studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and the author of “Reversing the Tao: A Framework for Credible Space Deterrence”.

Today's Story: Staff Sergeant Selectees

Is this sci-fi? Or could there be a space-based solution to securing reliable, renewable, and affordable energy and stop making awkward trips and payments to the petro-dollar-funded authoritarians, like that guy in the Kremlin? This week Laura Winter explores Space-Based Solar Power, or SBSP, with Martin Soltau, Co-Chair of Britain's Space Energy Initiative and Frazer-Nash Business Manager; and Peter Garretson, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, coauthor of “Scramble for the Skies The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space”, and the host of AFPC's Space Strategy Podcast.

The U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond said Sunday that China “enjoys the same space capabilities and the same advantages that we currently enjoy.” That sounds a lot like parity. Congress is including inflation in its calculus, but what about what's needed for deterrence in the space domain? To take a closer look at the numbers and what they mean, Laura Winter is joined by Peter Garretson, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, coauthor of “Scramble for the Skies The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space”, and the host of AFPC's Space Strategy Podcast; and Christopher Stone who is a senior fellow for space studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and the author of “Reversing the Tao: A Framework for Credible Space Deterrence”.

Peter Hussy Geostrategic and Expert on China. Peter Huessy is Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis. His 40 years' experience has also included serving at the National Defense University Foundation, the AFPC and the Air Force Association. He specializes in developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives. Peter Huessy is Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two meaty and divisive subjects are in the queue. First the U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General released its report on whether the 2021 decision to locate Space Command in Huntsville, Alabama ticked all the legal and policy boxes. And Second, California's Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a senior Democrat, and Florida's Republican Sen. Marco Rubio introduced the Space National Guard Establishment Act with 10 co-sponsors, but the Biden Administration is not among the proposed bill's supporters. Laura Winter hosts a discussion with Peter Garretson, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, coauthor of Scramble for the Skies The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space, and the host of AFPC's Space Strategy Podcast; Christopher Stone who is a senior fellow for space studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and the author of Reversing the Tao: A Framework for Credible Space Deterrence; and spacepower expert Col. M.V. “Coyote” Smith, USAF (Ret.), who is an Associate Professor and Director at the Air Command and Staff College, at Maxwell Air Force Base.

Too bold? Or not bold enough? The U.S. Secretary of the Air Force revealed how the Biden Administration intends to shape the U.S. Space Force's mission and future this week at Space Symposium. Laura Winter hosts a discussion with Peter Garretson, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, coauthor of Scramble for the Skies The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space, and the host of AFPC's Space Strategy Podcast; Christopher Stone who is a senior fellow for space studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and the author of Reversing the Tao: A Framework for Credible Space Deterrence; and Makena Young is an associate fellow with the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The Biden Administration's FY 2023 budget request dropped this last week, with $24.5 billion for the U.S. Space Force. Laura Winter hosts a discussion with Charles Beames, who before becoming, the chairman of the board for York Space Systems and the SmallSat Alliance, was a Pentagon insider responsible for all space and intelligence acquisitions; Peter Garretson, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, coauthor of "Scramble for the Skies The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space", and the host of AFPC's "Space Strategy Podcast"; Christopher Stone who is a senior fellow for space studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and the author of "Reversing the Tao: A Framework for Credible Space Deterrence".

Today's Story: Giving Parents a Choice

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik speaks with Dr. Jonathan Ward about the strategic alignment between Russia and China, what it means for our allies and partners across Eurasia, and how Washington should respond. Resources from the Episode Read Jonathan's book, China's Vision of Victory Check out Jonathan's consulting company, Atlas Organization Watch Jonathan's media hits Read the latest issue of AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor Guest Biography Jonathan Ward has been studying Russia, China, and India for nearly twenty years since his undergraduate days in Russian and Chinese language at Columbia University. Dr. Ward is the author of China's Vision of Victory, a guide to the global grand strategy of the Chinese government which has been widely read in US government and national security circles, as well as by audiences in business and finance. He earned his PhD at the University of Oxford where he specialized in China-India relations, after initially being admitted to Oxford for a doctorate in Russia-China relations during the Cold War. He has traveled widely in Russia, China, India, Latin America and the Middle East, and speaks Russian, Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic, among other languages. As a subject matter expert, Dr. Ward has been an advisor to the US Department of Defense on Chinese long-term strategy and has briefed numerous US government audiences including at US Strategic Command, US Indo-Pacific Command, the US Department of Commerce, the US Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Strategy Division of the US Naval Staff. Through his consulting company, Atlas Organization, Dr. Ward helps Fortune 500 companies and financial institutions understand US-China global competition, improve their risk assessments on China, and build new global strategies that can withstand historic geopolitical change. He is a frequent commentator on national and international television and radio, with appearances on Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox Business, Fox, MSNBC and CNN International, among other stations. His next book, on the future of US strategy towards China is forthcoming in 2023.

