Podcast appearances and mentions of ryan crocker

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Amb. Ryan Crocker, former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, among other places, about how Great Power Competition intersects with a changing Middle East.BIO:Amb. Ryan Crocker served as U.S. ambassador to Lebanon (1990–1993), Kuwait (1994–1997), Syria (1998–2001), Pakistan (2004–2007), Iraq (2007–2009) and Afghanistan (2011–2012). He is a member of the Afghanistan War Commission, a Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow at the Middle East Institute, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and holds the Distinguished Chair in Diplomacy and Security at RAND. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

Retired American diplomat Ryan Crocker was referred by President George W. Bush as "America's Lawrence of Arabia."

Following more than a year of turmoil and transformative changes reshaping the Middle East, the region witnessed another shock with the downfall of the Assad family's 54-year rule over Syria last weekend. The rapid collapse was triggered by a lightning rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former affiliate of al-Qaeda. This on-the-record briefing featured Amb. (ret.) Ryan Crocker, career diplomat with the US Foreign Service. His previous appointments included US Ambassador to Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Lebanon; as well as Charles Lister, Senior Fellow and Director of MEI's Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism programs. Our experts discussed what the fall of Bashar al-Assad means for Syria and the region, the international community's assessment of the Syrian conflict, what this development portends for Iran's “Axis of Resistance” in the Levant, the influence of regional powers in Syria, and the future of US policy toward the region.   This is a special presentation of the latest installment of our Virtual Briefing Series.  This episode was recorded on December 10, 2024. 

Today on the show, Israel launched retaliatory strikes on Iran. New York Times Magazine staff writer Ronen Bergman joins Fareed to discuss the fallout from these strikes and the likelihood of further escalation.    Next, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon Ryan Crocker speaks with Fareed about his concerns that Israel's wars with Hamas and Hezbollah will last for years.   Then, former U.S. State Department official Jung Pak speaks with Fareed about the implications of thousands of North Korean troops being deployed to Russia for training, and the significance of the growing alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang.    Finally, author of “Of Boys and Men” Richard Reeved joins to tell Fareed about the crisis facing American men, and why the Democratic party has lost so much support among the group.    GUESTS: Ronen Bergman (@ronenbergman), Ryan Crocker, Jung Pak (@junghpak1), Richard Reeves (@RichardvReeves)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week, Israel is stepping up its military campaign in Gaza. In Lebanon, Israel's campaign is straying further from military targets, attacking branches of a Hezbollah financial center which is used by many civilians as a bank. Meanwhile, a Hezbollah drone has hit the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was not there, and no injuries have been reported. Ryan Crocker, who served as US ambassador to Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and other posts across the region joins Christiane to discuss.  Also on today's show: Leslie Vinjamuri from the think tank Chatham House & Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg on the upcoming US presidential election; Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman (Ret.)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In “Help Wanted,” part-time employees of a big-box retail store in New York are barely making a living. Author Adelle Waldman's own job experiences inspired the novel.  Ryan Crocker, a former U.S. ambassador to Middle Eastern countries, says Israel should heed the message behind the Biden administration's withholding of bombs. Hollywood's summer box office season is here. So far, it pales in comparison to last year's $4 billion bonanza brought in by  “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”  Actor Chris Pratt razed an architecturally significant house. Another wealthy homeowner wants to demolish Marilyn Monroe's former home. What are LA's historic preservation rules?

Robert Wilkie, Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, joins Liberty & Justice with Matt Whitaker, Season 3, Episode 6.  Presented by American Cornerstone Institute.  Learn more about ACI at https://americancornerstone.org/. Watch every episode of Liberty & Justice on www.whitaker.tv. President Trump nominated the Honorable Robert Wilkie as the tenth Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 23, 2018, and sworn in on July 30, 2018. Mr. Wilkie served as the acting Secretary of VA from March 28 to May 29, 2018.  Before confirmation as VA Secretary, Mr. Wilkie served Secretary James Mattis as his Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness—the principal advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for Total Force Management as it relates to readiness, National Guard and Reserve component affairs, health affairs, training, and personnel requirements and management, including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, recreation, and the quality of life for military families. The son of an Army artillery commander, Mr. Wilkie spent his youth at Fort Bragg. Today, he is a United States Air Force Reserve colonel assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff. Before joining the Air Force, he served in the United States Navy Reserve with the Joint Forces Intelligence Command, Naval Special Warfare Group Two, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.Mr. Wilkie has more than 20 years of federal service at the national and international levels. During the George W. Bush Administration, Mr. Wilkie served both Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates as Assistant Secretary of Defense from 2005–2009, and he was the youngest senior leader in the Department. Mr. Wilkie was Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and a National Security Council senior director under Dr. Condoleezza Rice. He also has extensive experience in the United States Congress, including recent service as Senior Advisor to Senator Thom Tillis and service as Counsel and Advisor on International Security Affairs to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Honorable Trent Lott. Mr. Wilkie shepherded the Senate confirmation process for James Mattis, Robert Gates, and Admiral Mike Mullen (CJCS), and he was responsible for the preparation of General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker for their multiple appearances before Congress in defense of the Iraqi Surge. Mr. Wilkie was Vice President for Strategic Programs for CH2M HILL, one of the world's largest engineering and program management firms, where for five years he held program management and advisory assignments as diverse as the London 2012 Summer Olympics and the reform and reorganization of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense Supply and Logistics System (DE&S). Mr. Wilkie holds an Honors degree from Wake Forest University, a Juris Doctor from Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans, a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. A graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, Air Command and Staff College, the United States Army War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College, Mr. Wilkie has published articles in the Naval War College Review, Parameters, Armed Forces Journal International, Air and Space Power Journal, and Proceedings. He holds personal and unit decorations and the Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest noncareer civilian award of the Department. Matthew G. Whitaker was acting Attorney General of the United States (2018-2019).  Before becoming acting Attorney General, Mr. Whitaker served as Chief of Staff to the Attorney General. He was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern Dist

