On January 27, shortly after Pete Hegseth was confirmed as Secretary of Defense, the “New York Times” published the following letter: “To the Editor: To those Senate Republicans who voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense (and Vice President JD Vance, who broke a 50-50 tie): Unfortunately, you are far from the first […]
How NOT to Do Diplomacy: Talk Loud and Swing a Big Bat “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” This saying from Proverbs 15:1 might be great for Little League or a sewing circle, but in the rough and tumble of international relations, it just does not cut it. […]
Most people, when having to solve a difficult problem, figure out a way to decide what to do. Claiming particular skill at this, former President George W. Bush even called himself “the Decider.” The current President of the United States, whenever his own personal – usually either vengeful or money-making — interests are not involved, […]
In the annals of government waste, few episodes are as staggering or as morally bankrupt as the Trump administration’s plans for incineration of lifesaving food, medication, and contraceptives. At a moment when communities across the United States face hunger and medical shortages and fragile states abroad are desperate for assistance, this administration has not only […]
The Hayden Center at the Schar School of Policy and Government is a premier destination for thought leadership on intelligence and national security—where experts, scholars, and practitioners come together to illuminate the vital intersection of intelligence and American policy. “This is a very important and vital conversation to have…Senator Mark Warner, the Vice Chair of […]
How Not to Do Diplomacy: A Manual for a Muddled Mediator If you represent a powerful country, one of the things you’ll frequently be called upon to do is mediate disputes between or among other, often weaker countries. Just in case you haven’t been listening, mediation is a voluntary, confidential process where a neutral third […]
The Steady State [Original Letter Here] September 19, 2025 The Honorable Tom Cotton, ChairmanThe Honorable Mark Warner, Vice ChairmanSenate Select Committee on IntelligenceUnited States SenateWashington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Mike Turner, ChairmanThe Honorable Jim Himes, Ranking MemberHouse Permanent Select Committee on IntelligenceU.S. House of RepresentativesWashington, D.C. 20515 Re: Executive Overreach and the Misuse of Intelligence […]
M. President, I rise today out of deep concern for the future of our intelligence community and, in turn, the security of the United States. For months now, we’ve watched President Trump’s administration – led in this arena by his hand-picked Director of National Intelligence, Ms. Gabbard – systematically undermine the men and women whose […]
Chart to describe Nuremberg Laws of 15 September 1935 and the respective regulation of 14 November 1935. The “Nuremberg Laws” established a legal basis for racial identification. Only people with four non-Jewish German grandparents (four white circles in top row left) were of “German blood”. Injecting religious fear and fervor into any situation is a […]
Russia openly flaunts a simulated missile strike on Polish territory as part of its large-scale joint military exercise with Belarus, known as Zapad 2025. When I served in the Army Reserves, we would line up at the shooting range under the watchful eye of the Range Control Officer. His commands were precise and steady: “Ready […]