Guest: Peter Huessy, Geopolitical Strategist  Peter Huessy is Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis. His 40 years' experience has also included serving at the National Defense University Foundation, the AFPC and the Air Force Association. He specializes in developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See full show notes at Keith Snow.com s This End Of Chemical Agriculture? Since the mid-19th-century usage of NPK fertilizer has increased by over 800% up to 2019. This has allowed modern AG to produce a massive amount of food that is used for all sorts of products from cereal, non-dairy milk to fuel additives and beyond. The USA exports billions of tons of commodity foods each year to countries all over the globe. “U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year (FY) 2022 are projected at $175.5 billion, down $2.0 billion from the August forecast, but still a record if realized. This decrease is driven by reductions in oilseed and oilseed product exports that are partially offset by increases in livestock, poultry, dairy, cotton, and ethanol exports.” — USDA All this food production comes at a steep cost to farmers, the environment, and most importantly, this soil! Studies show that foods grown on American soil have steadily declined in nutritive value. Vitamins, Minerals, and other components of basic foods (fruits, vegetables, grains) are less nutritious than they were decades ago. This is because modern agriculture used methods that destroy soil life, water infiltration, organic matter, photovoltaic capacity, etc. The use of chemicals such as Glyphosate (Round Up), herbicides, pesticides, and other inputs are very harsh on soil and surrounding watersheds. These methods only work when farmers can afford these costly inputs, they have been rising each year but in 2022 input costs are astounding. NPK cost is rising so fast it's becoming untenable for farmers to plant crops, even with subsidies. “Texas A&M economists found heading into spring planting, fertilizer prices are up 80% compared to 2021, and in some cases, farmers are seeing certain fertilizer prices more than double what they saw last year. But for the report, AFPC was conservative in its estimate, using a 50% increase in fertilizer costs. ” — Ag Web My point to this whole episode is many, small to medium-sized farmers will start to reject this whole system and decide to use Regenerative Agriculture instead of being controlled by “the system” and basically forced to continue injuring their land with this modern chemical-laden system. I hope it happens, it will be painful, but if there is a will, there is a way!

Photo:  LARGE MEDALLION SUZANI EMBROIDERY, BOKHARA, UZBEKISTAN. What of Uzbekistan? Fred Starr @CACI_SilkRoad,  Central Asia and Caucasus Institute, AFPC https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/uzbekistan-reacts-to-the-crisis-in-kazakhstan/ S Frederick Starr  @CACI_SilkRoad, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute 

Photo:  Kazakhs 19th Century What we know and don't know about the Kazakhstan turmoil. Fred Starr  @CACI_SilkRoad,  Central Asia and Caucasus Institute, AFPC https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/kazakhstans-ex-leader-rejects-reports-that-he-fled-abroad/ar-AASTOPW S Frederick Starr  @CACI_SilkRoad, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute 

Photo: Iran is slow-walking Vienna.  Victoria Coates, @VictoriaCoates, Iran Distinguished Fellow in Strategic Studies. AFPC.  Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/12/world/middleeast/us-iran-nuclear-deal.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/09/statement-by-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-on-iranian-threats-and-provocations-against-american-citizens/ https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-692178 Victoria Coates, @VictoriaCoates, Distinguished Fellow in Strategic Studies at American Foreign Policy Council

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik speaks with Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, about America's and China's competing interests in the Middle East, the fallout of America's withdrawal from Afghanistan, and how the broader region views the burgeoning competition between Washington and Beijing. Guest Biography Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. An expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation, he has consulted for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as well as the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, and has also provided assistance on foreign policy and national security issues to a range of governmental agencies and congressional offices. He has been called one of America's "leading experts on the Middle East and Iran" by CNN. Mr. Berman is a member of the Associated Faculty at Missouri State University's Department of Defense and Strategic Studies. A frequent writer and commentator, he has written for the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, the New York Times, Foreign Policy, the Washington Post and USA Today, among many other publications. He has also edited and published multiple books. Resources from the Conversation Read Ilan Berman's book, Wars of Ideas: Theology, Interpretation and Power in the Muslim World Read Kai Strittmatter's book, We Have Been Harmonized: Life in China's Surveillance State Liston to AFPC podcast, Disinformation Wars Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

Photo:  Polish village house. PRC makes predatory claims on the Poles.   Alex Gray, senior Fellow at American Foreign Policy Council @AFPC and chief of staff of the National Security Council during the Trump administration.  @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill  https://www.afpc.org/publications/articles/the-deep-seabed-is-chinas-next-target

https://westminster-institute.org/events/impact-of-the-american-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-on-central-asia/ S. Frederick Starr is the founding chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program, a joint transatlantic research and policy center affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Institute (AFPC) in Washington (where Starr is Research Professor) and the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Stockholm. Dr. Starr is Distinguished Fellow for Eurasia at AFPC.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik speaks with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) about the Biden administration's foreign policy with China (as well as Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan), and what a "peace through strength" approach would look like instead. Guest Biography Ted Cruz has served as the junior United States senator for Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz served as Solicitor General of Texas from 2003 to 2008. He is currently a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and was previously on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Resources from the Conversation: Read Sen. Ted Cruz's interview with Margaret Brennan on November 21, 2021 Watch Sen. Ted Cruz's interview with Maria Bartiromo on September 19, 2021 Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

In this episode, Paul is joined by Tiffany Lashmet from Texas AgriLife Extension to discuss the top legal issues in agriculture for 2021.  This is a joint podcast with Ag Law in the Field. Top legal issues discussed in the podcast are: Lashmet, Tiffany. Waters of the United States Update (Sept. 21, 2021). Carbon Contracts Video (2021). Lashmet, Tiffany. Ag Law in the Field: Beth Rumley (Animal Confinement Statutes (Nov. 11, 2021). Goeringer, Paul. Ninth Circuit Rules in Favor of Beef Checkoff Program (Aug. 17, 2021). Lashmet, Tiffany. SCOTUS Rules for Georgia in Water Dispute with Florida (April 12, 2021). Outlaw, J., B. Fischer, H. Bryant, J. Raulston, G. Knapek, and B. Herbst. Economic Impacts of the Sensible Taxation and Equity Promotion Act and the For the 99.5 Percent Act on AFPC's Representative Farms and Ranches (AFPC Research Report 21-01, 2021). If you have questions for Tiffany, you can email her here or tweet her at @TiffDowell.  If you have questions for Paul contact him at lgoering@umd.edu, tweet him @aglawPaul or 301-405-3541. 