Ali Velshi is joined by Sen. Tim Kaine, former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, former U.S. State Dept. senior adviser Vali Nasr, Senior Fellow at American University of Beirut Rami Khouri, Director of Research at The Soufan Group Colin Clarke, Huff Post's Akbar Ahmed, NBC's Dan De Luce, NBC's Antonia Hylton, NBC's Trymaine Lee, NBC's Keir Simmons, President & CEO of “Visit Philadelphia” Angela Val

Robert Wilkie, former VA Secretary, joins Liberty & Justice with host Matt Whitaker Season 2, Episode 24. Secretary Wilkie discusses the troubled history of the Espionage Act and its current use as a weapon against President Trump. Watch every episode of Liberty & Justice at http://www.whitaker.tv.  The Honorable Robert Wilkie was nominated by President Trump to serve as the tenth Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 23, 2018, and sworn in on July 30, 2018. Mr. Wilkie previously served as the acting Secretary of VA from March 28 to May 29, 2018.  Before confirmation as VA Secretary, Mr. Wilkie served Secretary James Mattis as his Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness—the principal advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for Total Force Management as it relates to readiness, National Guard and Reserve component affairs, health affairs, training, and personnel requirements and management, including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, recreation, and the quality of life for military families.The son of an Army artillery commander, Mr. Wilkie spent his youth at Fort Bragg. Today, he is a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff. Before joining the Air Force, he served in the United States Navy Reserve with the Joint Forces Intelligence Command, Naval Special Warfare Group Two, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.Mr. Wilkie has more than 20 years of federal service at the national and international levels. During the George W. Bush Administration, Mr. Wilkie served both Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates as Assistant Secretary of Defense from 2005–2009, and he was the youngest senior leader in the Department. Mr. Wilkie was Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and a senior director of the National Security Council under Dr. Condoleezza Rice. He also has extensive experience in the United States Congress, including recent service as Senior Advisor to Senator Thom Tillis and service as Counsel and Advisor on International Security Affairs to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Honorable Trent Lott. Mr. Wilkie shepherded the Senate confirmation process for James Mattis, Robert Gates, and Admiral Mike Mullen (CJCS), and he was responsible for the preparation of General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker for their multiple appearances before the Congress in defense of the Iraqi Surge.Mr. Wilkie was Vice President for Strategic Programs for CH2M HILL, one of the world's largest engineering and program management firms, where for five years he held program management and advisory assignments as diverse as the London 2012 Summer Olympics and the reform and reorganization of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense Supply and Logistics System (DE&S).Mr. Wilkie holds an Honors degree from Wake Forest University, a Juris Doctor from Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans, a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. A graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, Air Command and Staff College, the United States Army War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College, Mr. Wilkie has published articles in the Naval War College Review, Parameters, Armed Forces Journal International, Air and Space Power Journal, and Proceedings. He holds personal and unit decorations, as well as the Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest noncareer civilian award of the Department.Matthew G. Whitaker was acting Attorney General of the United States (2018-2019). Prior to becoming acting Attorney General, Mr. Whitaker served as Chief of Staff to the Attorney General. He was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa by Pres

This edition features a story about how International Security Assistance Force Commander Gen. John R. Allen and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker participated to officially transfer security responsibilities of the Parwan Province to Afghan National Security Forces and another story about how building an independent and strong Afghanistan is an important part of coalition forces missions. Soundbite includes LTC. John Walsh - PRT Nangarhar. Produced by PO2 Brandon Shelander and hosted by SSgt. Melissa Hay. Also available in High Definition.

This edition features stories on Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker visiting Camp Nathan Smith to honor soldiers for defending the camp during a recent insurgent attack and a recovered wounded warrior conducting a fundraising walk for the Wounded Warrior program that helped him. Hosted by Air Force Staff Sgt. Melissa Hay. Also available in high definition.

