This week the team breaks down the intelligence community’s annual threat assessment testimony and the president’s response. US wants more money from ROK. We aren’t optimistic about a possible peace deal in Afghanistan. And Alex gives us an update on a slew of nuclear policy issues.

EPISODE 77: What does the CIA even do all day?

The values Americans hold should shape how our country engages with the world. We bring complex issues back to the basic questions of how values affect policy and how the tricky problems of the world can challenge what we believe. Learn what’s important behind the headlines and hear from a diverse set of security policy experts, on-the-ground practitioners with global experience, and political professionals.   The Secure Line is co-hosted by David Solimini and sponsored by ADco, LLC.

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David and Xander discuss how impeachment proceedings have demonstrated the importance of independent civil service at the State Department. California burns as the President makes moves to pull the US out of the Paris climate accord. And a deep dive into the long reach of China’s influence over free speech, US companies, and even Hollywood.

State stands up, California burns, and China Pushes

Dave and Xander discuss election happenings around the world, the quiet withdrawal from Afghanistan, and give a primer the security implications of climate change.
NOTE: Our apologies for last week’s episode being download-able for a few days; it was a technical mishap on Dave’s end. Fixing it pushed the release of this episode by a few days as well.

Climate Change is a security issue. And leaving Afghanistan.

Dave and Alex Bell touch on Syria, Ukraine, the Open Skies Treaty, the Democratic presidential debate, and why Kim Jung Un riding a white horse might be a problem.

Open Skies from Syria to Ukraine

Dave, Alex, and Matt catch up on Ukraine, personalizing state power, impact on US credibility and the Sopranos. The People’s Republic of China celebrates its 70th Anniversary. And North Korea tests missiles.
Mentioned: Sex and Death in the Rational World of Defense Intellectuals by Carol Cohn. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3174209?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

The Sopranos Doctrine

NOTE: This episode was recorded the day before we learned that the president sought a foreign state’s intervention in the 2020 election. So… yeah. Sigh.
Dave, Matt, and Caitlin discuss drones and why Saudi Arabia’s military has issues, the fact that John Bolton never did the job he was supposed to do, and then dive into the Marine Commandant’s service reform goals.
Reading:

The Commandant’s Planning Guidance by Gen. David Berger
The Dictator’s Army: Battlefield Effectiveness in Authoritarian Regimes by Caitlin Talmadge

 

EPISODE 77: What does the CIA even do all day?

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