In this episode of AFPC's GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik speaks with Michael Schuman, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, about the evolution of China's strategic culture throughout its dynastic era - and how it shapes the Chinese Communist Party's practice of foreign policy today. Guest biography Michael Schuman the author of "Superpower Interrupted: The Chinese History of the World." He is also a contributor to The Atlantic and a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, and, most recently, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub. Previously, he was a correspondent for TIME magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Resources from the conversation Read Michael Schuman's book, Superpower Interrupted: The Chinese History of the World Read Michael Schuman's article in The Atlantic, "Washington Is Getting China Wrong" Follow Michael Schuman's work at the Atlantic Council Read Michael Schuman's articles at The Atlantic and Bloomberg Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host AFPC fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies Michael Sobolik speaks with Russell Hsiao, Executive Director of the Global Taiwan Institute, about the history of America's complex relationship with Taiwan, China's ambitions to conquer the island, and the political fate of Taiwan in the coming years. Guest Biography Russell Hsiao is the executive director of GTI, senior fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, and adjunct fellow at Pacific Forum. He previously served as a senior research fellow at The Project 2049 Institute and national security fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Prior to those positions he was the editor of China Brief at The Jamestown Foundation from October 2007- to July 2011 and a special associate in the International Cooperation Department at the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. While in law school, he clerked within the Office of the Chairman at the Federal Communications Commission and the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Mr. Hsiao received his J.D. and certificate from the Law and Technology Institute at the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law where he served as the editor-in-chief of the Catholic University's Journal of Law and Technology. He received a B.A. in international studies from the American University's School of International Service and the University Honors Program. Resources from the Conversation Follow the Global Taiwan Institute Subscribe to GTI's Global Taiwan Brief Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

In this inaugural episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik speaks with Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian of Axios about the way Washington thinks about competition with Beijing, how China views the contest, and where the bilateral relationship is heading in the next few years. Guest Biography: Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian is the China reporter at Axios. Before joining Axios, Bethany served as the lead reporter for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists' China Cables project, a major leak of classified Chinese government documents revealing the inner workings of mass internment camps in Xinjiang. Previously, Bethany was an editor and contributing reporter at Foreign Policy magazine and a national security reporter at The Daily Beast. Bethany spent four years in China and is now based in Washington, DC. Resources from the Conversation Follow Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian's work Subscribe to the Axios China newsletter Read the China Cables project Read The Wires of War, by Jacob Helberg Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

In this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen talks with Senior Fellow in Asian Security Dr. Larry Wortzel about China's growing military hostility toward Taiwan, U.S. options to deter China and strengthen Taiwan's Security, its effect on the broader Asia-Pacific region and the PRC's new orbital missile capability. Listen and subscribe today!

On this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen talks with AFPC Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) Chairman Dr. S. Frederick Starr about the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, as well as what it means for the Afghan people and for Afghanistan's neighbors, both practically and geopolitically.

Today's Story: Growing the NCO Corps

On this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen talks with Senior Vice President Ilan Berman regarding last week's indictment of four Iranian intelligence officials on conspiracy to kidnap U.S. journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad and the implications for U.S. policy. Additional resources: July 13, 2021 - Department of Justice press release, "Iranian Intelligence Officials Indicted on Kidnapping Conspiracy Charges: Iranian Intelligence Services Allegedly Plotted to Kidnap a U.S. Journalist and Human Rights Activist from New York City for Rendition to Iran". https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iranian-intelligence-officials-indicted-kidnapping-conspiracy-charges

Today's Story:12 Outstanding Airmen

In this episode, Paul is joined by Dr. Bart Fischer, Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center and a Research Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, to discuss a report his center recently released looking at the proposed changes to the estate tax and capital gains taxes. Materials discussed: Outlaw, J., B. Fischer, H. Bryant, J. Raulston, G. Knapek, and B. Herbst. Economic Impacts of the Sensible Taxation and Equity Promotion Act and the For the 99.5 Percent Act on AFPC's Representative Farms and Ranches (AFPC Research Report 21-01, 2021). For the 99.5 Percent Act (S.994)  Sensible Taxation and 5 Equity Promotion Act of 2021 If you have questions for Paul contact him at lgoering@umd.edu, tweet him @aglawPaul, on Instagram @aglawPaul, or 301-405-3541.

AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen talks with AFPC Senior Fellow in Latin American Affairs Christine Balling regarding the current political crisis in Colombia, elections in Peru, and external actors (e.g., China, Russia, and Iran) growing activity in the region. Additional reading: June 14, 2021 - A New Era For Iran's Ambitions In The Western Hemisphere (Ilan I. Berman & Joseph Humire, The National Interest) https://www.afpc.org/publications/articles/a-new-era-for-irans-ambitions-in-the-western-hemisphere June 8, 2021 - It's a mistake to assume Colombia protests same as protests in US (Christine Balling, The Hill) https://www.afpc.org/publications/articles/its-a-mistake-to-assume-colombia-protests-same-as-protests-in-us

AFPC Senior Vice President Ilan Berman chats with Amb. James Gilmore III, former Ambassador the OSCE (2019-2021) and Governor of Virginia (1998-2002) and Mr. Jon Lerner, former U.S. Deputy Envoy to the United Nations, about their recent trip to Ukraine on an AFPC-organized delegation. In Kyiv, they met with various senior Ukrainian government and military officials to discuss the state of corruption and institutional reforms, the economy and COVID-19. The delegation also traveled to the front near Mariupol to discuss the state of the Russian-Ukrainian border and see it first-hand. Related reading: Taiwan's Fate May Be Decided In Ukraine (June 4, 2021 Herman Pirchner, Jr., Alexander B. Gray The Hill)

AFPC Senior Fellow in Middle East Studies Mora Namdar discusses Iran's opposition and the Biden Administration's policy toward Iran on this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS. An attorney and foreign policy expert, Ms. Namdar previously served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs and Vice President of the U.S. Agency for Global Media - USAGM). Before that, she served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, working on a variety of global issues. These responsibilities included, but were not limited to, working on Iran politics and policy, international messaging and broadcasting, and serving on the State Department's Iran Action Group. Additional resources: The Human Rights Element of Iran Policy (Mora Namdar, The National Interest, March 22, 2021)