This edition features stories about how U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker talks about a naturalization ceremony that took place at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Sep. 28, 2011 and how applying medical treatment to troops on the battlefield needs to happen fast. The time it takes to translate to an Afghan Soldier on proper techniques can mean the difference between an injury and a casualty. Marine Sgt. Todd Crowell was with some Army Medics who help Afghans help each other. Soundbite includes Sgt. Anthony Merino - NCOIC FOB Kushmond Aid Station, Afghanistan. Produced by Sgt. Todd Crowell. Hosted by Sgt. Jenn Casanova. Also available in High Definition.

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding are for people truly seeking an adventure. But more and more people are going into the wilderness in search of that unique kind of outdoor fun. Ryan Crocker thought it was time to start up a festival dedicated to one of his passions. Gros Morne Splitfest is set for April 1 and 2. He joined us on the line from Woody Point.

Six-time U.S. Amb. Ryan Crocker (Career Ambassador and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient) looks back on his experience working with the military in some of toughest assignments and most fraught conflict zones ever. He also looks to the future and analyzes the nature of expeditionary diplomacy, the current state of geopolitics and the international system, and shares his thoughts on how the Foreign Service might evolve through generational change, namely by talking about diversity, mental health, and work-life balance. **Brought to you as part of an Una Chapman Cox Foundation project on American diplomacy and the Foreign Service.

On today's show, we are joined once again by Dr. John Oddo, Associate Professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University, for a retrospective discussion of “War on Terror” rhetoric 20 years after September 11th, 2001. Ever since the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. government and national news media have consistently used Us and Them categories of enemy- and threat-construction, drawing on a conceptual metaphor of terrorism as an act of war (as opposed to a criminal act) to justify preventative military action. There have also been some notable shifts in U.S. war rhetoric in recent years: for one thing, references to September 11th as an inciting event have become scarcer as leaders have reframed the fight against global terrorism as an end in itself. And whereas earlier in the war, media and political figures tended to conflate specific terrorist organizations and so-called “state sponsors of terrorism”, they are now more likely to advocate a “targeted” approach: opposing large-scale troop deployments while nevertheless supporting missile attacks, special forces operations, cyberwarfare, and other forms of state violence.After John walks us through the material and social reasons for these continuities and shifts, we analyze specific examples of post-9/11 war propaganda, comparing Larry P. Goodson's November 2001 op-ed “U.S. Troops Must Go In” with Ryan Crocker's August 2021 “Why Biden's Lack of Strategic Patience Led to Disaster.” We examine their rhetorical strategies and discuss the greater implications of how some key tropes have evolved across texts and time: framing the war as a “clash of civilizations,” using the oppression of women and children as justificatory narratives, employing euphemisms like “patience” in foreign policy strategies, and zooming in on U.S. enemies' violence while eliding the violence done by our military and its allies.Lastly, we turn to a discussion of the ongoing drone war in the Middle East and Africa, in which we highlight John's new research project on media construals of drone strike victims. John concludes with a blistering critique of an enduring problem in U.S. political rhetoric: the metaphor of war deaths as “payments” for which we deserve some return, which obscures how inflicting suffering and killing is always an irrevocable moral act. Texts Analyzed in this Episode:Biden, J. (2021, 31 Aug.). Address to the nation on the end of the war in Afghanistan [Speech audio recording]. Transcript, video, and audio available from American Rhetoric: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/joebidenendofafghanistanwar.htmCrocker, R. (2021, 21 Aug.). Why Biden's lack of strategic patience led to disaster. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/21/opinion/us-afghanistan-pakistan-taliban.htmlDowd, M. (2001, 18 Nov.). Liberties; Cleopatra and Osama. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/18/opinion/liberties-cleopatra-and-osama.htmlGoodson, L. P. (2001, 14 Nov.). U.S. troops must go in. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/14/opinion/us-troops-must-go-in.htmlWorks and Concepts Cited in this Episode:Chomsky, N., & Herman, E. S. (1994). Manufacturing consent: The political economy of the mass media. London: Vintage Books.Cloud, D. L. (2004). “To veil the threat of terror”: Afghan women and the ⟨clash of civilizations⟩ in the imagery of the US war on terrorism. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 90(3), 285-306.Goodby, J.E. & Gross, D. (2010, 22 Dec.). Strategic patience has become strategic passivity. The Brookings Institution. Retrieved from: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/strategic-patience-has-become-strategic-passivity/Gopal, A. (2021, 6 Sept.). The other Afghan women: In the countryside, the endless killing of civilians turned women against the occupiers who claimed to be helping them. The New Yorker. Retrieved from: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/09/13/the-other-afghan-womenHodges, A. (2011). The" War on terror" narrative: discourse and intertextuality in the construction and contestation of sociopolitical reality. OUP USA.Oddo, J. (2011). War legitimation discourse: Representing ‘Us' and ‘Them' in four US presidential addresses. Discourse & Society, 22(3), 287-314.Oddo, J. (2014). Intertextuality and the 24-hour News Cycle: A Day in the Rhetorical Life of Colin Powell's UN Address. Michigan State University Press.Oddo, J. (2018). The discourse of propaganda: Case studies from the Persian Gulf War and the War on Terror. Penn State Press.Safire, W. (1999, 3 Jan.). On language; Not so fast! The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/03/magazine/on-language-not-so-fast.html [Contextual analysis on the evolution of the term “strategic patience” and Strobe Talbott's original usage]re:blurb episode on Conceptual MetaphorOur first episode with Dr. Oddo, in which he articulates his theory of war propagandaThe Watson Institute at Brown University's “Costs of War” Project

