Uncle Sam Abroad

In this episode, we speak with Princeton professor Aaron Friedberg about his new book "Getting China Wrong" and hear sharp analysis about rising tensions between China and the U.S.

Among the topics discussed are:  China's leadership feeling threatened by the U.S.... The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) worldview of mistrust, control, and manufactured nationalism.... CCP intentions of dominating Asia and arranging a bloc of authoritarianism worldwide... the tug-of-war over Taiwan... the ascendant relationship between Beijing & Moscow... how the U.S. is positioning itself... etc.

------>  OUR GUEST is Dr. Aaron Friedberg, a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University and a specialist in US-China relations, great-power competition, and US foreign and defense policy. From 2003 to 2005, Dr. Friedberg served as deputy assistant for national security affairs in the Office of the Vice President of the United States. He's the author of several books and articles, and currently serves on serves on the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He earned a PhD and a Bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States Projects its power. 

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)

In this episode, we continue our discussion with Texas A&M University professor Christopher Layne about whether the U.S./China can ultimately avoid war.

Topics include:  Prospects for mutual accommodation... How Taiwan's dominance in advanced chip manufacturing presents a major risk.... China's strength as "restoration" of its great power status.... The idea of "threat inflation".... Whether the U.S. policy mindset leaves any room for steering away from a collision course. 

------>  OUR GUEST is Prof. Christopher Layne, University Distinguished Professor of International Relations, and Robert M. Gates Chair in National Security at Texas A&M.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power. 

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)

In this episode, we speak with a senior professor of international relations at Texas A&M University.

Topics include:  how this blistering competition between 2 superpowers mirrors tensions that immediately preceded World War 1... how America's foreign policy establishment views China... how China's re-absorption of Hong Kong works against prospects for avoiding war... and the importance of status, prestige, and honor.

------>  OUR GUEST is Prof. Christopher Layne, University Distinguished Professor of International Relations, and Robert M. Gates Chair in National Security at Texas A&M.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power. 

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)

In this episode, we speak with a Sudanese activist raised in London who's on the ground in Khartoum as that country grapples with myriad issues, including the absence of any government.

Listeners will hear about Khartoum's streets.... decades of dictatorship giving way to coups and power vacuums.... U.S. intentions.... turnover amongst U.S. envoys to the Horn of Africa.... $700 million in American assistance tangled up in Sudan's turmoil.... a "gigantic" U.S. embassy.... and the aspirations of a pro-democracy movement that's under threat.

------>  OUR GUEST is Kholood Khair, a political analyst, activist, and head of a Sudanese think tank aimed at supporting a transition toward a civilian-led democracy in Sudan. She earned a Master's degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and from Oxford University.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power. 

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)

In this episode, we chat with a former CIA analyst about Egypt.... its relationship with the U.S.... what it was like to monitor fast-moving events of the Arab Spring for the CIA.... whether the $1.3 B in annual military assistance the U.S. sends to Egypt is disproportionate.... U.S. contributions to Egyptian health & hygiene... the CIA as a bureaucracy.... and more.

------>  OUR GUEST is Julia Santucci, who spent a decade as a Middle East analyst at the CIA from 2005 until 2015.  She also served on the staff of the White House's National Security Council (NSC) for 2 years as an Egypt specialist before joining the State Dept. to work on global women's issues.  Currently she's a senior lecturer in Intelligence Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.  

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power. 

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)

In this episode, we speak with Ambassador Elin Suleymanov of Azerbaijan. We discuss military security cooperation between the U.S. and Azerbaijan... European energy security... Russia's invasion of Ukraine... the Oklahoma national guard's formal partnership with Azerbaijan... the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce efforts to promote business ties... Green energy efforts... and more.

------>  OUR GUEST is Elin Suleymanov. Currently Azerbaijan's ambassador to the U.K., he spent a decade as his country's ambassador to the U.S. until 2021. He was the first Azerbaijani to graduate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and he holds degrees from Azerbaijan State University, Moscow State University, and the University of Toledo in Ohio.  

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power. 

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)

In this episode, we spotlight the Pentagon's "Defense Language and National Security Education Office", which recruits and trains U.S. citizens who can strengthen America's overseas efforts in areas of Defense/Intelligence/Diplomacy by speaking languages other than English.  We'll hear where the priorities are, which universities serve as key partners in producing capable foreign language speakers (hint: they're probably not the colleges you'd imagine), and how the U.S. is trying to address a shortfall of foreign language superstars.

------>  OUR GUEST is Dr. Sam Eisen, Director of Programs at the "Defense Language and National Security Education Office" (DLNSEO). A former assistant professor of Russian Studies at American University, he earned a PhD and Master's degree in Russian language and literature from Stanford University, and bachelor's degree in Russian from Amherst College.


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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power. 

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)

In this episode, we focus on a geopolitical situation unfolding on the other side of the world, in the Solomon Islands. We'll hear why China's designs on that tiny archipelago are giving the United States (as well Australia and New Zealand) major cause for concern.

------>  OUR GUEST is Catherine Ebert-Gray, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the Solomon Islands from 2015-2019.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power. 

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)

In this episode, we hear from an international mediator who has on-the-ground experience in Afghanistan, Libya, Venezuela, and Sub-Saharan Africa.  ------>  Today's discussion provides a glimpse into U.S. efforts and priorities, and includes details that shed light on ways America has approached certain delicate international situations.

------>  OUR GUEST is Juan Garrigues, Deputy Director of the Dialogue Advisory Group, which is an Amsterdam-based non-profit that specializes in conflict resolution.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power.

(Grab a listen.   Be more informed.)

In this episode, we look through a military lens.  We discuss U.S. strategic priorities in a fast-changing world where "peer competitors" Russia and China loom large.  ------>  Topics include:  cyber tactics... hypersonic missiles... the South China Sea... Russia... the Middle East... and more. 

------>  OUR GUEST is Bryan Clark, a former chief engineer on U.S. nuclear submarines who now focuses on military technology and the future of warfare at Hudson Institute.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power.

(Grab a listen.  Be more informed.)