The Kingdom of Morocco is America's oldest diplomatic partner, and a key U.S. strategic ally in North Africa. It is also a country that is now facing a changed, and challenging, regional environment while simultaneously attempting to navigate a new Administration in Washington. In this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, Senior Vice President Ilan Berman discussed the current strategic challenges confronting the Kingdom, drawing on insights from his recent visit to the country. Notes: A Moment of Truth for Morocco - Newsweek (4/14/21) - https://www.newsweek.com/moment-truth-morocco-opinion-1583026

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Vice President of Operations Richard M. Harrison about AFPC's new Space Policy Initiative. They discuss the impetus and goals for the initiative and podcast, and touch on the recent publication of the book Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space. Links to the material discussed: AFPC Space Policy Initiative - https://www.afpc.org/programs/space-policy-initiative Scramble for the Skies: https://www.amazon.com/Scramble-Skies-Competition-Control-Resources/dp/1498583113 Follow the authors: @GarretsonPeter @namygoswami AFPC Internships: https://www.afpc.org/about/internships For questions and comments email: spacepod@afpc.org

Today's story: Resources for exceptional families

American Foreign Policy Council Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs Alexander B. Gray discusses the strategic significance of the Pacific Islands. Related publications: Why a crisis in the Pacific islands matters for Washington and Beijing (February 16, 2021, The Hill) https://thehill.com/opinion/international/538968-why-a-crisis-in-the-pacific-islands-matters-for-washington-and-beijing Trouble in Paradise: Why a Pacific Islands Squabble Matters for Washington (February 8, 2021, The National Interest) https://www.afpc.org/publications/articles/trouble-in-paradise-why-a-pacific-islands-squabble-matters-for-washington

Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Director Svante Cornell explains the current political turmoil in Georgia on this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS.

AFPC director for external relations Annie Swingen talks with senior fellow for defense studies Peter Garretson regarding space policy options and opportunities for the Biden Administration. Related reading: Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space (Lexington Books, 2020) - Co-authors: Namrata Goswami and Peter Garretson. Biden's space policy: One giant leap for climate change - Politico, 10/28/2020

Iran is emerging as a critical foreign policy priority for the Biden Administration, but its approach seems to be profoundly different from that of its predecessor. American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) senior Vice President Ilan Berman elaborates. Related reading: Iran's Ayatollahs Want a New Deal (Newsweek, 2/1/21) https://bit.ly/36Aa6AM VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BJax4djQkk&feature=youtu.be

Mon Carnet, le podcast de Bruno Guglielminetti Vendredi 22 janvier 2021 Au sommaire : Actualités : La presse française numérique - Alexa Custom Assistant - Logitech - Starlink - Netflix - Paramount+ - Sommeil des gamers - Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro - Tucows - François Picard Entrevues : Facebook vs Apple avec Antoine Gagné, J7 Media (10:48) 100 ans de données météorologiques sur Wikipédia avec Ha-Loan Phan, Wikimédia Canada (22:53) Télétravail et conditions de travail avec Yvon Barrière, AFPC (33:26) Sirois : L'agriculture de demain (43:51) Poulin : La nouvelle formation UX de HEC Montréal (1:01:58) Billets : Weber : Le CES selon Thierry (1:14:45) White : Des nouvelles de La Presse (56:34) Ricoul : Combien valent vos données personnelles en 2021 (51:41) Collaborateurs : Jean-François Poulin, Thierry Weber, Luc Sirois, Patrick White et Stéphane Ricoul www.MonCarnet.com Une production de Guglielminetti.com Janvier 2021

Peter Huessy is Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis. His 40 years’ experience has also included serving at the National Defense University Foundation, the AFPC and the Air Force Association. He specializes in developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives. Peter Huessy is Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AFPC director for external relations Annie Swingen chats with Amb. David Shinn and AFPC senior fellow for China studies and associate professor at the University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs Dr. Joshua Eisenman regarding the recently release of the Chinese translation of their 2012 book, "China in Africa: A Century of Engagement" (Penn Press) and their next book project slated for publication in 2021. China in Africa: A Century of Engagement - https://www.amazon.com/China-Africa-Engagement-David-Shinn/dp/0812244192 Reviews: Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2012-10-31/china-and-africa-century-engagement Carnegie Council: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/publications/articles_papers_reports/0150 Sage Publications: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0009445513491529?journalCode=chra

Chelsea Patterson Sobolik and Travis Wussow are both back around the table with Jeff Pickering for a wide ranging policy conversation about the ERLC's priorities for the Lame Duck Congress and then the Biden Administration.Then on the second half of the show, China expert Michael Sobolik joins us for a deep dive on Chinese Communist Party politics, history of the U.S. China relationship, and what it means for human rights advocacy today.This episode is sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of Searching for Christmas by JD Greear. Find out more about this book at thegoodbook.com.Guest BiographyMichael Sobolik is a Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies at the American Foriegn Policy Council. His work covers American and Chinese grand strategy, regional economic and security trends, America's alliance architecture in Asia, and human rights. Michael also serves as editor of AFPC's monthly newsletter Indo-Pacific Monitor. His analysis has appeared in The Diplomat, The Hill, Jane's Defence Weekly, The National Interest, National Review, Newsweek, Providence, and RealClearDefense. Prior to joining AFPC, Michael served as a Legislative Assistant to Sen. Ted Cruz from 2014 to 2019 and managed his Indo-Pacific policy portfolio. While in the Senate, Michael drafted legislation on China, Russia, India, Taiwan, North Korea, and Cambodia, as well as strategic systems and missile defense. Michael is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he also earned his Master of International Affairs degree in American grand strategy and U.S.-China relations at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.Resources from the ConversationConnect with Michael Sobolik at AFPCSign up for Michael's monthly newsletter, the Indo-Pacific MonitorRead more: How the Chinese Communist Party is persecuting Uyghur Muslims by Chelsea Patterson Sobolik and Michael Sobolik Listen: Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian of AXIOS on China's rising influence and the threat to human rightsRead the EIT Press Release: Evangelical Coalition outlines Immigration Policy Priorities for new Congress, Biden AdministrationCheck out The Good Book CompanySubscribe to ERLC's Policy Newsletter