On Tuesday, the United States ended its evacuation mission in Kabul, marking the conclusion of two decades of the American military mission in Afghanistan. Since mass evacuations began on August 14, both Americans and NATO allies have criticized President Biden for what they view as a catastrophic execution of an already flawed decision to withdraw. Following last Thursday's suicide bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport that resulted in the death of 13 US service members and more than 200 Afghan civilians, it is has become ever more clear that Biden's withdrawal was little short of a disaster. Amb. Ryan Crocker joined Marc and Dany to discuss the execution of Biden's Afghanistan evacuation, America's betrayal of Afghanistan, and the national security ramifications of the American withdrawal. Amb. Crocker is an American retired diplomat, a career ambassador within the United States Foreign Service, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was a United States ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon, serving both Republican and Democratic administrations. https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Crocker-Final-Transcript-9.1.21.pdf (Download the transcript here. )

Bill spoke with Ryan Crocker, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, about the chaos in Afghanistan and the prospect of things getting much worse. Ryan Crocker served as Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill spoke with Ryan Crocker, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, about the chaos in Afghanistan and the prospect of things getting much worse. Ryan Crocker served as Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Admn. Peter Vasely, is leading the effort to negotiate with his Taliban counterpart to maintain security at the Kabul airport and ensure the safety of both Americans and Afghans hoping to escape. Ryan Crocker is a former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria. He tells Anderson Cooper he thinks the Admiral is “doing the right thing.” Plus, Miami-Dade County, Florida’s largest school district, voted 7-1 in favor of a mask mandate, in defiance of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that blocks mask mandates in schools. Alberto Carvalho is the superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. He joins AC360 to explain why he thinks he’s doing the right thing and says he will wear the consequences of his decision as a “badge of honor.” Airdate: August 19, 2021 Guests: Amb. Ryan Crocker Alberto CarvalhoTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