About the lecture: When we accept certain narratives on which national security policy rests, and those narratives are incorrect, we get ourselves into serious trouble. One is reminded about a debate in the British parliament between Winston Churchill and Mr. Chamberlain, with the latter arguing that rearming Britain to take on Germany would probably result in a diminution of free trade with Nazi Germany. To which Winston Churchill said, “shouldn't that be the idea?” The United States in 1969-70 adopted detente and peaceful coexistence as descriptors of American security policy. At the end of World War II, we adopted the idea of containment of the USSR. We also adopted “Vietnam” to conjure up a quagmire to describe the feared end result of the use of American military force. Today, we have adopted “peaceful rise“ as the way to describe the growing military and economic strength of China; we have long held out the idea that a successful foreign policy in the Middle East had to go through the “peace process”; and successful response to 9-11 required the USA to win the “global war on terror or GWOT”. This lecture will examine how such narratives were developed and what political forces such narratives served. This lecture will also explore each of these narratives and what dead ends they led us to reach, or are still leading us, and compare them to President Reagan's “peace through strength” strategy. We will also discuss the current administration's policy with respect to China, the Middle East, and Russia/NATO. Reagan's peace through strength is often described —wrongly—as no more than simple bullying—a narrative we will also address. Part of this discussion will include my own part in these foreign policy fights over the 1975-2020 period. About the speaker: Mr. Peter Huessy is President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis, founded in 1981, and since 2016, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute on Aerospace Studies. He was the senior defense consultant at the National Defense University Foundation for 22 years. He was the National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association from 2011 Mr. Huessy has served as an expert defense and national security analyst for over 45 years, helping his clients cover congressional activities while monitoring budget and policy developments on terrorism, counter-terrorism, immigration, state-sponsored terrorism, missile defense, weapons of mass destruction, especially US-Israeli joint defense efforts, nuclear deterrence, arms control, proliferation, as well as tactical and strategic air, airlift, space, and nuclear matters and such state and non-state actors as North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda. This also includes monitoring activities of think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and other US government departments, as well as projecting future actions of Congress in this area. His specialty is developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives.

Research Fellow and Program Officer Jacob McCarty discusses Sudan's recent normalization of relations with Israel.

AFPC fellow in defense studies Jennifer McArdle discusses "Defense Transformation and the Future of Warfare" with director for external relations Annie Swingen on the latest episode of AFPC INSIGHTS.

AFPC's Central Asia-Caucasus Institute director Svante Cornell discusses the recent flare-up in tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Additional reading: The International Politics of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict: The Original "Frozen Conflict" and European Security (Palgrave McMillan, 2017)

Cherrod Overbey: "If you really believe in it, go for it. To make these things happen, you have to really not be afraid of failure." Tech. Sgt. Cherrod Overbey is a personnelist with the Air Force Personnel Center and has started AFPC's Robotic Process Automation Journey. Cherrod recently competed in the AFWERX Spark Tank 2020 competition where he was able to pitch the power of RPA to Air Force senior leadership and guest judges. Cherrod is passionate about improving Airmen everyday lives at work and making work smarter not harder. During this episode, Cherrod joins our hosts Kinsley "TRIGGER" Jordan and Daniel Hulter to discuss embracing failure, being open to new ways of thinking, and implementing new technologies into Air Force operations. AFWERX Office Hours: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/office-hours.html If you enjoy the show, we'd love for you to review The DisruptiveAF Podcasts on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach new people who would love to hear from our guests every week. Plus, we love to hear your thoughts on the show! For more about the podcast, visit https://www.afwerx.af.mil/podcast.html Follow AFWERX: Twitter: twitter.com/afwerx Instagram: instagram.com/afwerx Facebook: facebook.com/afwerx

Peter Huessy is Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis. His 40 years’ experience has also included serving at the National Defense University Foundation, the AFPC and the Air Force Association. He specializes in developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives. Dean Cheng brings detailed knowledge of China's military and space capabilities to bear as The Heritage Foundation's research fellow on Chinese political and security affairs. He specializes in China's military and foreign policy, in particular its relationship with the rest of Asia and with the United States. Cheng has written extensively on China's military doctrine, technological implications of its space program and "dual use" issues associated with the communist nation's industrial and scientific infrastructure. He previously worked for 13 years as a senior analyst, first with Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), the Fortune 500 specialist in defense and homeland security, and then with the China Studies division of the Center for Naval Analyses, the federally funded research institute. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. public diplomacy in general, and in particular the agency that oversees it, known as the U.S. Agency for Global Media, has become the topic of considerable political controversy in recent months. AFPC Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs Jim Robbins has been following the issue closely and on this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, provides a sense of the current state of America's global messaging – and the problems that are currently plaguing it. Additional resources: The Trouble With the Open Technology Fund, September 2, 2020, Newsweek James S. Robbins

AFPC senior vice president Ilan Berman discusses the historic Aug. 13, 2020 Israel-UAE peace deal. Additional reading: New Mideast Peace Deal Reflects a Broader U.S. Strategy (Newsweek, August 17, 2020) https://www.newsweek.com/new-mideast-...

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss Hong Kong, Uyghur Muslims, IVG, colleges opening and closing their doors, the Democratic Convention, conspiracy theories, California fires, and a Blockbuster Airbnb. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week's ERLC content including a piece by Travis Wussow with "What Hong Kong reveals about the future of China," Michael and Chelsea Sobolik with "How the Chinese Communist Party is persecuting Uyghur Muslims," and Alex Ward with and "Explainer: IVG is the newest technological threat to the family structure." Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Michael Sobolik for a conversation about life and ministry.About MichaelMichael Sobolik is a fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies at the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC). He also serves as editor of AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor e-bulletin, AFPC's review of developments in the region. Prior to joining AFPC, Michael served as a legislative assistant to Sen. Ted Cruz from 2014 to 2019 and managed his Indo-Pacific policy portfolio. Michael is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he studied political philosophy as an undergraduate. He also earned his Master of International Affairs degree in American grand strategy and US-China relations at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Chelsea. You can connect with him on Twitter: @michaelsobolikERLC ContentTravis Wussow with What Hong Kong reveals about the future of ChinaMichael and Chelsea Sobolik with How the Chinese Communist Party is persecuting Uyghur MuslimsAlex Ward with Explainer: IVG is the newest technological threat to the family structureCultureUNC-Chapel Hill fall semester going online amid COVID-19 outbreaks, one week into classesNotre Dame, Michigan State Act to Slow Coronavirus Spread1 in 5 college students don't plan to go back this fallDemocratic National ConventionTrump refuses to condemn QAnonQanon the alternative religionThe origins of QAnon trace to three people who seek financial gainGov. Newsom declares statewide emergency as fires scorch CaliforniaUnemployment claims tick back up to over 1 millionBody found likely to be SBC pastor's wifeThe world's last Blockbuster will soon be up for rent on AirbnbLunchroomLindsay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9Z9JtNcCWY “The Last Dance”Josh: Ghost Apples; Curbside Larry: Barbara Bush LibraryBrent: https://twitter.com/TheeMaryWilson/status/1295835000693239812?s=20Connect with us on Twitter@ERLC@jbwester@LeatherwoodTN@LindsNicoletSponsorsERLC Highlights - subscribe for curated content from the ERLC's editors delivered straight to your inboxPolicy Newsletter - Sign up for policy updates from our Washington, DC team.

AFPC senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy Lawrence Haas breaks down the implications new Sino-Iranian accord for the AFPC Insights series. Further reading: U.S. Needs a Broad Response to China-Iran Moves (7/16/20) https://www.newsweek.com/us-needs-bro...

About the lecture: Since 1972, the nuclear disarmament community —led by major self-described arms control organizations— hasn't supported any serious nuclear arms control ideas. They've supported dangerous ideas such as the nuclear freeze, opposed American strategic nuclear and missile defense modernization efforts, and denounced the most revolutionary and beneficial agreements such as INF, Start 1, and 2. Nearly 50 years after the SALT 1 nuclear agreement, it has become increasingly difficult to secure genuine and verifiable nuclear agreements such as Start 1 and INF. The United States has entered into nuclear deals with Iran, North Korea, and Russia that do little to improve America's security. In many respects, the global zero campaign has significantly distorted the debate on nuclear security issues. America's enemies are increasingly expanding their nuclear arsenals and adopting strategies of using nuclear weapons for coercive and hegemonic objectives. A growing narrative among the media, academia, and some politicians is that nuclear arms control is on the ropes. That's true, but the reason is not the Trump administration, it is the fault of the US disarmament community and global zero advocates that have effectively killed arms control and repeatedly pushed the USA into bad nuclear deals. About the speaker: Mr. Peter Huessy is President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis, founded in 1981, and since 2016, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute on Aerospace Studies. He was the senior defense consultant at the National Defense University Foundation for 22 years. He was the National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association from 2011 Mr. Huessy has served as an expert defense and national security analyst for over 45 years, helping his clients cover congressional activities while monitoring budget and policy developments on terrorism, counter-terrorism, immigration, state-sponsored terrorism, missile defense, weapons of mass destruction, especially US-Israeli joint defense efforts, nuclear deterrence, arms control, proliferation, as well as tactical and strategic air, airlift, space and nuclear matters and such state and non-state actors as North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda. This also includes monitoring activities of think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and other US government departments, as well as projecting future actions of Congress in this area. His specialty is developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives. He is on the Board of the InSeries Theater in Washington; EMPACT, the organization devoted to protecting the US from EMP threats; and MTA, the Maryland Taxpayers Association. He authored legislation calling for the divestment of US pensions from any company doing business with Iran and testified before a number of state legislatures on this subject and on counter-terror policy, including whether or not drivers licenses should be made available to those illegally in the US. He is also a member of Secure American Energy, an organization devoted to breaking the back of OPEC and providing the US with American sources of energy. He has lectured around the world and across the USA on nuclear terrorism, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, homeland security, counter-terrorism policy, and strategic threats to the US and its allies.

AFPC Director for Defense Technology Programs and Vice President of Operations Richard M. Harrison discusses the significance of space and outlines why the U.S. needs a comprehensive space strategy to compete with China. Additional reading: We Are in a New Space Race, and America Needs to Win, Newsweek (7/10/20) Richard Harrison & Peter Garretson https://www.newsweek.com/we-are-new-s... Why the new X-37 space plane mission is a big deal, Politico (5/15/20) Peter Garretson https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05... How Congress should grade the Space Force doctrine, The Hill (5/19/20) Peter Garretson https://thehill.com/opinion/technolog...

AFPC's Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) Director Dr. Svante E. Cornell discusses the recent e-CAMCA (Central Asia, Mongolia, Caucasus, Afghanistan) regional conference organized by CACI and the Rumsfeld Foundation , the region's response to COVID-19, progress with political and economic reforms, risks and opportunities for regional states with regard to China-U.S.-Russia competition in the region. e-CAMCA 2020 panels: Panel I: “Post-Coronavirus Pandemic Challenges and Opportunities for the CAMCA Region” - https://bit.ly/2A7h0k5 Panel II: “Afghanistan: What Comes First? Peace, Trade or Both Together?” - https://bit.ly/2Nz39WY Panel III: “CAMCA Network Report on Intraregional Trade: Growth Potential?” - https://bit.ly/2VjfouH Additional reading: AFPC May 2020 Defense Dossier (Issue 27) : "A New Focus on Central Asia," S.Enders Wimbush, Roger Kangas, Mamuka Tsereteli, Svante E. Cornell, S. Frederick Starr - https://bit.ly/2BEn7wC "The Sino-American Competition Is Coming to Central Asia," Ilan Berman, The National Interest, June 20, 2020 - https://bit.ly/2Zhbl3i "Digital Transformation in the CAMCA region," Mariam Lashkhi & Talant Sultanov, CAMCA Network Conference Publication, June 2020 - https://bit.ly/2NvIxyv "Caucasus & Central Asia Post COVID-19," Amb. Tedo Japaridze, Sen. Sodyq Safoev, S. Frederick Starr & Fariz Ismailzade, Strasbourg Policy Center, June 2020 - https://bit.ly/3g3ab2o And for more information on the CAMCA Rumsfeld Fellowship program, please visit: https://bit.ly/3eCo3QL