President Joe Biden promised the nation last month a smooth withdrawal from Afghanistan. On Monday, he acknowledged the chaos that's come instead. We discuss whether an orderly U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was ever possible. Ryan Crocker and Daniel Silverberg join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Taliban fighters in Afghanistan who strode into Kabul's presidential palace last weekend were not some ragtag militia.The insurgents are backed by huge profits from many sources, from drugs to wealthy foreign donors. Money helps.But can the Taliban make the ledgers work to govern?Related: Ryan Crocker calls Biden's comments on Afghan forces appallingBrookings scholar Vanda Felbab-Brown has spent years studying the Taliban's finances. She joined The World's host Marco Werman to discuss the Taliban's current financial status and challenges. Related: Women are worried about what Taliban control means for them In this Monday, Jan. 12, 2015 file photo, An Afghan money changer, right, counts a pile of currency at the Money and Exchange Market in Kabul.  Credit: Massoud Hossaini/AP/File  Marco Werman: What sort of financial resources does the Taliban come to government with? How much are they worth?Vanda Felbab-Brown: Well, the Taliban has been taxing any kind of legal and illegal economy in Afghanistan in areas where they had influence. So, drugs were a very important source of money. They would tax NATO trucks supplying NATO troops at the peak of the US and NATO military presence. Those profits probably surpassed even the profits from drugs, tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions of dollars, but it would tax anything — like sheep. Obviously, you get much more money from drugs than sheep. And they also taxed international and Afghan government aid programs to communities. But the international element of assistance on which the Afghan government is so dependent is going to shrink dramatically. And there is simply no way that the Taliban can offset those losses very easily, even if it manages to persuade countries like China to continue economically engaging with Afghanistan.Related: Former warlord discusses his militia against the Taliban And what about Russia and Pakistan? Are they also a source of cash for the Taliban?Those flows are minor. They might make a difference to some extent for running insurgencies. They are nowhere adequate to be running a country. Pakistan's own financial resources are constantly in trouble, with the Pakistani economy struggling. Russia has never been very generous with terms of large international aid in Afghanistan. In other parts of the world, Iran, which also has significantly improved its relations with the Taliban, is bankrupt. So, outside of the Western donors, the principal sources of economic aid for a Taliban government would be the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, potentially Qatar and potentially China. And Western aid is likely going to diminish rapidly, which will have massive, multifaceted repercussions for stability of the country, of the government and social and economic conditions in the country.Although the Taliban are in charge in Kabul right now, they don't really hold the purse strings to Afghan's central bank. Its president has fled the country. So, if the Taliban really wants to jump-start the country, whatever that means, in their eyes, it looks like they can't spend as they might want. What are their options?Well, there are stories emerging that Taliban officials have been looking for the money in the central bank, but it's quite revealing of the stories, in fact, accurate, of the limited financial-economic sophistication that they have. A lot of the central bank's money are not piles of cash held in a place. They are financial accounts that exist in electronic form, and they might be reserves that are parked abroad. For years now, Afghanistan would every so often receive a plane full of hard cash as part of the delivery of a portion of its central bank's reserve. Last week, the plane didn't arrive because of the instability. So, there is limited liquidity, limited spending capacity in terms of cash in Afghanistan, currently, and of course, operating international banking accounts, understanding international finance, understanding how to convert assets such as bonds into any kind of liquidity is not something that the Taliban has any kind of experience with. It would have to be able to persuade technocrats, allow Afghan technocrats to continue working for its Ministry of Finance. Without financing, you can't really run a government. So, what political scenarios could this potentially long period of government inaction portend, do you think? We're very likely going to see significant economic decline. That's obviously going to have grave repercussions for Afghan people. The Taliban is effective in delivering order. It can be a brutal order, but it has knowledge and capacity to stop crime. But, for delivering school, it will need to rely on teachers who will need to be able to be paid by someone. And much of this financial capability will go radically down. Most significantly, the United States is likely not going to be paying for $2 billion for the Afghan security forces, as it has been before the Taliban takeover. So, that means that some number of soldiers, say 100,000 soldiers will now be unemployed and unpaid. The Taliban will need to be paying its own fighters. So, clearly, how the Taliban negotiates with international actors will be critical, whether it can sustain the economy as it existed or whether the economy will rapidly go bankrupt and banditry, frustration, protests will start emerging.It'll be interesting to see what happens then. Again, more challenges for the Taliban on accessing money. Afghanistan's previous government, we have to say it was never flush, but it did regularly receive planeloads of cash from the US government and it was used to pay salaries of officials and keep the wheels of government just turning. There were bulk shipments of dollars expected as late as last Sunday, but it never arrived. How important is hard currency? Will the end of that infusion of cash be a big shock for Afghanistan's economy?At the end of the day, liquid cash is crucial. And if that money is not delivered, if it stops coming, one of the quite rapid economic effects will be that poor people will find it hard to buy food, even just basic survival on a day-to-day basis. It's important to mention, though, that the Taliban leadership has very minimal understanding of how to interact with donors, they're, in many ways, enormously naive. They have little technical capacity. They are not people with financial degrees, but they also are politically naive in terms of constraints and conditionality issues. And so, that will be really a hard learning curve for them with an impact on the lives of Afghan people.This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, European countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Poland, are scrambling to evacuate their citizens, and Afghans who worked with them, from the country. US President Joe Biden says he stands “squarely behind” his decision to exit Afghanistan. Ryan Crocker, former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, says he's shocked by the way the Biden administration pulled the plug. Also, the final Khmer Rouge tribunal began hearings this week. A former leader seeks to overturn his genocide conviction as part of the last chapter in the quest for justice for the more than a million people who died under the brutal regime in the late 1970s.

Ryan Crocker has been an ambassador to nearly every hotspot in the Middle East including Afghanistan. How did the US get it's exit so wrong? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are up over 40%, overwhelming health care workers in the hardest hit states as the Delta variant sweeps through the U.S. National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins joined George to discuss the Delta variant, mask mandates, and vaccination rates picking as more than 50% of Americans are now fully vaccinated; American troops have begun returning home from Afghanistan, but questions remain if Afghans who aided the U.S. in it's longest war, can be saved with the Taliban sweeping through the country. George interviewed Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan during the war, and Janis Shinwari, a former Afghan interpreter for the U.S. military, to find out more; Record heatwaves and severe droughts rage on the west coast and abroad in Greece, Turkey, and Russia. Professor Michael Mann and Climate Scientist Kristina Dahl joined George to discuss what's causing these wildfires, and what can be done; Plus the Power House Roundtable discuss the latest on the infrastructure deal and the New York attorney general's report into allegations of sexual harassment by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Amb. Ryan Crocker, Middle East expert, explains the value of Foreign Service Nationals and brings it all home with a story of the day that local staff saved his life. Toobah, a former employee of USAID, then tells us of her life, stuck at home in Kabul at all times because if she goes outside she will be killed in a most gruesome manner. And why? She worked. Not only that: She helped other women get jobs. Point being? They saved our lives. We must act fast to save theirs.  