AFPC President Herman Pirchner, Jr. addresses Russian President Vladimir Putin's repressive regime and what may come next for Russia. Additional reading: Vladimir Putin's Increasingly Precarious Future, May 26, 2020, The National Interest https://bit.ly/3dCRyBu Post-Putin: Succession, Stability and Russia's Future (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). https://bit.ly/2XAKU9j

In this episode, AFPC Senior Fellow for China Studies and University of Notre Dame Associate Professor of Global Affairs Dr. Joshua Eisenman addresses "How China is harnessing the COVID-19 pandemic." Topics include: Beijing's efforts to purchase foreign companies; China's “Health silk road” concept; Military moves in the South China Sea; and, Debt flexibility along the Belt and Road (BRI). Additional reading: Beijing Is Pushing the Taiwanese Toward Independence Hard and Fast (5/18/20 ), Joshua Eisenman, Foreign Policy How Trump's Constant Attacks on China over Coronavirus Won't Help (5/15/20), Joshua Eisenman & Devin Stewart, The National Interest American Foreign Policy Council's China Reform Monitor, editor: Joshua Eisenman Related podcast(s); AFPC INSIGHTS Episode 2: China's coronavirus disinformation campaign and the subsequent implications for U.S. foreign policy. Click to listen!

This event is part of the China Series sponsored by The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: The Chinese seek to supplant the US as the world's top military and economic power. As Tom Reed noted in his book The Nuclear Express, China is a major proliferator of nuclear weapons technology—to Pakistan, North Korea, Iran, Libya and Iraq. Its own nuclear arsenal is projected to double this decade according to DIA intelligence reports. China rejects even discussing arms control nor does it provide any information about its nuclear arsenal, although it does assert it has adopted a no first use nuclear policy. DIA also believes the PRC has recently tested nuclear weapons, contrary to China's pledges under the NNPT and CBT. The presentation will explore these issues as well as the use of nuclear weapons—particularly the threat of their use—to contest the US and its allies in the Pacific. Especially ROK, ROC, and Japan. About the speaker: Mr. Peter Huessy is President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis, founded in 1981, and since 2016, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute on Aerospace Studies. He was the senior defense consultant at the National Defense University Foundation for 22 years. He was the National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association from 2011 Mr. Huessy has served as an expert defense and national security analyst for over 45 years, helping his clients cover congressional activities while monitoring budget and policy developments on terrorism, counter-terrorism, immigration, state-sponsored terrorism, missile defense, weapons of mass destruction, especially US-Israeli joint defense efforts, nuclear deterrence, arms control, proliferation, as well as tactical and strategic air, airlift, space and nuclear matters and such state and non-state actors as North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda. This also includes monitoring activities of think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and other US government departments, as well as projecting future actions of Congress in this area. His specialty is developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives. He is on the Board of the InSeries Theater in Washington; EMPACT, the organization devoted to protecting the US from EMP threats; and MTA, the Maryland Taxpayers Association. He authored legislation calling for the divestment of US pensions from any company doing business with Iran and testified before a number of state legislatures on this subject and on counter-terror policy, including whether or not drivers licenses should be made available to those illegally in the US. He is also a member of Secure American Energy, an organization devoted to breaking the back of OPEC and providing the US with American sources of energy. He has lectured around the world and across the USA on nuclear terrorism, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, homeland security, counter-terrorism policy, and strategic threats to the US and its allies including (1) leading a great power competition and nuclear workshop at the Louisiana Tech Research Institute in cooperation with USAF Global Strike Command, (2) speaking on China's security threats to the US at the annual strategic conference in Omaha, Nebraska hosted by Strategic Command, (3) speaking annually at the Exchange Monitor Nuclear Summit, (4) lecturing at the Prague Security Institute in the Czech Republic, (5) teaching at Yonsei University in Seoul, ROK, (6) speaking to the Israeli MOD missile defense experts, (7) reviewing terrorist threats to the US for the California Public Policy Foundation, and (8) annually being a guest lecturer at the Naval Academy on the subject of the history of American nuclear deterrent policy.

In this episode of AFW2: Blue & Beyond, guest host Armando Franco, Air Force Wounded Warrior Wellness and Resiliency Program Manager, sits down with Tech. Sgts. (ret) Melissa Nueva and Roann Leatz to discuss how warriors can remain positive, resilient, and social during this time of physical distancing. Learn how your fellow warriors are using journaling to strengthen the bonds within our AFW2 and military communities to ensure a successful recovery at home.

AFPC Fellow for for Indo-Pacific Studies Michael Sobolik discusses China's coronavirus disinformation campaign and the subsequent implications for U.S. foreign policy with AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen. Further reading: To Hold China Accountable for Delayed COVID-19 Action, Target the ‘Great Firewall,' by Michael Sobolik, The Diplomat, April 28, 2020 - https://bit.ly/3dkJHbj "How China is ruthlessly exploiting the coronavirus pandemic it helped cause," by Alex Ward, Vox News, April 28, 2020 - https://bit.ly/2xy4Kb5 "Don't Let the Chinese Communist Party Use the Coronavirus to Its Advantage ," by Michael Sobolik, National Review, March 27, 2020 - https://bit.ly/35rJUXp

American Foreign Policy Council staff and experts explain changing world events and their implications for U.S. foreign policy. On this inaugural episode of the AFPC Insights, Senior Vice President Ilan Berman breaks down Iran's response to the Coronavirus. Watch an abbreviated version of this discussion on AFPC's YouTube channel and subscribe for updates and new episodes.

We are in this together. One is not greater than the other! When one hurts, we all hurt! We all must meet at the cross of Jesus!

This is a Bible Study and Prayer Conference comprised of Women of Faith from many faith disciplines. Times of disaster bring uncertainty and fear, such times can test our faith and strengthen our courage, love, hope and resilience beyond our own limits of possibility. The Word of God can bring encouragement, reassurance and hope for the days ahead. This conference meets every Monday evening. The host is Pastor Arnette Owen, Turning Point Mission Center Church, Jackson, Mississippi. For prayer, please call 1-866-395-6873.

with Omar Colom - Director of Show Services, Zach Larsen - C.O.O. at AFPC.inc and Adam Faldetta - President / C.E.O at AFPC.inc We discussed the many things that we can be learning about while we are at home during the travel restriction, how COVID-19 is affecting all markets, online education, online community and how to ask for help when you need help in these lean times. Please checkout: AVEducate.com , http://www.digeratiproductions.com/event-industry-aid , https://www.afpc-inc.net/

In this episode of AFW2: Blue & Beyond, guest host Tony Jasso, AFW2 Action Officer, sits down with SSgt. Jessica Thelen and Tech. Sgt. (ret) Joshua Smith, to discuss how warriors can remain positive, resilient, and social during this time of physical distancing. Learn how your fellow warriors are using this time to strengthen the bonds within our AFW2 and military communities to ensure a successful recovery at home.

A lovely news-roundup episode for you, including some stuff at the end that justifies the title. Content Warnings. Links/Notes: Rachel Sheffield and Robert Rector, "The War on Poverty After 50 Years." The source of Episode 44's "22 trillion dollars" claim. https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/report/the-war-poverty-after-50-years Christopher Cantwell Trial Docket: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16743597/united-states-v-cantwell/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc Christopher Cantwell Order of Detention Pending Trial: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nhd.53269/gov.uscourts.nhd.53269.20.0.pdf "In this case, the government argued that the defendant’s release posed a risk of flight and danger to the community. After weighing the evidence - taking into consideration the pretrial services report, the parties’ proffers, pleadings, and the testimony of Brett Fernald, FBI Task Force Officer - and balancing the factors laid out in 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g), the court finds that the government met its burden of proof on dangerousness, but failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is a flight risk. The government established by clear and convincing evidence that there are no conditions that will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community. The defendant is charged with crimes that involve threats of violence. The evidence against the defendant, which includes a copy of the threatening communication and defendant’s admission that he sent the message, is strong." Hilary Sargent Twitter: http://twitter.com/lilsarg Hilary Sargent, "United States v. Christopher Cantwell." https://twitter.com/lilsarg/status/1231973006618046464?s=20 Nick Martin, The Informant, "The Atomwaffen Evidence." https://www.informant.news/p/the-atomwaffen-evidence Nick Martin, The Informant, "Key Atomwaffen Member to be Sentenced." https://www.informant.news/p/key-atomwaffen-member-to-be-sentenced Angry White Men. "Far-Right Extremists React to the Coronavirus With Conspiracies and Racist Mockery." https://angrywhitemen.org/2020/02/14/far-right-extremists-react-to-the-coronavirus-with-conspiracies-and-racist-mockery/ Angry White Men, "YouTube Finally Bans Racist Podcaster Nick Fuentes." https://angrywhitemen.org/2020/02/15/youtube-finally-bans-racist-podcaster-nick-fuentes/ AFPAC videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/Jrgnj15/videos Twenty-seven second clip of Michelle Malkin spewing Nazi talking points at AFPC: https://twitter.com/JewishWorker/status/1234216230136971265?s=20 Wikipedia page for "In Defense of Internment," by Michelle Malkin, 2004. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Defense_of_Internment Michael Bloomberg on Stop-and-Frisk in 2015. https://twitter.com/parscale/status/1227236086176518144 "You are arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities. Yes, that's true. Why? Because we put all the cops in the minority neighborhoods. Yes, that's true. Why do we do it? Because that's where all the crime is. And the way you get the guns out of the kids' hands is to throw them up against the walls and frisk them." Bloomberg Press Conference 2013 declaring intention to appeal ruling that Stop and Frisk was unconstitutional in NY State. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw8BMrF7r8Y NPI/Radix, "Based Bloomberg?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Vqams8FVI  

Today's story: In the first round of promotions based solely on performance, 530 SMSgts were selected from more than 2,500 eligible for promotion to CMSgt, a promotion rate of nearly 21%.

Written by: Lesroy Louard Life is all about the right place, and the right time. Robert Permenter's timing has allowed him to maneuver himself in his industry from full time AV technician, Show Team staffer to Freelance Engineer In Charge. In this interview, The Production Channel, dives into the career of one of the industries brightest […]

Today's story: For the first time in Air Force Academy history, enlisted Airmen will have the opportunity to be deliberately hired for faculty teaching positions.

Today's stories: Developing strategic leaders who can provide innovative solutions to complex challenges, drives Developmental Education for Officers. Also, "Trident Juncture 18" was NATO's largest exercise since 2002. 50,000 participants from 31 countries took part, including, for the first time, an E-3 Sentry Aircraft and crew from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

In this episode, the second of a two-part series, we talk with Patrick, an assignment officer at AFPC some more about assignments, personnel records, combining move cycles, Talent Marketplace, the job-matching algorithm and other “PRLs” of wisdom.

In this episode, the first of a two-part series, we talk with Patrick, an assignment officer at Air Force Personnel Command (AFPC), about the view of the assignments process from inside AFPC and ask several of the questions we all care about the most when it comes to assignments.