Afghan peace negotiator Fatima Gailani and former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker speak with Bianna Golodryga about Taliban advances and U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan. Then U.S. Special Envoy to Iran Robert Malley discusses the obstacles to re-entering the Iran nuclear deal. He explains thatIran has not yet made irreversible nuclear advances. And finally, Team USA Women's Olympic rower Brooke Mooney talks about heading to Tokyo for her very first Olympics, going for gold and performing under the cloud of Covid-19. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Diplomacy’s equivalent of the military’s special forces is the “expeditionary diplomat,” a resourceful professional with specialized training from the Department of Defense and CIA who can take on the toughest diplomatic assignments in high threat, unstable or failed states. Join diplomatic correspondent Paul Richter, author of the “The Ambassadors,” for a virtual conversation with three of America’s preeminent diplomats – Ryan Crocker, Robert Ford and Anne Patterson – whom he profiled in his book along with Christopher Stevens, who was killed in Libya in 2012. Paul Richter covered the State Department and foreign policy as a Washington-based correspondent for the Los Angeles Times before leaving the publication in 2015. Throughout his three-decades-long career, Richter reported from 60 countries. He is a graduate of Clark University in Massachusetts. Ambassador Ryan Crocker was a career Foreign Service Officer, who served as Ambassador to Afghanistan (2011-2012), Iraq (2007-2009), Pakistan (2004-2007), Syria (1998-2001), Kuwait (1994-1997), and Lebanon (1990-1993). He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009) and currently serves as diplomat in residence at Princeton University. He holds a B.A. in English and an honorary Doctor of Laws from Whitman College. Ambassador Robert S. Ford served as U.S. Ambassador to Syria (2011-2014) and Algeria (2006-2008) before retiring from the Foreign Service in 2014. He is a recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s Secretary’s Service Award (2014) and the John F. Kennedy Library’s Profile in Courage Award (2012), which he received for his work defending human rights in Syria. He is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. Ambassador Anne Patterson spent more than four decades in the Foreign Service, serving as Ambassador to Egypt (2011-2013), Pakistan (2007-2010), Colombia (2000-2003), and El Salvador (1997-2000). She was appointed to the National Defense Strategy Commission by Congress in 2017, where she contributed to an independent review of U.S. national security needs. From 2017 to 2018, Patterson served as a senior fellow at the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Major speaks with legendary writer, director, and producer Chuck Lorre, former U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker, former U.S. Army General David Petraeus, and the series' co-creators Maria Ferrari and David Goetsch about the new CBS sitcom, United States of Al. The show focuses on a U.S. Marine returning home from war and his Afghan translator making a new life in America. Major and the group talk about the real-life experiences that drive the humor and plot of United States of Al, and how the creative process of the show has unfolded. United States of Al is set to debut on April 1st, 2021.

The Evolving Role of the U.S. Ambassador: A Conversation with Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Author and Journalist Paul Richter, and Ambassador Ed Gabriel Please note: From 5:15 to 20:00 there is a brief pause in the video feed of this event. The audio feed remains continuous. The video feed picks back up at 20:00.

In this episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast, Shawna Sinnott and Kyle Atwell discuss the history and context of proxy and partner warfare in the Middle East with Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Dr. Eli Berman. This is the second of a two-part discussion on fighting irregular warfare through proxy forces. Intro music: "Unsilenced" by KetsaOutro music: "Launch" by KetsaCC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Jen talks to longtime diplomatic correspondent Paul Richter about his book, The Ambassadors: America's Diplomats on the Front Lines.  Paul talks about four diplomats - Ryan Crocker in Afghanistan, Anne Patterson in Pakistan and Egypt, Robert Ford in Iraq and Syria, and Chris Stevens in Libya - who “do the hardest things in the hardest places.” Paul talks about the role of America's diplomats in the wars in the Middle East, from running local government, directing drone strikes, nation-building, and risking their lives on the front lines. Jen also asks Paul about the hollowing out of the State Department and the implications for foreign service. 

Guest Paul Richter joins American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss his new book, The Ambassadors: America's Diplomat on the Front Lines in which Mr. Richter writes about the distinctive careers of four U.S. Ambassadors who were chosen again and again to go to the toughest places in the Middle East throughout the first decade and a half after the 9/11 attacks. They discuss Ryan Crocker, a six-time ambassador who served twice in Afghanistan; Robert Ford who served five tours in Iraq and was later Ambassador to Syria; Anne Patterson who served as Ambassador to Pakistan and Egypt and later as a top State Department official for the Middle East; and Chris Stevens who was first sent to Libya as Envoy and later appointed as Ambassador to Libya.

As America announces new sanctions and Iran threatens further revenge attacks, Anne McElvoy interviews Ambassador Ryan Crocker about what the killing of Qassem Suleimani means. The former US chief diplomat to Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon explains why his reaction to the news was one of satisfaction and how the loss of its top general will reshape Tehran's influence in the region. They explore whether America can stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power. Or will the conflict become President Trump’s own endless war? Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions:www.economist.com/radiooffer See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As America announces new sanctions and Iran threatens further revenge attacks, Anne McElvoy interviews Ambassador Ryan Crocker about what the killing of Qassem Suleimani means. The former US chief diplomat to Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon explains why his reaction to the news was one of satisfaction and how the loss of its top general will reshape Tehran's influence in the region. They explore whether America can stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power. Or will the conflict become President Trump’s own endless war? Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions:www.economist.com/radiooffer See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We sit down with author Paul Richter to discuss his new book, The Ambassadors, which profiles four “expeditionary” ambassadors – Ryan Crocker, Robert Ford, Chris Stevens, and Anne Patterson – as they serve in some of the most difficult posts in the greater-Middle East. Later, they’re joined by Ambassador Anne Patterson herself to delve deeper into her experiences outlined in the book and the current state of our diplomatic corps.

Iran is the subject of our 142nd episode. Former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker served in the Middle East for much of his career, representing the U.S. in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In this conversation, we explore President Trump’s decision to pull back on a planned military strike, what a proportionate response to Iran shooting down an American drone would be, whether reopening negotiations is a worthy strategic goal, how the US can restore deterrence, whether the ‘Maximum Pressure’ campaign is working, how our allies in the region may be viewing this, what the chances of war are, and what it was like to be stationed in Iran in 1972.

Where does the future lie for Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria? Should President Trump pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan or not? What should policy makers think about when considering whether to intervene in another country’s affairs and exporting democracy? Is the U.S. retreating itself from the global order? Has the Trump administration done any damage to the foreign services system? … Here to answer those questions is one of the most respected career ambassadors within the U.S. Foreign Service and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom –– Ambassador Ryan Crocker. He has served as United States Ambassador to Afghanistan (2011–2012), Iraq (2007–2009), Pakistan (2004–2007), Syria (1998–2001), Kuwait (1994– 1997), and Lebanon (1990–1993). A few punchlines? - Before President Trump further withdrew troops, where we were in Afghanistan was adequate. It's not great, but it's not awful either. And we are helping the Afghans maintain a rough stability where they are neither losing nor gaining considerable bits of ground. - Democracy has to be built from the ground up in terms that reflect the realities the fears and the desires of the people who actually live there. - We should only use the military when we see no alternative except the use of military force. Getting in isn't a problem for us –– we have the greatest military on earth, and people just get out of our way when we get there, but we don't focus enough on what's next. Once the guns fall silent, as they did literally days afterwards in Iraq and in Afghanistan, that's the part of the process where we need to think through the consequences. - Americans are known for their lack of strategic patience. We are an impatient people, and that's how we built our great country. - There is a great sense of relief in the State Department, both foreign service and civil service, that Rex Tillerson is no longer the Secretary of State. He did more damage to the State Department and the foreign service as institutions than we have ever experienced before. … For more information, please visit policypunchline.com

Warming ties between Baghdad and Iran and souring ties between Washington and both raise the question: Did Iran come out as the real winner of the Iraq war? Ryan Crocker, who served as the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon, joins Deep Dish to discuss. 

Ambassador Ryan Crocker recounts his time as ambassador to the Russian Federation and the rise of Vladimir Putin on the latest episode of Council President & CEO Jim Falk’s weekly podcast. You’ll discover conversations with some of the world's foremost thinkers, writers, and diplomats in this interview series.

This spring marked the 15th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, and the war in Afghanistan has gone on long enough that children born after 9/11 are now old enough to enlist in the military. Is there any path out of conflict for Iraq and Afghanistan — for the United States, or for the citizens of the war-weary countries? This episode features individuals who were deeply involved in both conflicts. David Petraeus, former CIA director, led the 101st Airborne Division in the invasion of Iraq. Douglas Lute was US ambassador to NATO and Ryan Crocker served as ambassador in six countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Dan Senor was based in Baghdad as an official for the Defense Department and Jane Harman, who leads the conversation, served nine terms in Congress. Follow Aspen Ideas to Go on Facebook and Twitter. Email your comments to aspenideastogo@gmail.com. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker discuss their partnership in Iraq 2007-2008 during the surge campaign – as running buddies and political/military strategists. They review their bad cop/good cop approach and warn about Iran.  

Ryan Crocker is one of the outstanding U.S. diplomats of our time. In addition to his other posts, he was ambassador to Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He has had some of the most challenging assignments on offer. George W. Bush, in the last days of his presidency, hung the Presidential Medal of Freedom around Crocker's neck. In this “Q&A,” Jay asks Crocker about the State... Source

Ambassador Ryan Crocker is a career ambassador within the U.S. Foreign Service. Ambassador Crocker was in the Foreign Service for 37 years and, after retiring, was recalled to active duty by President Obama in 2011 to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. His previous appointments included service as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Crocker became dean of Texas A&M University’s George Bush School of Government and Public Service in 2010. In this podcast Ambassador Crocker and the host engage in a discussion about one of the most concerning events in recent international affairs, the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS). A few days ago, up to 235 people were killed in a terrorist attack in Egypt, one of many that have occurred in the region, Europe and the United States. While no group has claimed responsibility until now, witnesses report that the assailants carried ISIS flags. In recent years ISIS has turned into a global threat, supplanting almost completely the danger posed by Al Qaeda decades earlier. ISIS has become infamous for its brutal and ruthless style of terror, with images that are still vividly haunting. Is the Islamic State a symptom or a cause of bad governance? What will ISIS do after it has lost its physical hold on territories around the Middle East? What are the implications for US foreign policy in the region and beyond? Is America retreating from its policing role in the international arena? References: For a recent analysis of President Trump’s policy towards the State Department written by Ambassador Crocker for the New York Times follow the link here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/27/opinion/dismantling-foreign-service-budget.html For a full bio of Ambassador Crocker at the Wilson Center follow the link. here: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/ryan-crocker To watch the documentary Losing Iraq follow the link here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/losing-iraq/

Speakers: Toby Dodge, LSE; Nussaibah Younis, Chatham House; Christine van den Toorn, IRIS In this event, Toby Dodge, Nussaibah Younis and Christine van den Toorn discuss the final report of the Task Force on the Future of Iraq. The Task Force gathered the world's leading Iraq scholars under the chairmanship of Ambassador Ryan Crocker to develop a strategy for stabilizing Iraq in the long-term, beyond the immediate liberation of Iraq's territory from ISIS. The Task Force traveled to Iraq, Europe, and the US and met with dozens of Iraqi political leaders and Western policy-makers to determine the challenges that Iraq will continue to face and to propose ways in which the international community can continue to support the country. Recorded on 27 June 2017.

April 16, 2017 marks the 10th Anniversary of the Virginia Tech Massacre. Today we're taking time to reflect on that fateful day in history and examine its impact on mental health and gun policies on college campuses. Later, we'll talk with Ambassador Ryan Crocker about the Syrian conflict. We'll also check in with our favorite movie critic, Mal Vincent, for this week in Mal's World. Join us at 440-2665 and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Ryan Crocker, former long-term U.S. ambassador to various countries in the Middle East, provides an overview of U.S. policy considerations going forward in the region. UVA Law professor John Norton Moore introduces Crocker. Crocker’s speech was the keynote address at the UVA Law conference "Region in Turmoil: Conflicts in the Middle East." (University of Virginia School of Law, March 2, 2017)

The United States' mistake in the Middle East is trying to dominate rather than lead, says Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

Hugh Hewitt and Ryan Crocker (former Ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon), on Middle East. Michael Medved and Bobby Jindal on whether terrorism will strike again on U.S. soil. Dennis Prager unsettles the "settled science" of so-called climate change. Medved on the thousands of self-proclaimed protectors of the planet protesting climate change in NYC. Mike Gallagher spoke with Trey Gowdy, chairman of the Select Committee on Benghazi. Dexter Filkins shares with Hugh Hewitt on the Kurds and ISIS. Prager on the media's absolute SILENCE on Gov. Chris Christie's being cleared from the Justice Dept. regarding the bridge scandal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Segment A: Global Citizen of the Year 2014 The World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Road's Ryan C. Crocker Global Citizen of the Year Award is given each year to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the furthering of peace and understanding across the globe. The award takes its name from its first recipient, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, a diplomat with a distinguished 40-year career. On February 13 the Ambassador will present author and humanitarian, Le Ly Hayslip, with this year's honor. Segment B: America and Israel In advance of his January 29 United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Israel Todaylecture, presidential historian, Gil Troy, joins us for an exploration of America's complex connection to Israel, viewed through the lens of the American presidency.

The UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations proudly presents the 2012-13 Bernard Brodie Distinguished Lecture on the Conditions of Peace featuring Ambassador Ryan Crocker. This event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Program on Central Asia, the UCLA Cen

The UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations proudly presents the 2012-13 Bernard Brodie Distinguished Lecture on the Conditions of Peace featuring Ambassador Ryan Crocker. This event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Program on Central Asia, the UCLA Cen

Ambassador Ryan Crocker, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon discusses the Arab Spring and the conflict in Syria.

U.S. officials announced this week that an Army staff sergeant who allegedly gunned down civilians in southern Afghanistan will be charged with 17 counts of murder. On today's HearSay, Cathy speaks with Ryan Crocker, the U.S. Ambassador for Afghanistan, about how the killings have affected relations between military forces and civilians. We'll also examine the changing role of women in the Afghan government.

American forces will cede the lead role in combat operations in Afghanistan next year, but will keep fighting alongside Afghan troops, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. U.S. troops would largely shift to a train-and-assist role as Afghan forces take responsibility for security before an end-2014 deadline for full Afghan control. U.S. Ambassador for Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, will join HearSay host Cathy Lewis, live from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul to talk about the latest as well as his upcoming visit to Hampton Roads this week.

Ryan Crocker, who previously served as US ambassador to both Iraq and Pakistan and interim ambassador to Afghanistan, joins Cathy for the hour. Ambassador Crocker will be speaking at 6:15 p.m. on February 3 at the Westin Hotel in Virginia Beach's Town Center. Join us!

General David Patraeus' long-awaited testimony finally gets off to a very slow start, but the partisan wrangling had already begun. Today, he and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are  facing a joint committee of Congress; tomorrow they'll talk to the Senate.  We update their testimony and hear the reaction from across the political spectrum.  On Reporter's Notebook, Pakistan's former Prime Minister returns from exile only to be deported again.